Friends and family of missing Austin teen Yasmin Acree last Saturday did what they normally have done on the day marking her disappearance three years ago-along with remembering the honors student, they passed out fliers in the neighborhood and continued to spread word about the missing teen.
Yasmin disappeared from her home on Congress Parkway Jan. 15. Police first considered her a runway. The family said all along that she was not. Police later reclassified the case after Yasmin’s mother, Rose Starnes, filed a complaint in July 2008 with Chicago Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division. Yasmin was 15 years old and a student at Austin Polytechnical Academy when she disappeared. Family and clergy met with Supt. Jody Weis in September 2009 to demand priority status for the case. An FBI profiler was brought in to assist in the investigation. The family has held onto hope that she’s still alive.
On Saturday, near her home, family and friends hosted a press conference marking the three-year anniversary. They also passed out fliers in the neighborhood.
“If anyone knows of the whereabouts of Yasmin, please notify the police department immediately. This nightmare must end,” said Rev Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church, and Yasmin’s cousin.
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com