An Ashtabula woman's friends and family continue to worry after one of their own disappeared under what Ashtabula County sheriff's deputies believe to be suspicious circumstances on July 9.
Rand Hilal Al Dulaimi's family reported her missing on July 11. According to officials, the 23-year-old was last seen at a residence on Ninevah Road in Saybrook Township.
Her family and friends are worried she may be in danger. They said Al Dulaimi would never leave her 2-year-old son behind.
“Rand would never run away, 100 percent guaranteed. She would not leave Omar, she would not leave her phone, and she would not leave her vehicle," her friend Coletta Carlisle said. "If she was going to run away intentionally, she would take her phone, her vehicle and her son. She would not leave her baby behind. That’s the biggest thing, she would not leave Omar."
Another friend, Monica Thompson, described Al Dulaimi as a fighter.
“Rand was very happy. Rand always kept a smile, even if she wasn’t happy, she would never let anyone see she wasn’t happy,” Thompson said.
The women met and bonded with Al Dulaimi at a battered women’s shelter where they all lived together. The women said Al Dulaimi spent much of her time in the United States in shelters for abused and battered women.
Al Dulaimi moved to Ashtabula from Turkey several years ago after she met and married Jeffrey Stanley. The couple has a 2-year-old son, Omar. Court records show divorce proceedings began in September of 2017.
According to jail records, Jeffrey Stanley was booked into jail on July 14 on a parole violation.
In March of 2017, an Amber Alert was issued and later cancelled after authorities said Stanley abducted his son. Court records show he was convicted on charges of trespassing and endangering children in 2017.
Stanley was ordered to have no contact with Al Dulaimi or their son as part of his probation agreement.
Al Dulaimi does not have any family in the United States. Her sister, who lives in Turkey, is currently trying to obtain an emergency visa to come to Ashtabula to help look for her sister and care for her nephew.
Al Dulaimi’s parents live in Iraq. They said they wanted to express their thanks to everyone who is helping to look for their daughter and keeping their grandson safe.
Ashtabula Children’s Services said 2-year-old Omar is safe and that the agency does have an open case with the family.
The Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office said they are actively working the case, but would not release any further information. The FBI confirmed it is also assisting with this case.
