Missing Person

Nadia Kersh

Nadia Kira Kersh, 23, disappeared after leaving her Homewood workplace for lunch on Nov. 3, 2008. NamUs lists her case as open and unresolved. A man was charged with capital murder in 2010 and denied involvement, but the supplied retrievable sources do not establish the charge’s final disposition.

Incident date: November 3, 2008
Location: Homewood, Jefferson County
Independent sources: 4

The record

Nadia Kira Kersh was 23 when she disappeared from Homewood on Nov. 3, 2008. Her case remains open and unresolved in the U.S. Department of Justice’s NamUs database. The Homewood Police Department is listed as the primary investigating agency. 1

According to the NamUs record, Kersh left her job at Tria Market for lunch that day and never returned. 1 WBRC reported that surveillance video showed her leaving the market. The station also reported that searches later located her abandoned car and purse, but not Kersh. 2

In May 2010, WBRC reported that Homewood police charged 27-year-old Joacquas Megauil Haywood with capital murder. Authorities alleged that Kersh was killed during a burglary at her home. Police described Haywood as a past acquaintance of Kersh, while prosecutors said they had physical evidence and statements but had not recovered her body. 2

Haywood’s attorney told WBRC that Haywood maintained his innocence. 2

The supplied materials do not establish the final disposition of that criminal charge. Two additional links, an AL.com report whose URL indicates that a judge dropped a charge, and a CBS News report whose headline says Haywood pleaded not guilty, could not be retrieved, so their contents could not be independently assessed or used to establish what happened in court. 34

NamUs continues to classify Kersh’s missing-person case as open and unresolved. 1

Timeline

November 3, 2008Confirmed
Kersh left Tria Market in Homewood for lunch and never returned.
2008-11-03 or laterReported
WBRC reported that searches located Kersh’s abandoned car and purse, but not Kersh.
May 3, 2010Reported
According to WBRC’s publication timeline, Haywood turned himself in and was charged with capital murder.
May 4, 2010Reported
Homewood police announced the arrest; Haywood’s attorney said he maintained his innocence.
Current status in supplied NamUs recordConfirmed
NamUs lists Kersh’s case as open and unresolved.

Documented claims

Nadia Kira Kersh was 23 at the time of the incident.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wbrc.com/story/12423441/homewood-police-announce-arrest-in-nadia-kersh-disappearance/
Kersh disappeared on Nov. 3, 2008, after leaving her job at Tria Market in Homewood for lunch and never returning.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wbrc.com/story/12423441/homewood-police-announce-arrest-in-nadia-kersh-disappearance/
Surveillance video showed Kersh leaving her job at Tria Market.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Searches located Kersh’s abandoned car and purse, but Kersh was not found.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
In May 2010, WBRC reported that Homewood police charged Joacquas Megauil Haywood, then 27, with capital murder in Kersh’s disappearance.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Authorities alleged that Haywood killed Kersh during a burglary at her home.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Police described Haywood as a past acquaintance of Kersh.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Prosecutors said they had physical evidence and statements but did not have Kersh’s body.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
Haywood’s attorney said Haywood maintained his innocence.
Reported
Source: WBRC · Single-source claim.
NamUs case MP10499 is open and unresolved, with the Homewood Police Department listed as the primary investigating agency.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
The final disposition of the capital-murder charge cannot be established from the retrievable supplied documents.
Unknown
Source on file · Single-source claim.
The supplied AL.com and CBS News pages could not be retrieved, preventing assessment of their full contents.
Unknown
Source on file · Single-source claim.

Sources

NamUs Missing Person Case MP10499 — Nadia Kira Kersh — U.S. Department of Justice NamUsOpen
Homewood police announce arrest in Nadia Kersh disappearance — WBRCOpen
Jefferson County judge drops c… — AL.comOpen
Nadia Kersh murder suspect Joacquas Haywood pleads not guilty in capital case of missing Ala. mother — CBS NewsOpen