Name: Devin M. Cooper
Nickname: Sacoya
Age: 33 years old
Last seen: August 31, 2021
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Status: Still Missing
Case Information
33-year-old Devin “Sacoya” Cooper was last seen in Columbus, Ohio on August 31, 2021. She disappeared after leaving her home to go to a nearby convenience store.
Background
Devin M. Cooper was born on August 9, 1988, to mother Regina Love. She is a transgender woman who goes by the name Sacoya. Cooper was adopted by her foster mother, LuAnn Cooper, at age nine and grew up in Toledo, Ohio.
In 2021, Cooper left her hometown and moved to Columbus, Ohio. She initially lived with her best friend Bre but was soon able to find her own place while working at a thrift store.
At the time of her disappearance, Cooper was living with her partner, 52-year-old Richard Harris, in a house near Cremeans Park in the North Linden neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. She worked as a crew manager in a nearby McDonald’s restaurant.
Disappearance
On August 30, 2021, Sacoya Cooper spent the day with her friend Bre as they often did, having barbecue and drinking wine.
On August 31, 2021, Sacoya was last seen at her house in Columbus, Ohio. Around 11:30 pm Sacoya left a text message to her partner, saying she was going to get some bottled water at a nearby convenience store.
At 3:00 am Sacoya called her friend Bre, but did not leave a message when she didn’t answer. When Bre woke up and saw the missed call from Sacoya she initially didn’t think much of it since they both worked odd hours and would often be awake at that time.
Sacoya Cooper never made it back home and hasn’t been heard from since.
On September 1, 2021, her partner filed a missing person’s report with the Columbus Division of Police when Sacoya failed to return home.
Investigation
In October 2021, authorities recovered Sacoya Cooper’s vehicle, a 2009 black Ford Fusion, in West Columbus, Ohio, using a license plate reader system. The car was found with stolen license plates on it.
Authorities believe Sacoya’s last known whereabouts were in Northeast Columbus, in either the area of Howey Road and Weldon Avenue, or in the area of East Weber Road and Cleveland Avenue.
Sacoya disappeared along with her cell phone which was turned off after her she went missing. Someone logged into Sacoya’s Facebook messenger account on at least two occasions since she disappeared.
Whereabouts
Foul play is suspected in Devin “Sacoya” Cooper’s disappearance. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the FBI for information leading to Sacoya’s discovery.
The circumstances of Sacoya Cooper’s disappearance remain unclear and her case is currently classified as missing. Her case remains unsolved.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Black transgender female born on August 9, 1988. Sacoya has black hair, brown eyes, stands 5’5 tall and weighs 145 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Sacoya was wearing black lemonade braids at the time of her disappearance.
Clothing and accessories:
Sacoya was last seen wearing a black and white summer dress and black and white Baby Phat sandals.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Sacoya Cooper please contact the Columbus Police Department at (614) 645-4545, or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.
Resources & Further Information
Most Wanted: Devin “Sacoya” Cooper – Federal Bureau of Investigation
Sacoya Cooper #MP85096 – National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Finding Sacoya Cooper – Facebook
News & Media Links
$10,000 reward offered as FBI joins investigation into disappearance of Sacoya Cooper – The Columbus Dispatch 09/2022
Columbus neighbors search for Sacoya, missing Black trans woman – The Columbus Dispatch 09/2022
Police suspect foul play in August 2021 disappearance of Columbus, Ohio woman Sacoya Cooper – NBC News 01/2023
Videos & Flyers
Why is the FBI involved?
She’s not a minor.
She is probably deceased.
How far is her home from the store , walkable distance ? , did she go by car , and left when she got home ,was somebody waiting for her when she got home ?.
Given the type of work and hours she does , and deals with various people from all walks of life , did a situation not occur that might have been innocent at the time , but had a direct bearing on her disappearance ? .
When the car was found was there any evidence of a struggle having taken place ? .
The reward been offered by the F . B . I . , given that there have been smaller amounts on other cases , is this not an indication of more than just a case of disappearance ? .
How far is the store from were she lives , did she go by car , and returned home , and that someone was waiting for her ? .
When they found her car was there any indication of a struggle having taken place ? .
The size of the reward been offered by the F . B . I . , as compared to others , is this not an indication of more than a case of disappearance ? .
The work hours that she keeps and the type of clientele that she has to deal with , was there not an incident before and leading up to her disappearance , which might have seemed innocent at the time , could have been a factor in the reason for her disappearance ? .