Lawyer Ciera Breland was 31 when she vanished on February 24, 2022. She was married to a person named Xavier Breland on the time, and the 2 had an toddler son, Jackson.
Ciera Nichole Locklair was born in Georgia on January 10, 1991 to oldsters Nick and Kelly Locklair. Ciera grew up in Georgia and dreamed of residing in Atlanta at some point. “She was a Georgia lady,” Kelly stated. “Atlanta was her plan all alongside.”
Her mom Kelly informed Dateline that Ciera had all the time been a fighter. She had handled some well being points when she was youthful.
“She overcame and pushed via,” Kelly stated. “She was glad. She was energetic. She was loving.
On-line stories point out that Kelly labored as a paralegal and that Ciera determined to comply with down the route of a authorized profession.
Ciera knew she would turn out to be a lawyer. She was extraordinarily pushed in her profession.”“She simply determined she was gonna be a lawyer and there was simply — that was gonna be the top of it,” Kelly informed Dateline. “She labored actually arduous.”
Ciera moved to Tennessee and attended college there. She then went on to attend regulation faculty at Florida State College. She grew to become a lawyer, specializing in insurance coverage protection.
Ciera was stated to be a loyal aunt to her niece and nephew. She cherished to take them looking for Christmas and back-to-school provides.
By all of it, Ciera was nonetheless extraordinarily targeted on her household. “I imply, her father would speak to her generally, 5-6 hours a day,” Kelly stated, including that they’d principally speak about their days and what was happening of their lives. (This appears extreme?)
“Very outgoing. Likes sports activities, likes motion pictures,” Ciera’s father, Nick Locklair, informed Dateline in 2022. “And he or she was actually enjoyable, till a couple of 12 months in the past.”
It was round that point (a 12 months prior) that Ciera met a person named Xavier Breland. Some stories say that they met on Tinder, whereas others (Dateline) say that Ciera was representing Xavier on some authorized points. There are fairly a couple of conflicting stories on this case, so we are going to word them as we come throughout them. This was taking place throughout the finish of the 2020 a part of the pandemic. “She was effervescent over with love,” Kelly stated. “They have been inseparable.”
Her father Nick stated that he was very protecting of Ciera by way of the lads she dated, however that Xavier ‘handled her like a queen.’
Xavier had been married earlier than and has at the very least one youngster from earlier relationships- a daughter. In 2005, he was convicted on felony housebreaking prices.
This information about different alleged historical past is from abovethelaw.com:
Supply informed FOX 5 Information he had warrants related to harassing telephone calls and violating a household violence order. In 2007, courtroom information point out he was arrested in Florida and extradited to Indiana on a fugitive warrant.
Ciera’s cousin Shelby Campbell has stated there have been points in Ciera and Xavier’s relationship early on.
“There have been some messages that have been on a unique telephone that I turned over to police, so I don’t have entry to these now, nevertheless it was once they first began courting the place she was afraid of him,” Shelby stated. “One thing occurred and he or she had known as it off with him… She was hanging out with a separate buddy who was a male at her condo and he confirmed up at her condo with out being invited and was sitting exterior her condo. He began sending her a bunch of threatening texts about hanging out with one other male.”
Dateline says that Ciera and Xavier married in 2020. The North East Georgian acknowledged that Ciera grew to become pregnant in April 2021 and that she and Xavier have been married by a magistrate through Zoom shortly after that.
The couple moved to Carmel, Indiana. Xavier’s father lived in that space. Ciera received a job working for the Indianapolis workplace of Gordon Rees.
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, generally known as “Gordon Rees” or extra just lately, “GRSM”, is an AmLaw 100 regulation agency based mostly in the USA, with greater than 1,800 legal professionals working towards in all 50 states.
Their son Jackson was born in October 2021.
At Christmas 2021, based on the North East Georgian, Ciera and Xavier went to go to her mother and father. They each apparently appeared ‘haggard and run down.’ There’s a ‘Disappeared’ episode about Ciera’s case and in that episode, Nick stated that they have been nervous somebody was chasing them.
They stated that Xavier’s ex-wife was concerned with some sort of drug cartel scenario.
“She feared for her life, she misplaced weight,” Kelly stated on the present. “This isn’t Ciera. This isn’t my daughter.”
Kelly added that she felt “Xavier was manipulating her, retaining her in a paranoid and afraid state for his personal functions.”
Ciera’s cousin Shelby has stated that she knew there have been bodily altercations between the couple. Ciera despatched her pictures of some alleged accidents that she sustained within the fights, in case they have been later wanted for courtroom proceedings. Ciera additionally informed Shelby that she had been placing cash right into a secret account in order that she may depart Xavier. “I’m finished. I’m leaving. I don’t need this any extra,” Ciera texted.
“She did name the police a number of occasions. The police have been known as to her residence each in Georgia and Indiana a number of occasions,” Shelby stated. “By the point the police would get there she would have calmed down sufficient to the place she was mendacity for him.”
