Friday, August 16, 2019

The Disappearance of Sapphire Wiggins

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Sapphire Wiggins (23) disappeared in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 17th, 2014. At the time of her disappearance, Sapphire was dating an older man named Kevin Shelton (50). Sapphire was reportedly very happy in their relationship and had told her family and friends that she wanted to marry him. There was a slight problem, though: Kevin was already married, and he had three children by wife his of 30 years. It’s unclear whether or not Sapphire was aware of this.

Kevin is the last known person to have seen Sapphire before she disappeared. During the morning hours of October 18th, 2014, Kevin spoke on the phone with his son, Eric. He told him that he was in trouble because things got out of hand. When Eric asked Kevin what he meant, Kevin said that he was going to jail for the next 10 to 15 years for domestic violence. 

Kevin Shelton (source:Charley Project)

Kevin made a few other phone calls that day, the last one being at 12:45 PM. Fifteen minutes later, Kevin’s wife found him hanged in her basement. He left behind a suicide note that contained loving messages for his wife and children, however there was no mention of Sapphire at all.

It has never been believed that Sapphire is missing on her own accord. Her family members describe her as outgoing, and it is unusual for her to not contact her loved ones. She leaves behind a son, who was just six years-old at the time of her disappearance. 

Investigators have stated that Sapphire's case is “basically solved." They believe that Kevin killed Sapphire the night of her disappearance and then disposed of her body. Inside his beloved Porsche, investigators found blood belonging to Sapphire. Additionally, both Sapphire and Kevin’s phone pings indicate that their phones were in the same place throughout the entire night of the 17th, in several different locations. Investigators have searched all of those areas and have found both a wig and a pair of sunglasses believed to have belong to Sapphire, but Sapphire herself remains missing.

According to lead detective Neil Kane, the fact that they have not recovered Sapphire’s body does not hinder their belief that Kevin murdered her. In fact, when interviewed about the case, detective Kane stated: “If Kevin Shelton was still alive, I think we could have prosecuted him without a body.”

Still, Sapphire’s family members are hoping to finally locate her and bring some closure to this tragic ordeal. Anyone with information that could help the case is encouraged to Atlantic City Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234.
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