Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford Critically Missing as Authorities Investigate Possible Foul Play in Salisbury
FBI Seeks Information in the Disappearance of 25-Year-Old Maryland Woman
Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford disappeared from Salisbury, Maryland, on May 19, 2025, and authorities continue to seek information that could explain what happened to her. The FBI lists Rutherford as critically missing because of health concerns and a suspicion of foul play surrounding her disappearance. She was last seen in the area of Parsons Road and Fitzwater Drive, and investigators are asking anyone who encountered her or has information about her movements to come forward.
Rutherford was 25 years old when she disappeared and was born on December 3, 1999. She is described as a Black woman with black hair and brown eyes, standing approximately 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 280 and 330 pounds. The FBI Baltimore Field Office is assisting in the effort to locate her.
Last Seen on May 19, 2025
The FBI states that Rutherford was last seen around Parsons Road and Fitzwater Drive in Salisbury on May 19, 2025. That location and the surrounding area have become central to efforts to reconstruct her movements before she disappeared. More than a year later, authorities continue to publicize the case in hopes that someone remembers seeing Rutherford or has information that was never previously reported.
Determining a missing person's final confirmed movements can be critical to an investigation. Investigators may attempt to identify people who were in the area, businesses with potential records, transportation used by the missing person, and anyone who communicated with them around the time they vanished. Even information that initially seemed insignificant can become important when compared with evidence collected later.
Clothing Rutherford Was Wearing
Rutherford was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt with blue lettering, dark and light green camouflage leggings, and dark slip-on shoes. Clothing descriptions can become particularly important in missing-person investigations because witnesses may remember seeing a distinctive outfit even if they did not know the person's name.
The FBI has also released photographs of Rutherford, including a photograph identified as having been taken on May 19, 2025, the same date she was last seen. Images taken close to the time of a disappearance can provide investigators and the public with a more accurate representation of the person's appearance than older photographs.
Anyone who was in Salisbury on May 19 and remembers seeing a woman matching Rutherford's description and clothing could potentially possess information relevant to the investigation. The exact location, approximate time, direction she was traveling, and whether she appeared to be alone could all help investigators reconstruct her movements.
Areas Rutherford Was Known to Frequent
Authorities say Rutherford was known to frequent an area near the bridge by the La Quinta Inn in Salisbury. She was also known to spend time around the Anchorage Health Center. These locations provide additional areas where people may have encountered her before her disappearance.
A missing person's regular locations can help investigators identify potential witnesses who may not have known the person personally. Employees, residents, pedestrians, transportation workers, or people who routinely visited the same areas may recognize Rutherford from photographs even if they never knew her name.
Investigators can also compare a person's normal routine against their behavior immediately before disappearing. A sudden departure from established patterns can sometimes provide important clues about what happened or identify the point at which something changed.
Considered Critically Missing
Rutherford is not simply classified as a missing person. The FBI states that she is considered critically missing because of health concerns and a suspicion of foul play surrounding her disappearance. That designation increases the urgency surrounding efforts to determine what happened to her.
The FBI's current description is significant because earlier reporting shortly after Rutherford disappeared focused primarily on health concerns. The federal wanted profile now specifically states that there is also a suspicion of foul play surrounding the disappearance. Authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed evidence explaining what led to that concern.
The absence of publicly released details does not mean investigators lack additional information. Missing-person investigations frequently contain evidence that remains confidential to protect witnesses, preserve investigative leads, or prevent information known only to investigators and people directly connected with the disappearance from becoming public.
Health Concerns Increase the Urgency
Rutherford's health was one of the reasons authorities classified her disappearance as critical. When a missing person may require ongoing medical care, medication, treatment, or other assistance, every additional day without contact can increase concerns for their safety.
Investigators therefore must consider multiple possibilities when examining such a disappearance. A person may have experienced a medical emergency, become unable to communicate, encountered someone who harmed them, or experienced circumstances that prevented them from returning to familiar locations.
Authorities currently consider Rutherford's disappearance serious enough that the FBI has added her to its Kidnappings and Missing Persons listings. Her case is also featured among wanted and missing cases associated with the FBI's Baltimore Field Office.
Salisbury Police Initially Sought Public Assistance
The Salisbury Police Department publicly sought assistance in locating Rutherford shortly after she disappeared. In early June 2025, local reporting described her as critically missing because of health concerns and asked anyone who knew her location to contact police.
The case has since received additional federal attention. The FBI now publicizes Rutherford's disappearance nationally and specifically notes the suspicion of foul play. The expansion of publicity provides authorities with an opportunity to reach people who may have moved away from Salisbury or who did not see the original local missing-person notices.
