New Jersey

Blood, Glasses Found in Parking Lot as Mystery Surrounding Young New Jersey Woman's Disappearance Deepens: Father

What to Know

  • Shanaya Coley, 24, was last seen near Colonial Avenue in Paterson shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday
  • Police say she was injured and may have been kidnapped in her own vehicle, a 2013 Nissan Altima
  • Anyone with information is asked to call Dec. Sgt. Marco Aliano of the Passaic County Prosecutor's office or the Paterson Police Department

The father of a 24-year-old New Jersey woman who vanished as she headed to her job late Tuesday says blood and his daughter's glasses were found in the parking lot of her apartment complex, but, more than 24 hours after she disappeared, the family of Shanaya Coley still has few answers. 

And now, the FBI is getting involved in the investigation. 

Prosecutors said Wednesday Coley, of Paterson, was hurt and then possibly kidnapped in her own vehicle. She was last seen near Colonial Avenue in her hometown shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Coley, who has a young son, may have been abducted from her car -- a 2013 Nissan Altima with New Jersey license plate R74-HRX, officials said.

How Coley may have been hurt wasn't immediately clear, nor was the extent of her injuries known.

Prosecutors didn't say whether they believe she was targeted or attacked at random, but police told the woman's father, William Coley, that she had taken out a restraining order against some unknown person.

William Coley also told News 4 that he doesn't know how to tell his 3-year-old grandson his mother is missing. He said he hopes that she will be home before his son's 4th birthday on Dec. 23.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dec. Sgt. Marco Aliano of the Passaic County Prosecutor's office at 862-849-6019 or the Paterson Police Department's Major Crimes Division at 973-321-1120.

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