Police, FBI offer $30k reward in search for missing Delaware woman

Almost a year has passed since Nefertiri Trader went missing June 30, 2014.

The 33-year-old New Castle woman known as “Neffie” missed her own birthday, and even her eldest son’s graduation.

Now the New Castle County Police and the FBI have launched a campaign, which includes a $30,000 reward, in an effort to solve the case.

Meanwhile, the family is begging the public for help, and trying to find answers to the mystery of Trader’s whereabouts. At a press conference Tuesday, Trader’s mother Denise sobbed and urged the public for information.

“It would be appreciated to the fullest extent…Please somebody step forward and tell me where my child is,” she said. “We love her and miss her so much and we need her back.”  

During the press conference, New Castle County Police and the FBI announced a $30,000 reward to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest. The agencies also announced a plan to post digital billboards on Interstate 95 from Maryland to Connecticut.

“We believe we can solve this case, but we need help, and we suffer as an agency with this code of silence, ‘Do not come forward, it’s a big mistake to tell police anything.’,” said Colonel Elmer Setting of New Castle County Police. “It’s a big mistake not to tell the police something.”

On the evening of June 30, 2014, New Castle County Police responded to a call from the Saddlebrook community, west of New Castle, after Trader’s mother reported her daughter missing.

Trader was last seen by her children the evening of June 29th and was in contact with a family member later that night. Witnesses reported seeing Nefertiri around 4:00 a.m. being forced into her vehicle, according to police. 

New Castle County Police issued a Gold Alert, but to date detectives have received very little information and have followed up on all investigative leads. The agencies say they hope by offering such a large reward individuals once reluctant to offer information will now come forward.  

Trader’s family says they’re angry there is no information on the case and they want closure.

“The pain is unbearable,” said Corey Trader, Neffie’s cousin. “We need some closure for my family. We need to know if Neffie is alive. We need to know if she’s gone. It’s hard to have that lingering around our heads.”

Nefertiri Trader is described as an African-American female, 5’6” tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.  She was last seen in her silver 2000 Acura RL with Delaware registration. 

Anyone with information as to her whereabouts should call 911. Citizens may also call the New Castle County Police Department at (302) 573-2800 or can visit its website at www.nccpd.com. 

The FBI also can be contacted at 1-800-CALL-FBI.   Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or log onto Facebook at New Castle County Police Department.