Nadia Kira Kersh - 23 - Missing - Birmingham, Ala.

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by Jeremy Gray - November 05, 2008

Homewood police concerned for missing woman

. . . . . http://i33.tinypic.com/24zannc.jpg
. . . . . . . . . . .Nadia Kira Kersh

A 23-year-old Homewood woman didn't pick her child up from daycare Monday and her car was found abandoned in west Birmingham Tuesday, according to police.

Investigators have no evidence that Nadia Kira Kersh is the victim of a crime, but investigators say the circumstances of her disappearance have them worried for her safety.

"I'm concerned. I've worked a lot of these cases and I'm concerned," said Sgt. Doug Finch.

Kersh is a white female with blue eyes brown hair. Finch said police hope to provide the public with a better picture of her later today.

Anyone with information is asked to call 332-6262 or click here to leave a tip on the Homewood police Web page.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/homewood_police_concerned_for.html

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Homewood Police Searching for Missing Woman

Homewood police fear a missing Homewood woman is in danger.

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http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7798391&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

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Homewood Police Holding Person of Interest in Missing Mother Case

Homewood Police are holding a person of interest in the case of a young mother who has been missing for three days. Nadia Kira Kersh, 23, was last seen Monday afternoon leaving her place of work in Homewood. Her car was found abandoned on Tuesday in West Birmingham.

The person being held has not yet been named, but police are calling him an acquaintance of Nadia Kersh. They still have yet to find Kersh, but say they were working as if this were a worst case scenario.

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7808390&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

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Update: Man detained in missing woman case is not related to her child

An ex-boyfriend has been detained for questioning Thursday in connection with the disappearance of 23-year-old Nadia Kira Kersh, according to Homewood police.

The man was described as a "person of interest," but Sgt. Doug Finch declined to say what role he might have played in her disappearance.

"We consider this a significant development in the case," Doug Finch said.

Kersh was last seen Monday at about 1 p.m. when she left work at Tria Market, he said. She did not pick up her son from day care and her car was found in west Birmingham Tuesday. Police collected DNA evidence from the car. That evidence is still being processed.
The child was turned over to DHR. Police say the man detained for questioning is not related to the child and that he came in voluntarily Wednesday.

Police have searched Kersh's home, as well as financial records, but there is no new information about her location or well-being. Her parents are coming in from out of state, he said. "We're still hoping she's OK," Finch said.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/update_man_detained_in_missing.html

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Person Being Questioned in Case of Missing Homewood Mother

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http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7808740&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

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Police Question Two Men in Search for Missing Alabama Mother

Nadia Kersh has been missing since Nov. 3, when she failed to return to her job at an Alabaman market.

Alabama police questioned two persons of interest in the search for a mother who disappeared on her lunch break Monday.

Nadia Kira Kersh, 23, of Homewood, Ala., has been missing since Monday when she failed to return to her job at a local market, MyFOXAL.com said. Her car was found abandoned in West Birmingham on Tuesday.

Police are holding two of Kersh's male acquaintances in connection with the case, the TV station said.

"I have reason to believe she’s in danger," Sgt. Doug Finch of the Homewood Police Department told MyFOXAL.com.

Kersh, who has a 1-year-old son, didn't come back to work at Tria Market on Monday after her lunch break. Employees at ABC Daycare in Homewood became concerned when she didn't pick up her little boy that afternoon.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the police tip line at (205) 332-6262.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,448479,00.html

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Homewood police report purse of missing woman, Nadia Kersh, found in west Birmingham

A CSX railroad worker today found the purse belonging to a Homewood woman who has been missing since Monday.

Sgt. Doug Finch of the Homewood Police said Nadia Kira Kersh's purse was found on an overpass near Montevallo Road in western Birmingham.

Finch said several of the 23-year-old woman's belongings were still inside the purse.

Finch also said two more men have been detained as persons of interest in the case. One man, an ex-boyfriend of Kersh's is already in custody.

The two men latest men detained are from Birmingham. Homewood police brought in one man on Thursday night and another this afternoon, Finch said.

The search for Kersh will continue in western Birmingham, Finch said. Homewood Police have called in the FBI for assistance in the case.

