Desire Coston

Desire Coston was a 16-year-old from Cincinnati whose life was part of the fabric of her neighborhood. Public reporting shows Desire had been living in foster care in the Evanston area and, in late November 2021, she was reported as a runaway after leaving her foster home. Local police issued a missing-person notice in early December when she did not return and family and community members hoped for her safe return.

In the weeks that followed, members of Cincinnati watched and waited. On December 25, 2021, Desire was found wounded at the Gateway Plaza apartment complex in the West End. She was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where hospital records and coroner statements show she later died of her injuries. Local news outlets and the coroner’s office reported her death as a homicide. The sudden loss of someone so young reverberated through her schools and neighborhoods, bringing sorrow and sharp reminders about the vulnerabilities some young people face.

Beyond the limited public details, Desire was a young person with relationships and ordinary ambitions, remembered in reports as a teenager and student. The public record shows the community response emphasized concern for at-risk youth and the need for supports for young people in foster care and similar situations. While many personal details about Desire’s everyday life remain private, what is clear from verified reporting is that a 16-year-old life was lost and that her death affected family members, classmates, and neighbors.

This page honors Desire as a person first: a Cincinnati teenager whose life mattered to those who knew her. Her story is a reminder of the young lives in our communities that deserve safety, support, and care. Those who wish to remember Desire are encouraged to hold her family and friends in compassion and to reflect on the ways communities can better protect vulnerable youth.