‘My Life Is At Risk’: Missing Instagram Influencer Accused Her Family Of Chronic Abuse Prior To Disappearance

Authorities said this week that they won’t disclose whether foul play is suspected in the disappearance of a fitness influencer who vanished a month ago prior to accusing her father of domestic violence.  

Ca'Shawn Sims, 30, was last seen on Sept. 8 in Duarte, California, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles. She had been in the area of the 2100 block of Broach Avenue, according to investigators.

“Her family is concerned with her wellbeing and asking for the public’s help,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Monday.

Sims, a health and fitness influencer, has 216,000 followers on Instagram. Her account has gone dark since her last post on July 1.

On July 29, however, Sims recorded a YouTube video announcing she was three months pregnant. The recording, in which she accuses her family of domestic violence, was uploaded three days after her last confirmed sighting.

“I am a domestic violence survivor,” Sims told the camera. “My life is at risk. The same with my baby...if something f--king happens to me, you guys know why. This is not how I wanted to tell you guys how I was pregnant.”

In the video, which has approximately 26,000 views, Sims accused her father of physically attacking her at a family gathering over the Fourth of July weekend. She alleged that he punched her in the head, shoved her into a table, and threatened to hit her with a liquor bottle. 

“My whole face on this side is swollen,” Sims said, pointing to her right cheek. “I got punched right here.”

Sims said the police later responded and diffused the situation. She also said she hadn’t spoken with her father since the day after the incident and also accused her family of gaslighting throughout her pregnancy. 

“Everyone tries to convince me that I have mental issues,” Sims explained. “But literally everyone in my family is truly acting fucking mental...I haven’t felt protected my entire f--king life.”

Sims also claimed her father had been chronically abusing her since the age of 16 — and that her mother had never done anything to prevent it.

“He’s put our family through f--king everything you can possibly do to ruin a family and she’s stayed right the f--k there,” she said.

Officials haven’t specified whether they suspect foul play in Sims’ disappearance. On Thursday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed investigators were aware of the YouTube video but declined to comment on it. They wouldn’t confirm whether Sims was pregnant.

When contacted by Oxygen.com, Sims’ sister claimed the influencer struggled with mental health issues that were triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ca’rynn Sims didn’t acknowledge her sister’s purported pregnancy. 

“Ca’Shawn is a very strong independent woman and we want to see her bubbly, happy, free spirit back thriving again,” she said in a prepared statement. “Like with most of the world, the past year and a half has been awfully trying spiritually, financially and mentally — and our fear has been that the overwhelming pressure shifted her clarity in thought.” 

Ca’rynn Sims, who has pleaded for her sister’s safe return, stated it was unlike her sibling to abruptly desert her home, dog, and mobile phone. She said the family had no indication where Ca’Shawn may have gone.

“As you can imagine as a family this is very hard, no family should experience this level of hurt when you don’t know where your loved one is and you want them home safe and well,” she added. “We are so concerned about Ca’Shawn and devastated that she has not reached out to any family or friends where she is loved and wanted.” 

Sims is described as approximately five feet tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has shoulder-length hair, brown eyes, and goes by the nickname “Cookie.” She also has several tattoos, according to her family. A tattoo on her left collarbone reads, “It’s found in the soul." She has a Spanish scripture tattoo on her back, as well as the word, “Earth” inked on her left forearm, a tattoo of an elephant on her arm and a long tattoo down the middle of her back. 

Anyone with information related to Sims’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.