Fears are mounting for the safety of Antoinette Forbes, a 53-year-old single mother from Washington DC, who disappeared from her home on 4 September without her son, dog, phones, wallet, laptop or car. Her family say the disappearance is completely out of character, insisting she would never willingly abandon her ten-year-old son, who they describe as "her life", prompting concern that foul play may be involved. Police have now designated her a critically missing person and are treating her home as a crime scene, barring even close family members from entering.

Forbes, who worked in public relations for pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, was last heard from in the early hours of Saturday morning and had been planning a Florida trip with her sisters. Her sister Aileen grew alarmed when Forbes failed to respond to messages the next day and sent a friend to check the property, who found the front door unlocked and the family dog inside. A former MPD homicide investigator not connected to the case described the disappearance as unusual for someone with such a close-knit family and stable life, noting police will likely focus on what disrupted her normal routine. Forbes is described as 5ft 2in, with black hair, brown eyes and of Asian descent, and her family is appealing for any information that might help bring her home.