In a sorrowful update to a case that has puzzled authorities for over a year, human remains discovered last week in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, have been formally identified as those of Ri’Kiah Griffie, a young woman who vanished without a trace in October 2022. The identification was confirmed through dental records by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Ri’Kiah, just 24 years old at the time of her disappearance, was last seen by her mother, Ronda Duke, when she dropped her off at her boyfriend’s residence on October 7, 2022. Tragically, that was the last time Duke saw her daughter. The mystery deepened over the months, leaving the family and community in agonizing suspense.
The breakthrough came when an anonymous tip led investigators to an abandoned building at the intersection of Sheffield and Fifth avenues on April 18, 2023. There, under piles of debris on the first floor, they made the grim discovery of Griffie’s remains. The site of the find was disturbingly close to where she was last reported to be staying.
The emotional impact on Griffie’s family has been profound. Her aunt, Allyssa Griffie, expressed a poignant mix of relief and heartache: “She laid here by herself,” she lamented, “And we drove past her every day. Justice will be served for my cousin, whether it be by the law or the Lord.”
Family and friends remember Ri’Kiah as a bright, loving presence whose personality lit up any room she entered. “Whenever she went, her light shined brighter than anything. She touched so many people,” recalled her cousin, Avonni Griffie. This sentiment was echoed at a memorial held by loved ones near the discovery site on Monday, turning grief into a celebration of her life and spirit.
As the community begins to find closure with the return of Ri’Kiah’s remains, the quest for justice gains new momentum. The exact circumstances of her death are still under investigation, with state police committing to thorough testing to determine the cause of death. Her mother, grappling with mixed emotions, stated, “I’m happy my baby is home safe with me and the good Lord. Now, justice will prevail.”
The case continues to evolve as investigators piece together the final days of Ri’Kiah Griffie, hoping to bring closure to a family torn by loss and a community shaken by tragedy.
