University Going Mother Suddenly Goes Missing
She was found dead. Why would anyone kill a harmless woman?
Tiane Brown, a 33-year-old single mother, was killed seven years ago. Although it has been a long time since the killing took place, the homicide is still unsolved. Brown grew up in the tough streets of Detroit, Michigan, where she was like a star among those around her. Not only was her family affected by her death but her friends and colleagues were also shaken.
What happened to Tiane Brown? How come her case is still a mystery for Detroit’s police?
The Independent Young Woman
Tiane Brown grew up with her mother, Sheryl, and her brother, Dante. Living in Detroit might have been challenging and rigid, but her life was one of contentment and success. Brown was a proud daughter of her mother. Her mother told her,
“Reach for the sky, and wherever the stars fall, that is where you wind up.”
Tiane did precisely that and painted a beautiful life for herself at a very young age.
While most kids these days stop studying after high school, Tiane Brown kept learning. Even at 33, she devoted herself to her education. Her remarkable achievements paved the way for a bright future. Her education included a degree in biological sciences, an MBA, and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. Besides all of this, she was also in her third year of law school at Wayne State University.
As a matter of common belief, it is thought that you cannot effectively balance your studies and private life when you become a mother. On the contrary, Brown showed people that anything is possible if you set your priorities straight. Mother to three beautiful girls, she raised them alone. Her daughters were fourteen, eight, and the youngest was just 18 months old. She was busy but content in every aspect of her life.
The Night She Suddenly Disappeared
Late on a Monday afternoon, 28th October 2013, she left her daughters at her mother’s suburban home as she would on days when she had a class. That day, however, she was so rushed that she forgot to say goodbye to her girls. Who would have thought it would be the last day the daughters would see their mother’s face? The tragic horror of the family was just about to begin.
The eldest daughter, Nina, called Brown quite often when she was on campus. She acted similarly that night. However, this time Tiane was not responding. Nina found it strange because her mother always answered. Was she in class?
After a short while, she tried again. There still was no response. Nina was getting worried. A terrified daughter cried out in terror to her grandmother in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It was almost 2 AM, and Tiane Brown was unreachable.
Where is Tiane?
Her mother immediately visited her townhouse, believing that she might have gone there. She was not there. Her campus was the next possible location. Sheryl searched the parking lot for her daughter’s car, but it was nowhere to be found. She even checked the library; still no sign of Tiane.
After two frantic hours, she reported to the campus police to help her. Instead of looking out for a missing person, they excused themselves by saying that Tiane might be out partying. Sheryl begged four different departments to help her out and find her child. Yet, they did nothing for her.
Tiane’s family, friends, professors, and acquaintances started searching for her. Across the city, they hung posters with her details. They hoped that someone might have heard from or seen Tiane.
The Abandoned Vacant Lot
After two days of searching, there was a sudden break in the case. Sheryl’s friend called to tell her about the news on TV. On Wednesday, October 30, 2013, Tiane Brown was found in her purple Trailblazer in Detroit’s east side, near the old Packard plant.
The family had no idea how much pain they would feel when they visited the station to identify Tiane’s body. There was a feeling of loneliness among the daughters. Nina, Tiane’s firstborn, said,
“I woke up with a mother, and I went to bed without one.”
Two homeless men found the car, which led the police to a disturbing discovery. An abandoned lot was hiding Tiane’s car behind a few trees, Tiane slumped over, and her seatbelt still fastened. She had been shot once in the head. The worst nightmare of the family was a homicide case. It appeared that Tiane Brown had been murdered.
The situation was devastating and everyone wanted answers. What had happened to Tiane? Who could have wanted her dead?
Who Was Responsible?
The police started questioning the two homeless men who were in custody. It turned out that they were not suspects. Later on, two other men appeared on surveillance footage who tried to use Tiane’s credit card at a gas station. However, there was no specific person of interest in this case.
The police even tried to get details about Tiane’s personal life to understand if her exes were responsible for the murder. The focus took a chilling turn as the police honed in on her ex-husband, Torianna Sims. The reason for their suspicion was the edgy relationship between Tiane and Torianna when they had gotten divorced.
Years before, Tiane had taken out three protective orders against him that she later withdrew. Sims agreed to take a lie detector test that turned out inconclusive. It was, however, decided later by the Detroit police that he was also not involved in her death.
What Now?
No one was brought to justice as a suspect in her cold-blooded murder that occurred in 2013. The death is still a traumatic memory for Tiane’s family, especially her daughters. Even though the youngest does not remember much, she still asks questions from her grandmother.
Tiane’s mother, Sheryl, said:
“I tell them that what happened was wrong. It’s heinous. We all wish it never happened, but we can’t explain why. We have to pray for our patience and comfort and understanding,”
On the other hand, the eldest daughter has been following in her mother’s footsteps. She joined the law club at her high school. She says she would never give up seeking justice for her mother.
