NEW YORK — A family desperately hopes their missing relative, a CUNY law student, will be found safe after going missing in Manhattan nearly two weeks ago.
Which makes the case even more troubling: Police found two leads miles apart, in a different district from where Jordan Taylor was last seen alive. His wallet was found on West Street near the Goldman Sachs building in Battery Park City, while his phone was found more than three miles away in Hell’s Kitchen.
Taylor has made activism and politics the center of her life since college. The Nyack native went to get a haircut two weeks ago in Queens, abruptly walking out mid-cut and hasn’t been seen since.
He posted a selfie to Facebook and apparently turned up hours later at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
“Was rafting for about three hours or so. So it’s kind of weird, I guess maybe he met someone. We’re not entirely sure right now,” said Alton Taylor, Jordan’s brother.
He said Jordan likely went to the LGBTQ nightclub, The Q, the same club where John Umberger met two men and was drugged, robbed and left for dead while visiting New York.
“I’m going through the phone history…I’m sure he was there that night between Friday and Saturday morning,” Alton said.
It was not clear to Taylor’s brother why Jordan’s wallet would have turned up in lower Manhattan.
“We got a call at 9:30 am saying someone found his wallet at Goldman Sachs Battery Park,” Alton said, adding that there was still no sign of Jordan.
“I don’t want to rule out egregious foul play. I don’t want to think about it, but I can’t rule it out either,” he said. None of Jordan’s close friends have seen or heard from him, Alton added.
To further complicate matters: Taylor was last seen alive in Queens, which leaves it a mystery whether his wallet and phone were with him or stolen.
Taylor had worked on the campaigns of current Lieutenant Governor Anthony Delgado and Baltimore City Council Speaker Nick Mosby.
“I’m trying to keep, I’m keeping my spirits up. They hope we find him safe and sound. And then, you know, we’ll find a way to get back to normal,” Alton said.
New York City police said it is policy that anyone missing for more than two weeks is assigned to the Missing Persons Unit, which is now leading the investigation into where Taylor may be.
