Mom of 21-Year-Old Woman Found Dead After Birthday Riverboat Cruise Speaks Out: 'She Loved Life'
Following Tamia Taylor's death, her mom says she will care for her daughter's two young children, calling it a "battle for their grandmother to fight"
Tamia Taylor/Facebook
Tamia Taylor.The mother of Tamia Taylor, a 21-year-old woman who went missing on the Mississippi River while on a riverboat birthday cruise, said she will care for her young grandchildren following the discovery of her daughter's body.
"We’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure that they are well taken care of because they are kids and they don’t have to worry," Debra Taylor told Fox affiliate WHBQ-TV about Tamia's 1-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. "This is a battle for their grandmother to fight."
Tamia vanished after coming to Memphis to celebrate her birthday with friends on Sept. 9, the Memphis Police Department said in their initial news release.
"Miss Taylor boarded the Island Queen Booze Cruise at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, September 9, 2023, but was not seen by her companions after the boat returned to the dock and everyone offloaded," police wrote in the Sept. 12 release. "There were two exits on the boat for patrons to offload at the conclusion of the ride."
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Then in a statement issued on Saturday, the Memphis Police Department said that officers were "assisting the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department in the investigation of a body that was recovered on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River."
The department confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday that the 21-year-old's body had been discovered and positively identified.
Police said Wednesday that they are awaiting autopsy results, but ABC affiliate WATN-TV and WHBQ-TV reported that the Crittenden County coroner confirmed her death was due to drowning. When contacted by PEOPLE on Thursday, the coroner's office had no comment and said they wanted to respect the family's privacy.
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What happened before Taylor entered the water is unknown at this time. While police are investigating, Debra told WATN-TV that she still has questions.
"Everybody on the boat had a phone, everybody on the boat saw this and saw that," she said. "Why didn’t nobody speak up?”
Police said they do not suspect any foul play led to Tamia's death, WATN-TV, WHBQ-TV and CBS affiliate WREG-TV reported.
Speaking with WREG-TV, Debra said she didn't think Tamia did "this to herself."
"She loved life too much," she added.
Debra is grateful for the help her family has received, including from the police.
"At the end of the day, they are still human," she told WHBQ-TV. "They have to be able to go home to rest so that they can come back out and protect and serve us. So they did an amazing job."
Also assisting in the search was the Dock Ellis Foundation, a non-profit that assists families of missing minority women.
"Debra Taylor and her family are truly [grateful] for your thoughts and prayers," the foundation said in a Facebook post. "Dock Ellis Foundation is asking everyone to please allow the family time to heal. We will all carry Tamia Taylor in our hearts."
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In addition to her mom and two children, Tamia also leaves behind her 12-year-old brother Caden, who called her one of his "closest friends," per WREG-TV.
"I loved her so much, but it just doesn’t feel well to not have her here," he added.
In spite of the grief she feels, Debra said she is relieved that her daughter's body was finally recovered.
"[God] gave me what I was asking for and that is closure to move to the next step," she told WHBQ-TV.
A funeral will likely be open to the public, per the station.
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