“She had informed me that she couldn’t depart Xavier as a result of she couldn’t think about letting Jackson go along with Xavier.”
Cierra’s mother and father stated that their daughter was not having fun with residing in Indiana and had stated that she needed to maneuver again to Georgia. “She stated, ‘Mother, I’m coming,’” Kelly stated. “’You recognize, we’re gonna say we’re gonna go to with you guys and his mother. However I’m by no means going again to Indiana.’”
“I inspired her and her father inspired her to return dwelling. We simply needed her to be out of the scenario, however Ciera was 31 years previous. I trusted her to know what to do,” her mom defined.
In February 2022, Xavier and Ciera packed up their 2017 VW Tiguan, with their Goldendoodle Baker and their child they usually began the drive from Indiana to Georgia – round an 8.5 hour drive.
They arrived at Ciera’s mother and father dwelling on February 19, 2022. “She got here Saturday evening and stayed until Sunday,” Nick informed Dateline. The subsequent cease could be about an hour away at Xavier’s mom’s home in Johns Creek, Georgia. Nick stated Ciera texted him on Monday, February 21. “She despatched me a message at 11:17 at evening saying, ‘I’ll be again within the morning if that’s OK,’” Nick stated. “And I stated, ‘In fact it’s OK, you don’t should ask.’”
After the household left Ciera’s mother and father’ dwelling, they traveled to see Xavier’s mom in Johns Creek – simply over an hour’s drive away.
Ciera was final seen alive on CCTV standing within the doorway of Xavier’s mom’s dwelling at 7.17pm on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Nick texted Ciera and he or she stated that she was okay however that she had been feeling a bit of sick.
Nick stated he reached out once more afterward Wednesday asking Ciera how she was feeling. He didn’t get a response.
He stated he texted once more on Thursday, February 24. Once more, no response.
By Friday, February 25, 2022, Ciera’s mother and father have been changing into involved. They stated it was out of character for her not to answer their communications.
On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Nick received a name from an unknown Indiana quantity. “I didn’t robotically panic, as a result of I believed they have been nonetheless in Georgia,” Nick informed Dateline. “So I answered it they usually stated it was the police. And that’s once they informed me she was lacking.”
Xavier had reported Ciera lacking from Indiana. He stated that that they had returned there after they visited his mom.
In keeping with ‘Disappeared’, CCTV solely confirmed Xavier heading again to Indiana. He was seen getting gasoline, going into the shop and leaving. Ciera, Jackson or their canine weren’t seen at any time.
Xavier informed police that he and Ciera had argued about her operating out of Adderall. She apparently requested for a few of his. He stated that he refused and that angered Ciera. He stated that she left in anger at about 11pm. He stated she might have been headed to an area CVS and was carrying a black prime and purple shorts. She left with out her cell telephones (she had three – a private telephone, work telephone and a burner telephone) and her ID and bank cards. The burner telephone was a security web for Ciera in case she ever wanted to contact somebody for assist.
“Nobody believes Xavier’s story that she walked off with out her telephone, her keys, her child or her canine,” Shelby stated. “It was 20 levels out. It’s past believability.”
Nick known as Xavier to search out out what was taking place. He stated he received nowhere, so he known as Xavier’s father, who lived subsequent door to the couple. “He stated, ‘No. I by no means noticed her,’” Nick stated was the daddy’s response.
Police started to analyze and decided that the final time that Ciera was confirmed to be alive was on February 24, at her mother-in-law’s dwelling at 7.17pm.
“The most important factor is: she’s a 31-year-old girl with a 5-month-old child. It’s not regular for her, based on her household.” Lt. Kalish informed Dateline. “They talked to her on a regular basis and/or every day they usually’re extraordinarily involved, as are we. We’re taking it very severely.”
Kelly informed Dateline that Ciera would by no means have deserted her son. “There isn’t any one because the child has been born – nobody has ever stored that child for her, like, not even for an hour,” Kelly stated. “She was the only real mom, caregiver, every little thing to that youngster.” It’s unfathomable to the household that Ciera would simply stroll away. “For them to say, she simply stated, ‘Hey, to heck with it – strolling out the door with out my youngster, my automobile, my telephone, my cash, nothing and I’m simply gonna hit the street,’ is absurd.”
Officers in each Indiana and Georgia searched areas the place Ciera was identified to have been with canines.
Additionally they subpoenaed her telephone information which didn’t reveal a lot data. They dredged rivers and searched by air, to no avail.
Additionally they had the canines sniff the automobile that Xavier stated the household traveled again to Indiana in, however they got here up empty as effectively.
“These canines that are superb weren’t selecting up any scent – nothing,” Nick stated. “If she rode up there 10 hours in that automobile, the canines would have identified it.”
Xavier could be filmed on a video chat together with his different youngsters, saying that Ciera had been kidnapped. This clearly conflicted together with his preliminary assertion of her strolling away from their dwelling.
On February 28, 2022, Xavier was concerned in an incident at their dwelling with a firearm.
Court docket paperwork point out there was “an unintentional discharge of a firearm” at a house on Baldwin Lane.
