Atlanta — Annabelle “Annie” Harper, a bright and well-loved young woman from Birmingham, Alabama, was found dead in the Buckhead area of Atlanta on January 9, 2026, after her family and community had spent days searching for her following her disappearance. Her death has left her family and friends devastated and the wider community reeling with grief.
Annie, a 2024 graduate of Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham and a university student full of promise, was last seen in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta on January 7. When she failed to return home or respond to messages, her family reported her missing to authorities, igniting a frantic search that drew support from people in both Georgia and Alabama.
For two days, family, friends, classmates, and strangers shared her photos and information across social media and organized community efforts to find her. Messages of hope, prayers, and urgent pleas to keep an eye out for Annie poured in from all corners. But that hope turned to heartbreak when the news came that she had been found deceased.
Her mother, Jamie S. Harper, released a statement through family representatives confirming the worst fears of those who had been holding onto hope. “It’s not the news we were hoping for, but our sweet Annie was found, and she is with Jesus now,” she said, asking for privacy as the family navigates their profound loss.
Friends and classmates remember Annie as a bright light, someone whose warmth instantly lifted the mood of a room and whose smile was infectious. She was known for her kindness, her intelligence, and the joy she brought into every space she occupied. Many spoke of her generous spirit and her ability to make deep, meaningful connections with people from all walks of life.
The loss has been felt deeply not just among those who knew her personally, but across the broader communities in Birmingham and Atlanta that rallied behind her during the search. Messages of sympathy, shared memories, and heartfelt condolences have continued to arrive, reflecting the impact Annie had on the people around her.
In the days ahead, the Harper family plans to announce details about memorial services that will offer family, friends, and community members a chance to remember and celebrate Annie’s life. Her passing is a stark reminder of how fragile life can be, and how deeply intertwined our hearts become with those we love.
May Annabelle Harper rest in peace, remembered for her bright spirit, her laughter, and the love she shared with the world.
