“It’s been a nightmare”: Shonda Fisher’s family shares disappointment in APD’s investigation into her disappearance

KALB
Colin Vedros
March 10, 2025

Shonda Fisher of Alexandria has been missing since October 2, 2024.

According to the Alexandria Police Department, Fisher was last seen in Alexandria between Bolton Avenue and Jackson Street. They said she was dropped off at a laundromat, but when it was time to be picked up, she was nowhere to be found.

Altonya Jackson, Fisher’s sister, said, “We made the missing person report, and Detective Butler has been working the case. He’s been following up on leads that were given to us. That’s pretty much where we’re at.”

Annie Fisher, her mother, said, “Put yourself in my position as a mom. I need to know where my child is. I need to know where my child is because her family loves her very much.”

Fisher is described as having hazel eyes, short dreadlocks, walks with a quick pace and is about five-foot-two-inches tall.

To her son, Demairay, Fisher would give the shirt off her back if needed.

“She might be one block away and she called, ‘I’m coming.’ So. it’s like when it first happened, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, that can’t be true.’ Me and my grandmother have been in the woods. We’ve been looking, we’ve been going on every tip that we get.“

APD requested the public’s help in finding Fisher, but her family said they feel there have been setbacks in looking for her.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Yolanda Ceasor, Fisher’s sister. “I feel, if I’m being totally honest, the Alexandria Police Department isn’t aggressive enough on the matter. I myself have reached out to the department.”

Yolanda said this case is not a priority to APD.

“I’m told that there’s a shortage of staffing. They barely have enough staff to cover the front desk. That’s not a good enough answer when someone has a loved one they can’t locate,” she said. “So that leads us to go outside of Alexandria, and it’s not welcoming for those outside resources to come in and work with Alexandria due to their resistance. So, I’m kind of upset. I’m extremely upset about it. More should happen.”

The family is staying hopeful and keeping the faith to bring Shonda Fisher home.

“We’re just asking anybody in the community that may know something, just call the tip line. You don’t have to be scared, you don’t have to leave a name, just tell what you know that can lead us to finding my sister,” Altonya said.

Photo credit: KALB