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Writer's pictureSarah Turney

Nicole and Arianna Fitts

Updated: May 30, 2022

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Like so many people in the US, 32-year-old Nicole Fitts was struggling with housing insecurity. She worked at Best Buy in San Francisco, California and would often travel up to 4 hours a day to commute to work from wherever she was staying at the time. Sometimes the commute was so bad, Nicole would just crash on a couch until her next shift. This meant she would have to leave her two-year-old daughter Arianna with a babysitter for extended periods of time.


This was the reality of trying to make ends meet for Nicole. Eventually, one of her coworkers noticed what Nicole was going through just to get to work each day and offered for her and Arianna to move in with her. Nicole was ecstatic. She scraped together enough money to get Arianna a new bed and told the babysitter she was coming to pick up her daughter.


But she was met with resistance from the babysitter, saying they were out of town taking Arianna to Disneyland, she’d have to grab her daughter another day. Nicole was upset, obviously because she was ready to pick up her daughter but also because they didn’t tell her they’d be taking Arianna out of town. According to Nicole’s new roommate Goyette Williams, the plan was for Nicole to pick up her daughter on April 3rd, 2016. But on the night of April 1st, Nicole withdrew a large amount of money from her bank account, says she was going to meet the babysitter and would be back in 5 minutes.


A week later, Nicole’s body was found in a local park. Nicole’s killer has never been caught and Arianna remains missing to this day.


32-year-old Nicole Fitts was found murdered in McLaren Park in San Francisco, California on April 8th 2016. She was a black female with black hair and brown eyes.


Nicole’s daughter, Arianna Fitts was last seen in Oakland California in February 2016. When she went missing, she was 2 years old, weighed approximately 45 pounds and was 2 feet tall. She is a black female with black hair and brown eyes. As of recording this episode, Arianna Fitts would now be 8 years old.


The San Francisco Police Department is offering a $250,000 reward for information about Nicole and Arianna. And Best Buy is offering an additional $10,000 reward.


If you see Arianna, call 911 immediately. If you have information on Arianna’s whereabouts or anything related to the homicide of Nicole, contact the SFPD Homicide Unit at 415-553-1145, the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line at 415-575-4444, or text a tip to TIP 411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message, or visit sanfranciscopolice.org/tip.


Arianna and Nicole Fitts



Arianna Fitts' age progressed photo to age 8



The piece of plywood found over Nicole's body

Resources:

“$250K Reward Offered as SFPD Finds New Leads in Murder of Nicole Fitts, Her Daughter's Disappearance.” YouTube, ABC7 News Bay Area, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtB5BJIOTYA.



“Anniversary of Homicide Investigation of Nicole Fitts and Disappearance of Arianna Fitts 21-078.” San Francisco Police Department, 8 Apr. 2021, https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/news/anniversary-homicide-investigation-nicole-fitts-and.



Arianna Fitts. FBI, 14 July 2016, https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/arianna-fitts.



Associated Press. “Police Offer $100k in Bay Area Child Missing 5 Years.” abc10.Com, KXTV, 9 Apr. 2021, https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/bay-area-police-offer-100k-in-missing-child-case/103-3911881b-480a-4b4b-a1f8-b7d55159cef1.



Associated Press. San Francisco Police Offer $100,000 Reward in Search for Girl Missing for 5 Years. KTLA, 9 Apr. 2021, https://ktla.com/news/california/san-francisco-police-offer-100000-reward-in-search-for-girl-missing-for-5-years/.



“Baby Daughter Missing; Mysterious Logo May Hold Key to Mother's Murder in San Francisco.” True Crime Daily, 13 Mar. 2017, https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/03/13/baby-daughter-missing-mysterious-logo-may-hold-key-to-mothers-murder-in-san-francisco/.



Baker, Alex. Cold Case Update: Nicole Fitts Vigil Announced. KRON4, 2 Apr. 2022, https://www.kron4.com/news/family-announces-vigil-for-nicole-fitts-during-cold-case-update/.



Barmann, Jay. “One Year Later, a Possible Break in Case of Missing Toddler Arianna Fitts and Her Slain Mother.” SFist, SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports, 30 Dec. 2018, https://sfist.com/2017/04/01/possible_break_in_case_of_missing_t/.



Barnard, Cornell. “Statewide Search in Effect for Missing Toddler Arianna Fitts.” ABC7 San Francisco, KGO-TV, 13 Apr. 2016, https://abc7news.com/police-are-questioning-many-persons-of-interest-including-a-pastor-in-oakland-after-the-mother-missing-toddler-was-found-dead-at-mclaren-park-san-francisco/1288334/.



Bishari, Nuala Sawyer. “Where Is Arianna Fitts?” SF Weekly, 26 July 2018, https://www.sfweekly.com/topstories/where-is-arianna-fitts/.



Bizjournals.com, 8 Dec. 2011, https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2011/12/san-francisco-near-top-in-cost-of-living.html.



Colorado, Melissa. “FBI Podcast Brings Arianna Fitts' Disappearance Back into the Spotlight.” NBC Bay Area, NBC Bay Area, 23 June 2021, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fbi-podcast-brings-arianna-fitts-disappearance-back-into-the-spotlight/2576477/.



