The Memphis Police Department has confirmed the identification of a young woman who was found deceased, after disappearing following her riverboat birthday gathering on September 9, 2023. The woman, Tamia Taylor, turned 21 that day and was celebrating with friends in Memphis. 

Taylor was said to have embarked on the Island Queen Booze Cruise close to 11:30 pm. Upon docking, though, her friends were unable to find her. This unexpected disappearance prompted Taylor’s mother to take immediate actions, including a trip to Memphis and filing a missing person report, after failure to contact her daughter.

In coordination with the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department, the Memphis police conducted an investigation concerning a body that was found on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River on September 23. This body was later conclusively identified to be Taylor’s.

Reports from local media, based on the Crittenden County coroner’s findings, stated that Taylor’s cause of death was drowning. The particular circumstances leading to her being in the water, however, remain uncertain. Memphis Riverboats, prior to the grim discovery, had released a statement indicating they were unaware of any signs that Taylor could have fallen off the boat. 

In support of the company’s statement, they noted: “We can confirm from video footage that she was last seen as the vessel approached the Harbor, where we dock.” The ongoing investigation to understand the cause and circumstances surrounding Taylor’s drowning is still underway.