Kersh was last seen Monday at about 1 p.m. when she left work at Tria Market, he said. She did not pick up her son from day care and her car was found in west Birmingham on Tuesday.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/homewood_police_report_purse_o.html

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Missing Homewood woman's purse found

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/1226135734315410.xml&coll=2

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No new information on missing Homewood mother

No new information was available today in the search for a 23-year-old Homewood woman last seen Monday afternoon, according to police.

On Saturday, police searched Elmwood Cemetery in southwest Birmingham in connection with the case, but Sgt. Kent Baker of the Homewood Police Department said he did not know exactly what they were looking for.

On Monday, Nadia Kira Kersh left work at Tria Market in Homewood at about 1 p.m. She did not pick up her son from day care and her car was found Tuesday.

A CSX railroad worker on Friday found Kersh's purse.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/no_new_information_on_missing.html

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by Jeremy Gray and Toraine Norris --- Birmingham News November 10, 2008 8:31 PM

Update: Homewood police release man held in Kersh disappearance

Homewood police have released the person of interest they were holding in the disappearance of Nadia Kira Kersh without charges today. A Jefferson County Circuit Judge on Saturday had allowed police to detain the man for 48 hours

The 26-year-old Irondale man is an acquaintance of Kersh, but police would not elaborate on how the two know each other. Homewood police collected blood and hair fibers from him before he was released, Sgt. Doug Finch said.

"He had reason to cause her harm, but I don't have any evidence showing harm has come to Nadia," Finch said.

Two others were being questioned about the disappearance, but they have been released, Finch said.

. . . . . http://i33.tinypic.com/6hl43p.jpg
. . . . . Special to The News - Nadia Kira Kersh

Police reported no new information on the 23-year-old woman's whereabouts, although they did release a surveillance video that shows Kersh in a parking deck before she disappeared.

Kersh was last seen Nov. 3 at about 1 p.m. when she left work at Tria Market, police said. She did not pick up her son from day care, and her car was found in west Birmingham on Tuesday.

On Saturday, police, aided by deputy U.S. Marshals and FBI agents, searched the area and have to no avail followed up on tips from the public, Finch said.

At Monday's press conference, Mary Taylor, the adoptive mother of Kersh's fraternal twin sister Vira, said Kersh's son, who turned 1 on Oct. 7, is staying with one of Kersh's friends.

Also, Gov. Bob Riley's office has offered a $5,000 reward for information that helps police locate or make an arrest in connection with the disappearance of Kersh.

Anyone with information is asked to call Homewood police at 332-6262.

Police release garage videotape of missing woman

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/update_homewood_police_release.html

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Security video from a Homewood shopping center shows the young mom leave on her lunch break from Tria market last Monday just after 1:00.

Kersh hasn’t been seen since.

Police recovered Kersh’s abandoned car in West Birmingham, her purse on a nearby railroad track.

The past week has been difficult for Kersh’s loved ones - especially Nadia’s twin sister, Vira, who, according to family friends, is having a hard time coping.

“Not very well. She’s extremely upset because the two girls really only had each other in this world. That’s really the only family that they know of,” says Mary Taylor, Vira’s adoptive mother.

Nadia and Vira were adopted by different families when they were children. The two sisters reunited five years ago and have been close ever since.

“I’d always thought they’d have each other for the rest of their lives. It made me feel better that they’d finally found each other again - so I’m hoping the best for this,” says Taylor.

Detectives have identified a 26-year old male suspect from Irondale.

“The person had a motive and the opportunity,” says Homewood Police Sgt. Doug Finch.

But so far there’s not enough evidence to charge him.

Detectives have requested a warrant to take a DNA sample from the suspect.

Investigators have also shipped off what they’re calling a good deal of physical evidence to the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia for processing.

“We’re not giving up hope. But everyday that goes by, common sense tells you, the odds go down,” says Finch.

Now a lot of people are praying for some fast answers.

Homewood Police, the FBI and the U.S. Marshall’s office are searching the area where Kersh’s purse was found.

They may soon ask the public to come help.

Governor Bob Riley’s office is now offering a $5000 reward for anyone who can help find Nadia Kersh.

To watch the security camera video of Nadia Kersh, click on the video player above.

