The remains of a flight attendant from Queens who disappeared after walking out of LaGuardia airport in January washed up on a Rikers Island beach this week.
Astoria resident Sierra Shields, 30, went missing on January 14th; she had just quit her job as a flight attendant and reportedly walked out of the airport without any of her belongings. On Wednesday, a human skull and bones were found on Rikers Island, and on Friday the Medical Examiner's office confirmed the remains belonged to Shields.
Shields's family released a statement yesterday: "We are eternally grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful sweet Sierra. We are truly thankful for how God used Sierra's life to reflect the beauty of His Kingdom. Our family is requesting privacy at this time as we cherish the memory of our precious Sierra."
Officials have not yet confirmed Shields's cause of death, but they are investigating it as a suicide.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