Long-term missing-person cases can benefit significantly from renewed attention. A witness who initially remained silent may reconsider, while someone who did not realize an encounter was significant may recognize the missing person after seeing updated coverage.
Another Woman Disappeared Nearby
One of the most striking details released by the FBI is that Rutherford disappeared not far from where another missing woman, Mildred “Milly” Nickles, had last been seen. Nickles disappeared in Salisbury on July 27, 2023, nearly two years before Rutherford vanished.
The FBI specifically references the proximity of the two disappearances on both women's missing-person profiles. However, authorities have not publicly stated that the cases are definitively connected. The geographic similarity is an investigative detail worth noting, but it should not be treated as proof that the same person or circumstances were responsible for both disappearances.
Both women are currently considered critically missing, and the FBI states that foul play is suspected in both cases. Their disappearances remain unresolved.
The Disappearance of Mildred “Milly” Nickles
Mildred “Milly” Nickles was last seen on July 27, 2023, around the Wicomico Public Library in Salisbury. She was known to travel between Salisbury and Baltimore and was described by authorities as homeless and transient. Nickles was 58 years old when she disappeared.
The FBI describes Nickles as approximately 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 170 pounds. She has green eyes and red or auburn hair, although authorities believe her hair may have been blonde around the time she disappeared.
Nickles also has several distinctive identifying characteristics, including tattoos and a missing or chipped front tooth. Like Rutherford, she remains the subject of an active effort to obtain information from the public.
Two Unresolved Disappearances in Salisbury
Rutherford and Nickles disappeared approximately 22 months apart, but the FBI has drawn public attention to the fact that their last-known areas were not far from each other. Rutherford disappeared around Parsons Road and Fitzwater Drive, while Nickles was last seen around the Wicomico Public Library.
The FBI currently lists both women through its Baltimore Field Office and describes both as critically missing with suspicions of foul play. That combination naturally raises questions about whether there could be a connection, but no such connection has been publicly established by investigators.
The appropriate distinction is important. Geographic proximity can provide investigators with a reason to compare cases, but it does not establish that the disappearances resulted from the same circumstances. Investigators can compare witnesses, locations, timelines, communications, known associates, and other evidence while keeping multiple possibilities open.
Reconstructing Rutherford's Final Movements
One of the most important objectives is determining exactly where Rutherford went after her last confirmed sighting. Investigators need information from anyone who saw or communicated with her on or around May 19, 2025, particularly around Parsons Road, Fitzwater Drive, and the locations she regularly visited.
A witness does not necessarily need to have seen something obviously suspicious to possess valuable information. Simply remembering Rutherford walking in a particular direction, entering a vehicle, speaking with someone, or appearing at a business could help establish a timeline.
Information about people she was with can be equally important. Investigators can use those details to identify additional witnesses and determine whether Rutherford's movements were consistent with her usual routine.
Why Older Tips Can Still Matter
More than a year has passed since Rutherford disappeared, but information from May 2025 can still be valuable. Witnesses sometimes assume they waited too long to report something, particularly when they are uncertain whether what they remember has any importance.
Investigators can determine whether information is relevant when they compare it with evidence already collected. A witness who remembers only a vehicle, location, conversation, or approximate time may unknowingly provide a missing piece of an existing timeline.
Renewed FBI publicity can also reach people who never saw the original missing-person notices. Someone who interacted with Rutherford shortly before she disappeared may only now realize that authorities are still searching for information.
What Is Known Today
Rutherford remains listed by the FBI as missing, and the agency continues to seek information about her disappearance. She was last seen in Salisbury on May 19, 2025, wearing a gray sweatshirt with blue lettering, camouflage leggings, and dark slip-on shoes. She regularly visited areas near the bridge by the La Quinta Inn and the Anchorage Health Center.
Authorities consider her critically missing because of health concerns and suspected foul play. The FBI has not publicly identified a suspect or announced what investigators believe happened after her final known sighting. Until additional evidence emerges, the central question remains unanswered: what happened to Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford after she was last seen in Salisbury?
The Search for Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford Continues
Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford has now been missing since May 19, 2025, and investigators continue searching for information capable of explaining her disappearance. Her case has progressed from a local missing-person investigation to one receiving FBI publicity, with authorities emphasizing both her health concerns and the possibility of foul play.
Anyone who saw Rutherford around Parsons Road, Fitzwater Drive, the bridge near the La Quinta Inn, the Anchorage Health Center, or elsewhere in Salisbury around the time of her disappearance may possess information investigators need. Anyone with information should provide it directly to the FBI or Salisbury Police Department rather than attempting to independently investigate individuals potentially connected with the case.
Sources
FBI — Shaquanna “Kita” Rutherford Official Missing Person Profile
FBI — Mildred “Milly” Nickles Official Missing Person Profile
