A Broken Lock: Yasmin Acree

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: On a cold January night in 2008, 15-year-old honor student Yasmin Acree vanished from her basement bedroom on Chicago’s West Side. A cut lock. Untouched sheets. Glasses left behind. Despite clear signs of a break-in, police labeled her a runaway—delaying the investigation that might have changed everything. What really happened to Yasmin Acree—and why has no one been held accountable? Anyone with information about this case should contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-744-8266. 

This is the story of Yasmin Acree. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today's case
takes us to Chicago's West Side, to the Austin neighborhood,
where a fifteen year old honor student vanished without a

(00:20):
trace in two thousand and eight. Despite signs of a
break in and a family desperate for answers, her case
remains unsolved till this day. This is the story of
Yasmin A Kree. Yasmine was born on October twenty fifth,

(00:42):
nineteen ninety two. She and her older brother, DeMarcus faced
a turbulent early life in Kentucky's foster care system, enduring
abuse and instability. In two thousand and one, they found
some stability when they moved in with their aunt by marriage,
a woman by the name of Rose May Starnes, in Chicago.

(01:05):
Rose officially adopted them in two thousand and six. Yasmine
was known for her bright smile and determination. She was
an honor student, active in her church, and had dreams
of a better future. But beneath the surface, she grappled
with the scars of her pass. On January fifteenth, two

(01:30):
thousand and eight, Yasmin's life took a mysterious turn. She
spent the day at school and later visited the North
Lawndale YMCA, where she was involved in sports and other activities.
After returning home, she did a load of laundry and
went to bed. Her bedroom was located in the basement

(01:52):
of the home. The next morning she was gone, it
was discovered that a lock on the basement door had
been cut. Yasmin's room appeared untouched, and her eyeglasses were
left behind. Her aunt Rose was concerned that morning because
Yasmin didn't mink her bed. Despite these alarming signs, the

(02:15):
initial police response was underwhelming. Authorities classified Yasmin as a runaway,
a decision that delayed critical forensic investigations. No fingerprints were taken,
and the broken lock was not preserved as evidence. This
misstep would haunt the investigation for years to come. As

(02:41):
the time went by, questions mounted. One name that surfaced
was Jimmy Terrell Smith. Smith and his father lived in
the second floor apartment of Yasmin's building. Smith had a
criminal history, including conviction for attempted murder. Took an interest
in Yasmin, and she mentioned him twice in her diary.

(03:07):
In two thousand and nine, Smith was arrested for sexually
assaulting five females, including two fourteen year old girls he
allegedly kidnapped. While in custody, he claimed to know what
happened to Yasmin, but his statements were never confirmed. Yasmin's

(03:28):
family never gave up hope. Her brother DeMarcus and cousin,
Reverend Ira Acree, have been vocal advocates, criticizing the initial
police response and urging renewed efforts to solve the case.
In twenty fourteen, Yasmin's aunt Rose passed away, never knowing
what happened to the niece she raised as her own. Today,

(03:53):
Yasmin Acree's case remains unsolved. An age progressed image shows
what she might look like now, and a ten thousand
dollars reward is offered for any information leading to answers.
Anyone with information about Yasmin's disappearance should contact the Chicago
Police Department. Their contact information can be found in the

(04:15):
description box below. As we close out this episode, don't
forget to hit the follow button to stay updated on
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you enjoyed this episode, leave us a five star rating.

(04:38):
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode
until next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iheartra Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

(05:02):
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.