Xavier informed investigators he was transferring a Christmas tree within the storage when he heard a gunshot after which ran exterior. He would then return to the storage, find the gun, and unload it. Investigators stated a SIG Sauer P365 and one other gun have been discovered on the scene.
On March 2, 2022, Carmel Police Division and the Metropolis of Johns Creek Police Division introduced that Xavier was an individual of curiosity within the case.
“By the mixed efforts of each companies, the lacking particular person’s husband, 37-year-old Xavier Breland Jr., has been recognized as an individual of curiosity on this case.” It famous that Xavier Breland “has not been criminally charged in relation to this case, however has been arrested on an unrelated warrant” out of Georgia.
It’s believed the unrelated warrant associated to Xavier’s alleged stalking of his ex-wife.
This information concerning the warrant is from Fox 5 Atlanta:
Court docket information point out he was accused of placing a tracker inside a stuffed animal belonging to his daughter with the intention of monitoring the lady’s mom, his ex-wife. The case stemmed from a custody battle between the previous couple.
By March 4, 2022, the FBI and the GBI have been each helping in Ciera’s case.
The Locklairs informed Dateline that on Friday, March 11, a few of their household and buddies went out looking out in Johns Creek. “They went out and handed out flyers and appeared round,” Nick stated. “I believe there have been seven or eight officers with — walked with them,” Kelly added. “And, I imply, it was an enormous turnout and folks have been actually receptive to them.” Nick additionally informed Dateline that from that search, he believes authorities received a number of new leads.
Xavier’s legal professional Bryan Howard spoke to WSB TV about his consumer’s innocence. “He’s cooperated with police,” he stated. “He’s made statements to the police and tried to assist them in any method doable.”
Xavier ended up being acquitted of the fees referring to stalking on August 16, 2022. He was launched from jail, however was arrested on a brand new warrant the next day.
Xavier went to trial in 2024 for the illegal possession of a firearm cost.
In June of 2024, Xavier was charged with intimidation. In keeping with courtroom paperwork, throughout the trial, Xavier reportedly stated to an advocate for Ciera’s household, “You higher hope you see me earlier than I see you.”
“As I used to be exiting the courtroom, he made direct eye contact with me, after which he turned again to face the courtroom and as I walked behind him to exit, he stated, ‘You higher hope you see me earlier than I see you.’ And so, I’m actually not there for his antics, and I absolutely anticipated one thing like that from him,” advocate Blaire Duncan stated.
Blaire additionally stated that Xavier seen the lockscreen picture on her telephone, a photograph of a kid, and stated, “Cute child” — not as a praise.
“No, it was in a threatening method, for positive. Completely,” Blaire stated.
Court docket information say courthouse safety cameras captured the interplay.
“I’m not afraid of Xavier Breland,” Blaire stated. “I clearly wouldn’t be right here doing what I’m doing if I used to be. I’m actually over the audacity that it takes for him to suppose that he can converse to anybody any method that he needs and to suppose that he’s above the regulation. And I’m actually glad to see some justice and actually glad to be part of that justice.”
In July of 2024, Xavier was sentenced to 12 years in jail for the cost of possession of a firearm by a critical violent felon. This solely applies to his first set of prices, and additional sentencing could also be introduced at a later time. He’s apparently planning to enchantment the sentence.
Authorities have been requested for an replace on Ciera’s case in March 2025 – three years after she went lacking.
Lt. Eric Rozier, of the Johns Creek Police Division in Georgia, stated he doesn’t have any new updates or lively investigative results in share with the general public.
“It’s necessary to maintain this story alive as a result of data from the general public is usually a method for chilly instances to interrupt,” Lt Rozier stated in an e mail to IndyStar.
“It’s necessary to not overlook Ciera Breland’s tragic disappearance,” Rozier stated through e mail. “I’ve religion that the reality will come to mild in some unspecified time in the future. That might be a terrific day, and we would like nothing greater than to carry justice to Ciera and supply closure for her household.”
Lt Rozier confirmed that Xavier continues to be an individual of curiosity within the case.
Ciera’s aunt Jeannie Bush stated “Dropping somebody, not figuring out how or why it’s the absolute worst feeling. I can’t describe it, none of us can transfer ahead (and) there’s simply this fixed ache and heaviness of not figuring out.”
“A number of issues undergo your thoughts when your youngster is lacking and you’ve got ideas {that a} particular particular person is accountable,” Kelly stated. “We should always have seen the indicators.”
The FBI have introduced that there’s a $10,000 reward for data resulting in the whereabouts of Ciera. She was 5 ft tall and 120 kilos with blonde hair when she went lacking.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/information/ciera-brelands-disappearance-timeline
https://www.newsnationnow.com/lacking/family-pleading-for-tips-in-disappearance-of-ciera-breland
https://abovethelaw.com/2022/03/fbi-joins-the-search-for-missing-biglaw-associate
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/information/ciera-brelands-husband-found-guilty-firearms-charge
