Missing Minorities

Use YouTube and Email

2008-11-13T16:45:00.005-05:00

It's been a long time since anything has been posted on this blog. Hopefully, everyone has been clicking on the links I've put on the right for current news.

However, here is a tip I received today in the comment section for this missing child: Jewel Mahavia Strong - Missing Since 5/28/07.

The comment gives some tips on using YouTube as a way to help in a missing person search.

I came across your story from an email forward I received. I have a suggestion that might help locate your daughter. If you have video of her you should post it to you tube. That is another way of getting her more visible. If you dont' have video, make one of the family holding her pictures and begin an email chain - this might help. Thank you.

And thanks to the anonymous commenter who sent it. I hope this helps someone.

Miami, FL: Safety Awareness Community gathering & Candlelight Vigil in honor of Lucely “Lilly” Aramburo

2008-05-27T02:12:00.001-04:00

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION:

On June 1, 2007, almost one year ago, Lucely “Lilly” Aramburo allegedly walked out of her fiance’s home with nothing on her feet, in her pajamas, with 2 bungee cords. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Lilly’s story is one that is not unique. There are families all over the Miami area who are searching for their loved ones and are seeking answers. We hope that all families of missing persons will join us in an effort to bring resolution to finding our loved family members and friends.

In honor of missing Miami mother, Lilly Aramburo, Justice in Miami will be hosting a free Safety Awareness Community gathering & Candlelight Vigil to increase public awareness of missing person cases.

Bring the whole family for a worthy cause, candlelight vigil, butterfly release, free safety I.D. kits and balloons for the little ones plus much more.

The Power 96 Street Team will be there, spinning live music & giving away prizes.

Sunday, June 1st at 6PM, Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Rd- Coconut Grove in Miami

For more details visit the Justice in Miami website at justiceinmiami.blogspot.com

Update: Stepha Henry Case

2008-01-15T15:10:00.000-05:00

Suspect arrested in student's Miami disappearance

BY MICHAEL WHITE
DAILY NEWS POLICE BUREAU

Tuesday, January 15th 2008, 11:46 AM
Stepha Henry, 22, (center) has been missing since May, when she vanished on a trip to Miami to visit relatives.

Stepha Henry, 22, (center) has been missing since May, when she vanished on a trip to Miami to visit relatives.

Detectives arrested a Brooklyn man suspected of killing a woman who vanished last year while visiting relatives in Miami, police said today.

Kendrick Williams, 32, was nabbed this morning after forensic tests of his car linked him to the victim, police said.

NYPD officers and detectives from Miami took Williams into custody about 8 a.m. at the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn where he had been living out of a car. He was charged with murdering 22-year-old Stepha Henry, an aspiring lawyer who was last seen May 29 at Peppers Cafe Nightclub in Ford Lauderdale.

Henry and her 16-year-old sister had traveled to Florida just before Memorial Day to celebrate her sister’s birthday. They were staying with relatives, who last saw Henry getting into a black sedan driven by a man.

Florida police said Williams drove Henry to the club in an Acura Integra. He had initially told detectives he left the venue without Henry, police said.

Investigators impounded the car last September, and a forensic analysis found substantial evidence linking him to the victim, police said.

The two were believed to have been romantically involved, police said.

Henry, a graduate of Manhattan’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, had been preparing to take the entrance exams for law school when she vanished, her relatives said.

Her body has not been recovered. Police have not said how she was killed.

Source: NY Daily News

Of course it was buried underneath plenty of other news.

Veronica Ruiz - Missing Since Dec. 3, 2007

2007-12-08T21:04:00.000-05:00

This is a strange one. Veronica Ruiz, 25 and an IRS agent, has been missing since December 3rd. She went hiking up on Mount Tamalpais in Mill Valley (across the bridge from San Francisco) and hasn't been seen since.

I got an email from Vox telling me about this story, so I'm posting it. Thanks Vox.

Here is a local flier announcing a community search: http://www.audcast.com/findveronicaruiz/

Here are screen shots from that flier (click on the image for a full view):

Here is a conversation about her case on the Yelp Community site:
Please Pray for Veronica Ruiz - Search For Missing Mill Valley Woman

KTVU: Search For Missing Mill Valley Woman Suspended

Tiasha Wingfield and Safiyah Horsford: Missing Since November 3, 2007

2007-11-15T23:22:00.000-05:00

TIASHA ROSETTA WINGFIELD

SAFIYAH AYEESHA HORSFORD

Tiasha and Safiyah may be together. They may still be in the local area or they may travel to Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami, Florida.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Port Saint Lucie Police Department (Florida) 1-772-871-5001

Missing From:
PORT SAINT LUCIE
FL
United States

Tiasha and Safiyah's Missing Kids poster: Tiasha and Safiyah have the same poster.

