On August 31, 2021, 33-year-old Sacoya Cooper left her home in Columbus, Ohio, and was never seen again. A daughter, sister, and friend, Sacoya was a woman who built a life filled with love, resilience, and joy. But after that night, her car was found abandoned, evidence surfaced, and her family was left searching for answers as police communication faltered.

In this episode, we hear directly from Sacoya’s family as they share who she was and how her disappearance unfolded. We examine what investigators did-and didn’t do- and reveal new information that has never before been made public.

If you know anything about the disappearance of Sacoya Cooper, please contact Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. Even the smallest detail could bring her family closer to the truth.

They Were Here is a true crime podcast investigating the disappearances and suspicious deaths of LGBTQ+ people across the U.S.-cases too often ignored, mishandled, or buried. Each episode uncovers who they were, how they vanished, and why their cases remain unsolved. This is where true crime meets truth-telling.