Shawntell Monique Waites, 29, was last seen on January 1, 2006, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was 5 feet 7 inches and about 130 pounds, often wore blonde or light brown weaves, had several missing teeth, pierced ears, and a tattoo reading LADY on her right leg. She was a mother of four; her grandfather, who had been caring for the children, reported her missing.

Her disappearance is one of more than a dozen cases of women who went missing in the Albuquerque area between 2001 and 2006, many with histories of drug involvement and prostitution. Investigators have considered possible connections among those cases, and there has been speculation about a link to the West Mesa murders, but Shawntell has never been conclusively tied to that case and remains missing.

The Albuquerque Police Department continues to seek information and the family hopes for answers. If anyone knew Shawntell or has information about her whereabouts, please contact the authorities.