July 18, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: December 27, 2022, 30-year-old Cierra Chapman drove to her ex-boyfriend’s apartment in Trotwood, Ohio to exchange belongings. Within minutes, her car was seen leaving—but Cierra was never seen again. Days later, her abandoned vehicle turned up miles away, untouched, with her purse still inside. Anyone with information about this case should contact the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-1070.
This is the story of Cierra Chapman.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
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 we're
discussing a case that took place in Trotwood, Ohio, in
December twenty twenty two. This case involves a young mother
(00:21):
who vanished under extremely suspicious circumstances, sparking an FBI investigation.
The woman had driven to her ex boyfriend's apartment complex
in the early morning hours to exchange belongings after their
recent breakup. She knocked on the door, returned to her car,
(00:42):
and within minutes she was gone. This is the story
of Sierra Chapman. Sierra Chapman was born on November twelfth,
nineteen ninety two, in Ohio. At the thirty years old,
she was a devoted mother who had built a life
(01:03):
for herself and her child. Sierra was described by family
as reliable and loving. She wasn't the type to simply
disappear without a trace. She had responsibilities, people who depended
on her, and a routine that those who knew her
could count on. But on December twenty seventh, twenty twenty two,
(01:26):
just two days after Christmas, Sierra's predictable life would take
a terrifying turn. December twenty seventh, twenty twenty two. It
was around four point thirty in the morning, while most
people were sleeping off their Christmas celebrations, Sierra Chapman was
(01:46):
driving through the quiet streets of Trotwood, Ohio. She had
arranged to meet her ex boyfriend at his apartment complex,
autumn Wood's Apartments on autumn Wood's Drive. The purpose simple
to exchange belongings after their breakup. Siera pulled up in
her silver twenty fourteen Cadillac SRX license plate JVQ eight
(02:13):
six one two. She got out of her car and
knocked on the door. What happened next would baffle investigators
and devastate her family. According to witness accounts, Sierra knocked
on her ex boyfriend's door at four thirty am. Two
(02:33):
to three minutes later, her silver Cadillac was seen driving
away from the Autumnwood's Apartments. But here's the crucial question.
Was Sierra behind the wheel? Police have never confirmed whether
she could be seen inside the vehicle as it left
(02:54):
the complex. Those three minutes would become the most important
time for in the investigation. What could have happened in
such a short amount of time to make a mother
vanish without a trace. When Sierra didn't return home, her
family knew something was very wrong. This wasn't like her.
(03:17):
She had a child to care for and responsibilities she
would never abandon. Days passed with no word from Sierra,
no phone calls, no text messages, no social media activity.
Her bank account showed no activity either. It was as
if she had simply vanished from the face of the earth.
(03:41):
Her family contacted police, but the most crucial evidence was
still missing her car. On January sixth, twenty twenty three,
ten days after Sierra's disappearance, a discovery would only be
the mystery. Her silver Cadillac SRX was found abandoned on
(04:05):
Jewel Avenue in Middletown, Ohio. Inside the vehicle, police found
Sierra's purse and other personal belongings, but there was no
sign of Sierra herself. According to her family, she had
no connections to Middletown and no reason to be in
(04:26):
that city. The location of the car raised more questions
than answers who drove it there, Why Middletown? And where
was Sierra. The discovery of Sierra's abandoned vehicle prompted law
enforcement to escalate the investigation. The Dayton Police Department began
(04:49):
calling her disappearance very suspicious. This wasn't being treated as
a missing person case anymore. The circumstances were too strange,
too calculated. A woman doesn't just vanish in three minutes
and have her car turn up in a different city
ten days later. Police knew they were dealing with something
(05:13):
more sinister. As the investigation intensified, the FBI became involved.
In February twenty twenty three, federal agents joined the search
for Sierra Chapman. The FBI offered a ten thousand dollars
cash reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Crime Stoppers
(05:36):
added another ten thousand dollars to the reward, bringing the
total to twenty thousand dollars. Investigators began focusing on the
last known location where Sierra was seen, the Autumn Woods apartments.
They organized search efforts and asked the public for any
(05:57):
information about that early morning and count. The ex boyfriend
who had arranged to meet Sierra became a person of interest,
though police have not publicly named him or filed any charges.
The investigation appeared to be building a case, but progress
(06:18):
was slow. Meanwhile, Sierra's family continued to wait for answers.
The investigation into Sierra's disappearance remains active, but progress has
been limited. Despite their reward amount and FBI involvement, no
(06:38):
arrests have been made. The case has become a reminder
of how quickly someone can vanish and how difficult it
can be to find answers when things don't exactly seem
so straightforward. Sierra's family continues to hold on to hope,
organizing search efforts and keeping her store alive. The mystery
(07:04):
of what happened in those three minutes at Autumnwood's apartments
remains unsolved. Did Sierra willingly get back into her car
that night, was she forced? Or did someone else drive
her vehicle away. Today, Sierra Chapman would be thirty two
years old. The Dayton Police Department and FBI continue to
(07:29):
investigate her disappearance. They believe someone in the community has
information that could break the case open. Anyone with information
about her disappearance to contact the Dayton Police Department. You
can find their contact information in the description box below.
