http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=693039&category=REGION&newsdate=6/3/2008Police search for missing woman
Investigation under way after Schenectady mother of two vanishes By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
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First published: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
SCHENECTADY -- Police are investigating the disappearance of a 27-year-old woman who left behind two small children.
Lutrica Steele of 1118 Webster St. was last seen May 1 when she left the home she shares with her mother, Ethel Zasa, and the children.
"She said she'd be back in two hours to pick up the kids and go to a barbecue," Zasa said. "She never came back, and I haven't heard from her."
Steele has two children, a six-month-old son, Kasin, and her 2-year-old daughter, Alicia.
"She left home, cashed a check, did some of her personal business and never returned home," said Schenectady Police Lt. Brian Kilcullen. "We haven't found any evidence of foul play. The fact she hasn't been seen or heard from in a month is out of character for her."
Steele, who also goes by the names Lutrica Zasa and Lutrica Zasa-Steele, is described as white, 5-feet-6, 125 pounds with light brown hair and blue eyes. Her mother said she also had several tattoos, including a ribbon on her left shoulder with the name "Shawn" on it. Kasin is written on her chest and there is a tiger on her left leg.
Zasa said her daughter bought clothes with a friend on May 1 and changed, so she cannot describe what she was wearing.
Her mother said she appeared fine when she last left the house at 2 p.m. that day, and she has never stayed away before.
"She usually calls me every day," she said.
The two children are staying with their grandmother and are too young to understand their mother is missing, Zasa said.
"They're handling it pretty good so far," she said.
