Pregnant Baltimore Woman Disappears Without a Trace
Akia Eggleston, a pregnant 22-year-old from Baltimore and the mother of a 2-year-old girl, disappeared just hours before a baby shower meant to celebrate her growing family. Her sudden absence sent shockwaves through the community, but the case took an even darker turn when it was revealed that she was not just missing — she was murdered. Years later, justice was finally served, but the details of her case are both heartbreaking and chilling.
A Promising Future Cut Short
Akia Eggleston was eight months pregnant when she vanished in May 2017, leaving behind no trace except for her packed bags and an empty apartment. Her family grew concerned when she didn't show up to her own baby shower and failed to respond to calls and messages. She was last seen at a BB&T Bank in downtown Baltimore, withdrawing money to put a down payment on a new home she planned to share with boyfriend Michael Robertson, the father of her unborn son. Despite this hopeful gesture, her life took a tragic turn, and she never made it back.
The Boyfriend Turns Suspect
Although Robertson wasn't initially considered a suspect, his inconsistent statements and suspicious behavior soon raised red flags. It took more than five years for prosecutors to build a case against him using cell phone records, text messages, Google® searches from his computer, and his own statements to the police. By February 2022, investigators were able to gather enough circumstantial evidence to arrest Robertson for the murder of Akia and her unborn son.
The Trial
During the trial, prosecutors revealed a complicated relationship dynamic — Robertson was also involved with another woman who had just given birth to their second child around the same time Akia was preparing to start a new life with him.
Family members of Robertson provided critical testimony during the trial. His cousin, who was helping Akia plan the baby shower, revealed that Eggleston confided in her about being physically attacked by Robertson's other girlfriend just weeks before she disappeared. This information raised questions about the girlfriend's potential involvement, as Eggleston's family believed she could have been a suspect as well.
Robertson's cousin also shared that he was supposed to bring food to the baby shower but never showed up. When she tried contacting him to find out where Akia was, he didn't respond and later accused Akia of "pulling a stunt" that left him homeless, according to CBS News, making him appear even more suspicious as the last person to see her alive.
A Disturbing Obsession and a Final Verdict
Throughout the trial, disturbing details about Robertson's behavior emerged. His sister testified about his fascination with Egyptian mythology, noting that he named his seven children, including Akia's unborn son, after gods from ancient civilizations. The unborn baby was to be named Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, a name the prosecution argued symbolized a grim fate for both Eggleston and her child. After a long legal battle, the jury convicted Robertson of murdering both Akia and their unborn child, resulting in the judge handing down two consecutive life sentences.
Although justice was served six years after Akia's disappearance, her family and friends continue to struggle with the lack of closure from her still-missing remains and the heartbreak of knowing that both she and her unborn child were denied the future they deserved.
References: Man found guilty of murder in disappearance of pregnant Baltimore woman Akia Eggleston | Jurors find man guilty in killings of girlfriend, Akia Eggleston, and their unborn baby | Michael Robertson given consecutive life sentences for murder of pregnant Baltimore woman Akia Eggleston | Emotions high as murder trial of Akia Eggleston's former boyfriend continues
