A Deadly Disagreement: Athena Curry

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In the early hours of May 27, 2011, 20-year-old Athena Joy Curry walked barefoot out of her boyfriend’s Atlanta home—leaving behind her phone, her purse, and her sleeping baby son. She was never seen again. Was it a choice—or a cover-up? And why did no one report her missing for four days? Anyone with information about this case should contact the Atlanta Police Department at 404-546-4235or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS. 

This is the story of Athena Curry.  

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 story
takes us to the south side of Atlanta, Georgia, where
a young woman walked out of her boyfriend's home in
the middle of the night and was never seen again.

(00:24):
She left behind a baby boy, a half packed suitcase,
and a life that was just beginning to take shape.
This is the story of Athena Curry. It was May
twenty seventh, twenty eleven. Athena Curry was just twenty years old,

(00:47):
a bright, beautiful woman who had dreams of becoming a pediatrician.
She had moved to Atlanta during her senior year of
high school to live with her sister and later enrolled
in the University of Feax. She loved kids, she loved learning,
and most of all, she loved her son King. But

(01:10):
on that muggy spring morning in southwest Atlanta, all of
that came to a screeching vault. Athena had been staying
with her boyfriend, who said lou Hajib, the father of
her son. Their relationship was rocky and that's putting it lightly.

(01:32):
Just the year before, Yusef had been arrested for allegedly
pungent Athena and threatening her with the stun gun. Still,
she stayed, maybe for their son, maybe because she hoped
things would get better. But on May twenty seventh, around

(01:52):
three am, the two got into another heated argument. Athena
had discovered suspicion text messages from another woman on Yusa's phone.
According to him, that's when she left, no shoes, just
a tank top and shorts.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
She walked out and vanished into the night.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yusef said Athena walked away on foot, but the details
stopped there.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
She didn't take her purse, or.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
Her cell phone, or her one year old son, who
was asleep in the next room.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yusef didn't report her missing either.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
In fact, no one did until four days later, when
he called Athena's sister, Aisha, and asked if she had
seen her. Her sister knew immediately something was wrong. Athena
would never abandon her son, never just disappear without telling anyone.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
She filed a.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
Missing person's report with the Atlanta Police Department, but by
then crucial time had passed. Security footage from local cameras
turned up nothing, no witnesses, no signs of a struggle,
no digital breadcrumbs, and Athena's phone completely silent. Athena had roots, goals,

(03:26):
and a family. She was attending college and raising a baby.
Those closest to her say she had started thinking seriously
about ending her relationship with Yusef for good. Her sister
believed she was on the edge of a breakthrough, ready
to rebuild her life, but someone or something got in

(03:51):
the way.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Atlanta police interviewed Yusef.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
He stuck to a story that Athena had stormed out
after their fight.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
He denied any knowledge of her.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
Whereabouts, but his history of domestic violence boomed at large,
and the delay in reporting Athena missing only fueled suspicion. Still,
police couldn't build a case. There were no physical clue,
no forensics, and no clear motive that could stick in court.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
It's been over a decade.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Since Athena Curry disappeared. Her son, now a teenager, growing
up without his mother. Her family, especially her sister, Ayisha,
has never stopped fighting for answers, speaking out and demanding accountability,
But the silence surrounding Athena's case has been deafening. Today,

(04:55):
Athena Joy Curry is still listed as a missing person.
She would be in her mid thirties at the time
of her disappearance. She stood five feet eight inches tall,
weighed around one hundred and fifty pounds, and had shoulder
length black hair and hazel eyes. She has a tattoo
of the word King, her son's name, on her left arm.

(05:21):
Anyone with information about Athena's case should contact the Atlanta
Police Department or Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta. Their numbers can
be found in the description box below. My thoughts and
prayers are with Athena's loved ones. Her sister has unfortunately

(05:41):
lost hope that Athena is still alive, but she still
remains hopeful that one day they will at least know
what happened to her. As we close out this episode,
don't forget to hit the follow button to stay updated
on this case and others like it. Make sure to
subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow us

(06:03):
on Instagram and TikTok for more true crime updates. And
if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a five star rating.
Thank you so much. For joining us on another episode
until next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of

(06:33):
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.