The disappearance of Antoinette Forbes, a high-ranking executive at pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, has left her family in a state of distress and confusion as authorities classify her as a critically missing person. Forbes, 53, was last seen at her Washington, D.C. home on Friday afternoon. Her sister, Aileen Forbes, reported her missing on Sunday after Forbes failed to attend a planned online catch-up and was found to be unreachable.
Forbes's home was discovered with the front door unlocked. Crucially, her phone, wallet, and car were all left behind, along with her dog, Max. This has led her family to believe she would not have left voluntarily. "She would never leave her son," Aileen Forbes stated, emphasizing Antoinette's deep devotion to her 10-year-old child. "Antoinette is a 100% solid, reliable, intelligent, competent woman who is a devoted mother. She would never leave her son. She wouldn’t leave her dog. She wouldn’t leave her sister who needs her."
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding Forbes's disappearance. According to Aileen, Forbes's home is being treated as an active crime scene. Friends and family have been searching for any clues or witnesses who might have seen Forbes. "We need to know what happened," Aileen urged. "Someone had to have seen something, anything, some small thing, seen her. We need the evidence that’s going to enable the police to do their jobs and bring Antoinette home."
Forbes, who is the vice president and head of public affairs at Eli Lilly, was reportedly in good spirits shortly before her disappearance. She had spoken excitedly with her sisters on Friday about plans to gather with family in Florida for the holidays. Police have described Forbes as an Asian woman, approximately 5-foot-2, with black hair and brown eyes. Eli Lilly has stated they are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.