Chicago woman who went missing in Japan for 10 days is found safe

‘We’re relieved to share that we’ve obtained our beloved daughter, sister and cousin Kandace Schipper’s location,’ family says

The family of a Chicago woman who vanished while travelling in Japan says that she has been found safe.

Kandace Schipper, 29, arrived in Tokyo on 8 May and “abruptly” stopped communicating with family and friends 10 days ago.

She had been travelling with a male companion, Luis Torres, 27, whom they have also been unable to reach.

Her sister Nicole Willea said family have notified the US consulate and filed a missing person report in Chicago.

On 14 June, Ms Schipper’s family released a statement saying that she has been found safe and sound.

“We’re relieved to share that we’ve obtained our beloved daughter, sister and cousin Kandace Schipper’s location,” the family said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone who helped us spread the word. We’re grateful for every email, call, and share and are now focused on bringing her home safely. After going through this process, we’re overwhelmed by the kindness of so many strangers. From Chicago to Tokyo, we were met with so much support and eagerness to help us find our loved one and have empathy for anyone seeking missing family members. It’s a complicated process trying to find information and it wouldn’t have been possible for us without the generosity of so many.”

Before she had been located, Ms Willea wrote on Facebook that the family was “experiencing one of the worst fears possible”.

Kandace Schipper suddenly stopped communicating with family on 4 June after travelling to Japan (Facebook / Nicole Willea)

Chicago woman Kandace Schipper arrived in Japan on 8 May (Facebook / Nicole Willea)

Brother-in-law Adam Willea told Chicago’s WGN9 that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police was refusing to investigate the disappearance as a missing person case because she hadn’t yet missed her flight home.

Kandace Schipper, right, with her sister Nicole Willea: Schipper abruptly stopped communicating with family after travelling to Japan (Facebook / Nicole Willea)

Ms Schipper, a stylist and makeup artist, grew up in Chicago and recently moved to California, according to a Linkedin profile.