The sister of a Washington, D.C., mother who disappeared last week says troubling clues found inside the woman’s home quickly convinced the family that something was seriously wrong, as police continue to investigate the case now classified as a critically missing person matter.
Antoinette Forbes, 53, was last seen at about 3 p.m. Friday at her residence in the 3200 block of Nebraska Avenue NW, the Metropolitan Police Department said. Authorities are urging anyone who may know where she is or what happened to her to contact investigators.
Family friend Elizabeth Northrup said police first listed Forbes as missing, then elevated the case to critically missing within 24 hours. Under MPD policy, that designation is used when a person is believed to be at risk, in danger or facing potentially life-threatening conditions.
“I knew immediately something was wrong,” Forbes’ sister, Aileen Forbes, told News Outlet.
Antoinette Forbes is pictured with her son in Washington, D.C., in an undated family photo shared by relatives. Her son’s image has been blurred to protect his privacy. (Aileen Forbes)
Aileen said she and her sister had connected on FaceTime Saturday morning while discussing plans to see their mother in Florida during the holidays.
“It was just a fairly ordinary check-in with my sister, with whom I have regular contact — daily contact by text or on FaceTime,” Aileen said. “We were just talking about our plans for the holidays.”
By Labor Day, Aileen said she had tested positive for COVID-19 and reached out to Antoinette because her sister has an underlying medical condition that could make the virus especially risky. When multiple text messages and FaceTime calls went unanswered, Aileen said her concern quickly deepened.
She contacted close family friends who live near Antoinette’s Washington home. The friends, who had a key to the house, entered the home and immediately noticed several troubling signs.
Antoinette Forbes smiles while wearing a navy blue baseball cap in an undated photo provided by her family. (Aileen Forbes)
“The text I got from Margarita … I think something happened to me that made my heart stop,” Aileen said.
The friends found Antoinette’s dog, Max, alone inside the home after he had gone to the bathroom indoors, suggesting he had been left alone for some time, Aileen said. Her car remained in the driveway, while her phones and wallet were still inside the house.
The family immediately contacted police.
Aileen said investigators have told the family the home is being treated as an active crime scene and that no one, including relatives, has been allowed inside.
A Metropolitan Police Department missing person poster asks the public for help locating Antoinette Forbes, who was last seen Sept. 4, 2026, in Northwest Washington, D.C. (Metropolitan Police Department)
“No one has access to Antoinette’s home, not even me,” Aileen said. “In some ways, it’s my home too, and I have not been able to step foot in it.”
She said detectives have not provided significant updates but have remained in contact with the family and continue accepting information that could aid the investigation.
“I know that they have been working tirelessly since Monday afternoon … around the clock,” Aileen said.
Aileen said nothing about her sister’s life suggested she would voluntarily disappear.
“Antoinette has a full, rich life,” she said. “She’s an incredibly successful woman professionally, personally. She’s a happy woman.”
She described her sister as a devoted mother whose world revolved around her 10-year-old son, Nathan, and the family’s dog, Max.
Asked what she would say if her sister could hear her, Aileen responded, “Antoinette, you know how much we love you. You know who loves you. Keep the faith. We are not going to give up. We are going to bring you home.”
Police describe Forbes as 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police Department.
