Sacoya Cooper

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Columbus Division Of Police (OH)

Missing From:

Columbus, Ohio

Summary:

Devin 'Sacoya' Cooper, a 33-year-old transgender woman who is Black, was last seen on August 31, 2021, near Howey Road in north Columbus, Ohio, wearing a black and white striped dress. She was 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She left her residence at approximately 11:30 p.m. on August 31, 2021, to go to the corner store and never returned home. Her black 2009 Ford Fusion was later recovered in the west side of Columbus, and she appears to be the victim of foul play.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of 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. It is unclear if Sacoya ever made it to the convenience store. After hours passed without any sign of Sacoya, Harris began to call her phone several times. The calls went unanswered; the phone appeared to be turned off. On September 1, 2021, her partner filed a missing person's report with the Columbus Division of Police when Sacoya failed to return home.

Additional Details:

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. She initially lived with her best friend Bre but was soon able to find her own place while working at a thrift store. Best friend Bre Belcher told Dateline that she and Sacoya have a special bond and that Sacoya is like a sister to her. They grew up in Toledo, Ohio and have been friends for more than two decades. The Columbus Police Department began investigating Sacoya's disappearance and posted her missing poster in October of 2021. The 2009 black Ford Fusion that Sacoya Cooper was believed to be driving Aug. 31 when she left her partner's home in North Linden was recovered in October on the West Side with stolen plates. Its discovery led investigators to believe that foul play may be involved in Cooper's disappearance. The Fusion was found fitted with a stolen plate number different from the one registered to the vehicle. The Columbus Police Department reportedly told Sacoya's family that 'they are investigating two individuals, but they could not give us any further information.' Richard said he received information about a possible sighting at a gas station, but surveillance cameras weren't helpful when investigated. Then, ransom texts demanded $7,000 for Sacoya's return or $500 to speak with her. That information was given to the police. Her Facebook account was alleged to be active twice after she had disappeared. The Columbus Division of Police and the FBI Cincinnati field office are investigating.

Case Last Updated:

Aug 18, 2026