DeKalb County

6 years later, this missing woman's case is now a murder investigation

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A mother is begging for answers in the disappearance of her daughter.

Investigators believe someone abducted Shawndell McLeod, 35, as she left for work.

Detectives said on a Sunday in September 2011, McLeod was supposed to leave her home she formerly shared with another woman in the 4700 block of Golod Way to go to her job as a nursing home cook.

“I believe she was abducted outside her house when she came out to go to work around 5 in the morning,” detective Henry Guest said. “It was more than one person because I don’t believe one person could have taken her and then taken the car, too.”

Guest said McLeaod’s car, a 2011 Nissan Versa, turned up days later near Cleveland Avenue behind an abandoned house. That led police to a person of interest, but Guest doesn’t believe that person is the killer.

Detectives said they have a prime suspect, somebody who was close enough to know McLeod’s family and know how to get through the maze of streets to get to her house.

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Badicea McLeod said not a day has gone by that she doesn’t think about her daughter.

“Every day I ask God to give me the strength, the courage and the understanding,” she said.

She said her daughter was supposed to come over for dinner that Sunday evening, but she never showed up.

“I come off the bus and I say, ‘Shawndell, where are you? Come home,’” Badicea McLeod said.

Guest said he stays in close touch with Badicea McLeod.

“I talk to her, check on her. She’s still crying,” he said.

Guest said he never put the case on the back burner and he’s determined to solve it.

“There’s more people out there that know something,” he said.

“Tell somebody something. Let’s know what happened. Follow your heart,” Badicea McLeod said.

Anyone with information on the case should call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.