(07:53):
As we close out this episode, Don't Forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Sierra's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
for more true crime updates. And if you are watching
us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case in the comments below. Thank you so much for
(08:17):
joining us on another episode until next time. Hunting for
(08:47):
Answers is a production of 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.
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 we're
discussing a case that took place in Trotwood, Ohio, in
December twenty twenty two. This case involves a young mother
(00:21):
who vanished under extremely suspicious circumstances, sparking an FBI investigation.
The woman had driven to her ex boyfriend's apartment complex
in the early morning hours to exchange belongings after their
recent breakup. She knocked on the door, returned to her car,
(00:42):
and within minutes she was gone. This is the story
of Sierra Chapman. Sierra Chapman was born on November twelfth,
nineteen ninety two, in Ohio. At the thirty years old,
she was a devoted mother who had built a life
(01:03):
for herself and her child. Sierra was described by family
as reliable and loving. She wasn't the type to simply
disappear without a trace. She had responsibilities, people who depended
on her, and a routine that those who knew her
could count on. But on December twenty seventh, twenty twenty two,
(01:26):
just two days after Christmas, Sierra's predictable life would take
a terrifying turn. December twenty seventh, twenty twenty two. It
was around four point thirty in the morning, while most
people were sleeping off their Christmas celebrations, Sierra Chapman was
(01:46):
driving through the quiet streets of Trotwood, Ohio. She had
arranged to meet her ex boyfriend at his apartment complex,
autumn Wood's Apartments on autumn Wood's Drive. The purpose simple
to exchange belongings after their breakup. Siera pulled up in
her silver twenty fourteen Cadillac SRX license plate JVQ eight
(02:13):
six one two. She got out of her car and
knocked on the door. What happened next would baffle investigators
and devastate her family. According to witness accounts, Sierra knocked
on her ex boyfriend's door at four thirty am. Two
(02:33):
to three minutes later, her silver Cadillac was seen driving
away from the Autumnwood's Apartments. But here's the crucial question.
Was Sierra behind the wheel? Police have never confirmed whether
she could be seen inside the vehicle as it left
(02:54):
the complex. Those three minutes would become the most important
time for in the investigation. What could have happened in
such a short amount of time to make a mother
vanish without a trace. When Sierra didn't return home, her
family knew something was very wrong. This wasn't like her.
(03:17):
She had a child to care for and responsibilities she
would never abandon. Days passed with no word from Sierra,
no phone calls, no text messages, no social media activity.
Her bank account showed no activity either. It was as
if she had simply vanished from the face of the earth.
(03:41):
Her family contacted police, but the most crucial evidence was
still missing her car. On January sixth, twenty twenty three,
ten days after Sierra's disappearance, a discovery would only be
the mystery. Her silver Cadillac SRX was found abandoned on
(04:05):
Jewel Avenue in Middletown, Ohio. Inside the vehicle, police found
Sierra's purse and other personal belongings, but there was no
sign of Sierra herself. According to her family, she had
no connections to Middletown and no reason to be in
(04:26):
that city. The location of the car raised more questions
than answers who drove it there, Why Middletown? And where
was Sierra. The discovery of Sierra's abandoned vehicle prompted law
enforcement to escalate the investigation. The Dayton Police Department began
(04:49):
calling her disappearance very suspicious. This wasn't being treated as
a missing person case anymore. The circumstances were too strange,
too calculated. A woman doesn't just vanish in three minutes
and have her car turn up in a different city
ten days later. Police knew they were dealing with something
(05:13):
more sinister. As the investigation intensified, the FBI became involved.
In February twenty twenty three, federal agents joined the search
for Sierra Chapman. The FBI offered a ten thousand dollars
cash reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Crime Stoppers
(05:36):
added another ten thousand dollars to the reward, bringing the
total to twenty thousand dollars. Investigators began focusing on the
last known location where Sierra was seen, the Autumn Woods apartments.
They organized search efforts and asked the public for any
(05:57):
information about that early morning and count. The ex boyfriend
who had arranged to meet Sierra became a person of interest,
though police have not publicly named him or filed any charges.
The investigation appeared to be building a case, but progress
(06:18):
was slow. Meanwhile, Sierra's family continued to wait for answers.
The investigation into Sierra's disappearance remains active, but progress has
been limited. Despite their reward amount and FBI involvement, no
(06:38):
arrests have been made. The case has become a reminder
of how quickly someone can vanish and how difficult it
can be to find answers when things don't exactly seem
so straightforward. Sierra's family continues to hold on to hope,
organizing search efforts and keeping her store alive. The mystery
(07:04):
of what happened in those three minutes at Autumnwood's apartments
remains unsolved. Did Sierra willingly get back into her car
that night, was she forced? Or did someone else drive
her vehicle away. Today, Sierra Chapman would be thirty two
years old. The Dayton Police Department and FBI continue to
(07:29):
investigate her disappearance. They believe someone in the community has
information that could break the case open. Anyone with information
about her disappearance to contact the Dayton Police Department. You
can find their contact information in the description box below.
(07:53):
As we close out this episode, Don't Forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Sierra's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
for more true crime updates. And if you are watching
us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case in the comments below. Thank you so much for
(08:17):
joining us on another episode until next time. Hunting for
(08:47):
Answers is a production of 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.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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