• VIDEO @ LINK

http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/security_camera_footage_released_of_nadia_kersh/45976/#fragment-2

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Reward offered for missing Ala. woman

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- The search for a Birmingham area woman missing since last week has yielded no clues.

23-year-old Nadia Kira Kersh of Homewood was last seen on Nov. 3.

On Monday, Governor Bob Riley's office offered a $5,000 reward for information to help police in the investigation.

Officers with several police agencies spent Saturday searching an area in west Birmingham where Kersh's vehicle was found Tuesday.

Homewood police said three individuals described as persons of interest were detained for questioning about Kersh's disappearance. All were later released.

http://www.wztv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.al/2d16abc3-www.fox17.com.shtml

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Video: Reward offered in search for Nadia Kira Kersh

Homewood Police Sgt. Doug Finch discusses the latest developments in the search for Nadia Kira Kersh. Also on the video, Mary Taylor, adoptive mother of Kersh's twin sister Vira, discussing the young woman who was last seen on Nov. 3.

http://videos.al.com/birmingham-news/news_videos/

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Missing Woman's Relative Speaks

While investigators continue to follow several leads, family and friends are wondering what they can do to help.

Mary Taylor is Nadia's twin sister's adoptive mother. She says, "Hopefully we can all join hands and go try and find her."

12 years ago Nadia Kersh and her twin sister, Vira, were separated after being adopted from a Russian orphanage by different families.

Taylor says, "Vira ended up with me, and Nadia ended up with a different family, but about 2 1/2 years ago Nadia finished up school and found her twin and that's how she ended up here."

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http://www.cbs42.com/news/local/34127794.html

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Mom of missing Ala. woman hopes for safe return

BIRMINGHAM — The mother of a young woman missing for more than a week said Tuesday she is holding out hope that her daughter will be found safe though police suspect foul play in the disappearance.

"We are in such a state of disbelief," Nancy Kersh said of the mystery surrounding her daughter's whereabouts.

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http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/news/2008/nov/11/mom-missing-ala-woman-hopes-safe-return/

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Homewood police rewards now total $15,000 for information in case of missing Nadia Kira Kersh

Two more $5,000 rewards are being offered for information and leads in the disappearance of Nadia Kira Kersh, 23, of Homewood, who disappeared Nov. 3, said Homewood detective Sgt. Doug Finch said at today's 2 p.m. press conference.

Gov. Bob Riley's office announced the first $5,000 reward on Tuesday.

Barber's Dairy, a Homewood business, and an anonymous donor are providing the additional rewards, Finch said.

Finch reported no new information in the case. He said police remain hopeful of additional leads from already collected evidence, such as DNA and hair fibers recovered when Kersh's abandoned car was found in west Birmingham shortly after she went missing from her job at Tria Market in Homewood.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/homewood_police_rewards_now_to.html

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Homewood police contact NASA in case of missing mom

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC-TV, MyFoxAL.com) -- Homewood police announced on Wednesday afternoon they have been in contact with NASA to try to solve the case of missing mother Nadia Kersh. Sgt. Doug Finch said contacted NASA to find out if there were any non-classified satellites focused in on the Birmingham area the day Kersh went missing.....

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7848597&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

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Kersh case now a criminal investigation

Homewood police said today the case of a Nadia Kersh, 23, missing for two weeks, is a criminal investigation that points to foul play.

"We are continuing our search for Nadia, but this is a criminal investigation. We have a suspect with strong evidence in my opinon," said Homewood Det. Sgt. Doug Finch.

"We've moved into a recovery mode," Finch said. "I don't ever want to give up hope, but two weeks is a long time."

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/11/kersh_case_now_a_criminal_inve.html

[One2Snoop]

Still nothing. Sounds like another case thats going to have an unhappy ending. I hope the satellites give LE some sort of clue.

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People can help search for Nadia Kersh

HOMEWOOD, Ala-- Police are sweetening the pot, hoping nearly $36,000 entices someone to come forward with information that helps them locate Nadia Kersh and possibly leads to a suspect’s arrest.

The FBI kicked in $20,000 on top of the original $15,000 reward.

Two other people added $900 more.

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http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/people_can_help_search_for_nadia_kersh/47356/