Chester Police Search for Missing Nurse, 33, and Gray Nissan Altima

Q: Why did it take 19 days to publicly share the disappearance of a Pennsylvania nurse last seen driving a damaged Nissan Altima?

There is no confirmed public explanation in the available reporting for why Chester police waited 19 days after Kortney Staples was last seen to widely publicize her disappearance. What is clear from the timeline is that Staples was last seen by family on July 11, reported missing on July 18, and her case was publicly shared by police and local officials on July 30. That means the full 19-day gap is partly explained by a seven-day delay before the missing-person report was filed, followed by about 12 more days before the alert was broadly circulated. The reporting suggests the family did not immediately realize something was wrong. Her sister said they became alarmed only after they lost contact with her, could no longer see her location, and found she had not been at her home. Police have said only that detectives were actively investigating and taking the case seriously. News accounts and the supporting web material do not cite police, the family, or prosecutors giving a reason for the additional delay between the July 18 report and the July 30 public release. In many missing-person cases, authorities may spend time verifying details, checking phone, address, and vehicle information, or pursuing leads before asking for public help, but that has not been specifically stated here. So the factual answer is that the record shows when the delay happened, but not why officials chose to publicize the case only on July 30.

2 articles · Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Aug 4

Chester police said 33-year-old home healthcare nurse Kortney Staples was reported missing on July 18 after her family last saw her on July 11 on the 300 block of Ulrich Street.
Detectives are also searching for Staples’ gray Nissan Altima, Pennsylvania plate MGH-1012, which has a missing passenger-side mirror and damage to the rear driver’s-side bumper.
Her sisters said no one has spoken with Staples since July 11, and concern grew after her phone location stopped showing and she was not at her home.
Police said investigators are actively working the case and urged anyone who sees Staples or the car to contact Chester police immediately.