Fifteen-year-old Tavia was last seen on December 31, 1985 in Pensacola, Florida. She was accompanied by an unidentified African-American male at the time of her disappearance.

Tavia typically dated African-American men at the time of her disappearance and may have been seen with one when she vanished.

According to Tavia's mother, Tavia had emotional & behavioral problems due to being sexually abused when she was eight years old by her stepfather. She got psychotherapy and spent some time in group homes to help her recover from the trauma, but by the time she was twelve years old, she was sexually active and involved with drugs.

Tavia has ran away in the past (one time, she traveled to New York City), but she always kept in contact with her mom. After she disappeared, she never called home again.

She was last seen wearing a black fur coat and striped jeans. She has a scar on her left cheekbone, a scar on the left side of her upper lip and a scar at her hairline which extends to her right eyebrow. She also has multiple pierced ears and her nicknames are "Ms. T," "Tee" and "Chrystal."

Foul play is suspected in Tavia's case and authorities believe that she may have been taken against her will, but her case is classified as a non-family abduction.