Edwards, Meridith, and Sara Snider. “A Mother Murdered. Her Toddler Missing. and the Family Left to Search for Her Year after Year.” KSBW, 9 Nov. 2021, https://www.ksbw.com/article/a-mother-murdered-her-toddler-missing-and-the-family-left-to-search-for-her/38200309.



“Family Clings to Hope That Missing San Francisco Toddler Arianna Fitts Is Still Alive.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 10 Apr. 2021, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/family-clings-to-hope-that-missing-san-francisco-toddler-arianna-fitts-is-still-alive/.



Finding Arianna, 13 Apr. 2022, https://ariannafitts.org/.



“Finding Nicole ‘Nikki’ Fitts and Arianna Fitts.” Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099688866770572/.



“Have You Seen This Missing Person? Black and Missing Foundation.” BAMFI, 14 Aug. 2021, https://blackandmissinginc.com/missing-person-details/?mp_id=4880.



Hurd, Cheryl. “Car Seized in Connection with Missing San Francisco Toddler, Dead Mother.” NBC Bay Area, NBC Bay Area, 1 Apr. 2017, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/car-seized-in-connection-with-missing-san-francisco-toddler-dead-mother/13554/.



IVN. “FBI San Francisco and SFPD Seeking Public Tips on Arianna Fitts.” Imperial Valley News, https://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/8-news/22099-fbi-san-francisco-and-sfpd-seeking-public-tips-on-arianna-fitts.html.



kron4tv. “Cold Case Update on Arianna Fitts.” YouTube, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OgU8mll5MpU.



Lamb, Jonah Owen. “S.F. Police, FBI Renew Pleas for Help in Finding Missing 2-Year-Old Girl.” The San Francisco Examiner, 19 May 2016, p. 13. Newspapers.com.



Legislative Analyst's Office, 2019, pp. 1–10, California's Housing and Homelessness Challenges in Context.



“McLaren Park.” McLaren Park | San Francisco Recreation and Parks, CA, https://sfrecpark.org/716/McLaren-Park.



Melendez, Lyanne. “$250K Reward Offered as SFPD Finds New Leads in Murder of Nicole Fitts, Her Daughter's Disappearance.” ABC7 San Francisco, KGO-TV, 2 Apr. 2022, https://abc7news.com/arianna-fitts-missing-nicole-sfpd/11701332/.



Police Offer $100,000 Reward for Information on Bay Area Child Missing for Five Years. Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2021, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-08/police-offer-100-000-reward-for-information-on-bay-area-child-missing-for-five-years.



Sawyer Bishari, Nuala. “Where Is Arianna Fitts?” SF Weekly, 26 July 2018, https://www.sfweekly.com/topstories/where-is-arianna-fitts/.



“SF Police Boost Reward to $250k in 2016 Homicide of Nicole Fitts, Disappearance of Daughter Arianna.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 2 Apr. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-police-to-update-2016-homicide-of-nicole-fitts-missing-daughter-arianna/.



“SF Police Release Updated Sketch of Arianna Fitts 5 Years after She Went Missing.” NBC Bay Area, Bay City News, 8 Apr. 2021, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-police-release-updated-sketch-of-arianna-fitts-5-years-after-she-went-missing/2513679/.



Sidner, Sara, and Meridith Edwards. “A Mother Murdered. Her Toddler Missing. and the Family Left to Search for Her Year after Year.” CNN, Cable News Network, 9 Nov. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/09/us/missing-black-people-arianna-fitts-daniel-robinson/index.html.



Staff. “Baby Daughter Missing; Mysterious Logo May Hold Key to Mother's Murder in San Francisco.” True Crime Daily, True Crime Daily, 13 Mar. 2017, https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/03/13/baby-daughter-missing-mysterious-logo-may-hold-key-to-mothers-murder-in-san-francisco/.



Staff. Reward Increased in Unsolved Case of Mother Found Buried in SF Park, Missing Daughter. NBC Bay Area, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fbi-sfpd-to-announce-reward-updates-in-arianna-fitts-case/2852618/.



Stannard, Matthew B. “Teenager Charged in Daly City Slaying / Mom Accused in Shooting of Her Child's Dad.” SFGATE, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2012, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Teenager-Charged-In-Daly-City-Slaying-Mom-2947498.php.



Turney, Sarah. “Interview with Contessa Fitts.” 29 Dec. 2021.



“Vigil Planned for Slain Mother as SFPD Continues Search for Missing Girl.” San Francisco Examiner, 13 Apr. 2016, https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/vigil-planned-for-slain-mother-as-sfpd-continues-search-for-missing-girl/article_11cb689b-6ff0-5389-a18a-4c951616081f.html.



Yu, Betty. “SF Police Boost Reward to $250k in 2016 Homicide of Nicole Fitts, Disappearance of Daughter Arianna.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 2 Apr. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-francisco-police-to-update-2016-homicide-of-nicole-fitts-missing-daughter-arianna/?fbclid=IwAR1h6qZ-2ft1n91qtvK5kCUNBpLNlTmyR6PDajnmbQf2qYJhOGtAnck4QkM.



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