‘Wake up’: New details emerge on missing Augusta woman

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re learning new details on a missing Augusta woman who was last seen Wednesday near Diamond Lakes Park, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

The missing person report states around 3:50 p.m., deputies were called to investigate the disappearance of 36-year-old Shekema Toran.

Once on scene, deputies met with Toran’s mother, who said Toran’s boyfriend of two months, Biarritz “Danate” Martin, and Toran were at her Hephzibah home.

After an argument started, Martin left the home after Toran’s mother asked him to leave. He returned two hours later to pick Toran up, according to the report.

According to her statement, Toran’s mother has not heard from her daughter since and reports receiving texts that “do not sound like her daughter”.

All of her phone calls to her daughter have also gone unanswered.

The report states that deputies contacted Martin’s roommates, who reported that Martin was at the home Tuesday night, but Toran was not with him.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies made multiple attempts to contact Martin, but there was no answer.

After some time, the report states Martin returned the deputy’s call, who asked to speak with Toran multiple times.

Martin could be heard saying, “Wake up,” and smacking the dash or seat, according to deputies.

This repeated for around 10 minutes before Martin disconnected the call and did not answer on callback.

While deputies continue their search, friends and family were also out looking for Toran on Friday.

“I’m really lost. I don’t know what to do for real,” said Travoun West.

It’s been more than 48 hours since West has heard from his sister.

“We really just want my sister to come home. If anybody knows anything, really just say something for real. Bring my sister home,” said West.

West and other volunteers have been searching to find Toran, looking through the woods, knocking on doors and tracking her pin locations.

“We got to apply a little pressure as the people as the community because where there is a community there are people and we got power so it’s gonna take us to come together collectively to bring this baby home,” said a search volunteer, Ray Montana.

Home for Toran is two hours away from where her phone was last pinned in Atlanta.

But Montana says they will continue searching until they have answers.

“We not gonna rest until we find her and keep applying pressure. Hopefully, Richmond County will find the man,” said Montana.

She’s believed to be in a white 2004 Ford F-250 with Georgia tag RJW1158. They are believed to be heading to the Atlanta area, where the vehicle was last seen Wednesday.

Authorities released a photo of Toran and said she’s 6 feet tall and weighs 215 pounds.

Deputies also released a photo of Martin and said he’s 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 160 pounds.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.

The family will continue their search Saturday morning, starting at 9 a.m.

To join the search, you can message Ray Montana on Facebook.

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