WASHINGTON, DC — Police in Washington are investigating the disappearance of 53-year-old Antoinette Forbes after she was last seen Friday afternoon at her home in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW. Her family says the case quickly moved from a standard missing-person investigation to one treated as especially urgent.
Relatives said they began to worry when repeated calls and texts went unanswered. Family friend Elizabeth Northrup said police reclassified Forbes as critically missing in less than 24 hours, a label used by the Metropolitan Police Department when someone is believed to be in danger or facing life-threatening circumstances.
Forbes’ sister, Aileen Forbes, said the family immediately sensed something was wrong and has been pressing for information ever since. Police are asking anyone who may know where she is to contact investigators.
A routine holiday conversation turned into concern after messages stopped
Aileen Forbes said she and her sister had spoken over FaceTime Saturday morning while discussing plans to visit their mother in Florida for the holidays. She described the exchange as ordinary and said the two were in regular contact, often by text or video.
That changed by Labor Day, when Aileen said she had tested positive for COVID-19 and reached out because she has an underlying health condition that could make the illness more serious. When her sister did not answer repeated messages or FaceTime calls, her concern grew quickly.
She said there was nothing in their conversations that suggested Antoinette Forbes had intended to disappear. Instead, the silence felt abrupt and out of character, prompting the family to start checking on her more directly.
Friends entering the home found the dog, car and personal items inside
Family friends who live near Forbes’ home used a key to enter the property and immediately saw signs that alarmed them. Aileen Forbes said they found Max, the family dog, inside the house after he had gone to the bathroom indoors, which suggested he may have been alone for some time.
Her car was still in the driveway, and her phones and wallet were also inside the home. Those details deepened the family’s worry and led them to call police right away.
Forbes’ sister said the discoveries inside the house were enough to tell the family something was wrong before investigators even arrived. The family’s focus quickly shifted from trying to reach Antoinette Forbes to making sure authorities were involved as soon as possible.
Police are treating the house as an active crime scene
Aileen Forbes said detectives have told the family that the home is being treated as an active crime scene. Because of that designation, no relatives have been allowed inside, including her.
She said the restriction has made the disappearance even harder to process because the house holds personal meaning for the family. “In some ways, it’s my home too,” she said, adding that she still has not been able to step inside.
Investigators have not shared many details with the family, according to Aileen Forbes, but they have stayed in touch and continued to receive information that could help the search. The family said police have been working since Monday afternoon and have kept the case active.
Loved ones say nothing in her life suggested she would leave voluntarily
Family members say Antoinette Forbes was deeply rooted in her work, her home life and her role as a mother. Aileen Forbes described her sister as successful, happy and fully engaged in both her professional and personal life.
She also said Forbes’ 10-year-old son, Nathan, was central to her world, along with the family dog, Max. That description has made the disappearance especially difficult for relatives, who say they see no reason she would have walked away from her life.
The family’s comments reflect what they believe investigators need to understand as the search continues: this was not someone who appeared to be planning to leave behind her responsibilities or close relationships.
How the Metropolitan Police Department is describing Forbes
The Metropolitan Police Department says Forbes is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 115 pounds. Police describe her as having black hair and brown eyes.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward. The department has not publicly released additional details about what happened inside the house or what evidence, if any, may have led to the active crime-scene designation.
For the family, the search remains personal and urgent. Aileen Forbes said she wants her sister to know the family has not given up and intends to keep looking until she is found.
A family waiting for answers while investigators keep working
Relatives say the uncertainty has been especially painful because so many ordinary details now seem significant in hindsight. A missed call, unanswered text or an untouched wallet can suddenly take on new meaning when a loved one vanishes.
For now, the case centers on a home where police have limited access, a family waiting for updates and investigators continuing to gather tips. The family has not said whether it expects any one clue to solve the case, only that every new piece of information matters.
Aileen Forbes said the message to her sister is simple: the family loves her, is not giving up and wants her home. Police are still asking the public to help fill in the gaps about where Antoinette Forbes may have gone after she was last seen Friday.
