Mom of 2 vanishes, sparking mystery, Michigan family says. Phone pings near ex’s home

A mother of two has been missing for nearly a week in Michigan, leaving her family searching for answers.

“She loves her family, her kids. She would never just disappear for this many days,” the sister of 30-year-old Ashley Elkins told WJBK.

Elkins was last seen leaving her Warren home around 8:30 a.m. Jan. 2, according to a Missing People in America post. She said she would be running errands, and her phone later pinged in Roseville near her ex-boyfriend’s apartment.

Roseville and Warren — both northern suburbs of Detroit — are about 5 miles apart.

Her mother, Monika Elkins, said her daughter’s phone has been off since around 2 p.m. on Jan. 2, but it briefly turned on later that night with her location turned off.

Family members have exhaustively searched for the missing woman in the days that followed. They say she is a mother to two children, ages 10 and 7, WXYZ reported.

“I just can’t find her,” Monika Elkins told WDIV. “It’s really just hard… I’m tired. I’m exhausted.”

Authorities searched an apartment Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Roseville they say is the home of Ashley Elkins’ ex-boyfriend, according to WXYZ. It’s unclear if anything was found in the search.

Roseville Police Chief Mitchell Berlin told WWJ-TV the missing mother’s vehicle was discovered abandoned at another apartment complex.

“We want her back, and I’m just praying that we’re not too late,” Monika Elkins told WDIV.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Warren police at 586-574-4700.

This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Mom of 2 vanishes, sparking mystery, Michigan family says. Phone pings near ex’s home."