Tiasha's description:

DOB: Nov 8, 1993
Missing: Nov 3, 2007
Age Now: 14
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Weight: 112 lbs (51 kg)

Safiyah's description:
DOB: Aug 24, 1992
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Eyes: Gray
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Weight: 129 lbs (59 kg)

Dajah Hunter: Missing Since Novemeber 9, 2007

2007-11-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

Both photos shown are of Dajah. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
IRVINGTON
NJ
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Irvington Police Department (New Jersey) 1-973-399-6600

Dajah's Missing Kids poster

DOB: Feb 8, 1999
Missing: Nov 9, 2007
Age Now: 8
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 4'0" (122 cm)
Weight: 75 lbs (34 kg)

Annita Nicole Herrara and Destiny Zubia: Missing Since October 27, 2007

2007-11-10T21:54:00.000-05:00

Annita Nicole Herrara

Destiny Zubia

Anita and Destiny were last seen on October 27, 2007. They may be in the company of an adult female and an adult male. They may travel to Mexico.

Missing From:
COOLIDGE
AZ
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Coolidge Police Department (Arizona) 1-520-723-5311

Their Missing Kid's poster, click here.

Anita's info:

DOB: Jun 11, 1992
Missing: Oct 27, 2007
Age Now: 15
Sex: Female
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 4'9" (145 cm)
Weight: 125 lbs (57 kg)

Destiny's info:
DOB: Nov 25, 2006
Missing: Oct 27, 2007
Age Now: 11 Month(s)
Sex: Female
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 2'0" (61 cm)
Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg)

Mashana Washington: Missing Since October 12, 2007

2007-11-05T00:02:00.000-05:00

Mashana was last seen on October 12, 2007 wearing blue jeans and a black shirt. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
VIRGINIA BEACH
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Virginia Beach Police Department Sgt. John Gandy 757-385-8175

Mashana's Missing Kids poster.

DOB: Oct 30, 1992
Age Now: 15
Missing: Oct 12, 2007
Sex: Female
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Race: Black

Sharita Frazier: Missing Since October 14, 2007

2007-11-04T23:49:00.000-05:00

Sharita was last seen on October 14, 2007 wearing a white Tee-shirt, black jacket and blue jeans. She has shoulder length hair that maybe in a pony tail. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
COLONIAL HEIGHTS
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Colonial Heights Police Department Officer H.S. Whirley III 804-520-9300

Sharita's Missing Kids poster.

DOB: Nov 10, 1990
Age Now: 16
Missing: Oct 14, 2007
Sex: Female
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Weight: 172 lbs (78 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Race: Black

Oneika Jones: Missing Since October 12, 2007

2007-11-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

This one is really lacking a lot of information. There isn't even a city where she was last seen. The picture is a profile shot too. I don't even want to theorize about why. Let's hope she's found. Here is the info.

Oneika was last seen on October 12, 2007. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Caroline County Sheriff's Office Officer P.H. Blasiol 804-633-5400

Oneika's Missing Kids poster.

DOB: May 23, 1991
Age Now: 16
Missing: Oct 21, 2007
Sex: Female
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Race: Black

Sherry Florence: Missing Since October 6, 2007

2007-11-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

Sherry was last seen on October 6, 2007. She has a scar over her left eye and a scar on her left hand from a cigarette. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Prince William County Police Department (703) 792-6500

Here is Sherry's Missing Kids poster.

Missing: Oct 6, 2007
DOB: Jan 7, 1991
Age Now: 16
Sex: Female
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Weight: 230 lbs (104 kg)

Repost: Gloria Walker

2007-10-30T06:37:00.000-04:00

This is posted over at the CSB: Crime Scene Blog, but I wanted to repost it here.

Gloria Walker has been missing since May 20, 2007. Someone has to know where she is.

-------------------------------

Gloria Walker

Name: Gloria Walker

Date Missing: May 20, 2007

Missing From: Cleveland, Ohio

DOB: 8/12/1960

Age: 46 yrs old

Hair Color: Black

Height: 5’2

Weight: 125 lbs

Eye Color: Brown

Sex: Female

Race: Black

Complexion: Medium

Police/Sheriff: Cleveland Police Dept

Officer/Deputy Name: Det. Chism

Officer’s Phone #: 216/6233333

Officer’s Case #: 200700186890

TES Case #: 07719Gloria Walker, age 46, was last seen on Sunday, May
20, 2007 around 11:30 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohioand has not been seen or
heard from since. Gloria was last seen wearing red jogging pants and
open toe sandals, top unknown. She was last seen driving a 1996 Chevy
Lumina.

Call: 281/3099500

Toll free 877/2709500

[Source]

Article:

Gloria Walker, 46, disappeared from Cleveland’s eastside three months ago.

Saturday, Walker’s family received a helping hand, from 1,100 miles away.

EquuSearch, the same organization that mobilized thousands of people
in the search for Jessie Davis, the missing, pregnant mother in Stark
County, took on Walker’s case.

More than 80 volunteers waded through shoulder-high grass and
explored vacant homes on Cleveland’s east side. They peeled their way
through vacant homes and raked through heavy brush along the railroad
tracks. They looked for any sign of Gloria Walker.

Richard Johnson saw a missing person’s flier in his neighbor and decided to help out.

“We’re down here looking for shoes, any kind of personal
identification,” Johnson said as he probed 3-foot-tall weeds with a
stick. “You know, it’s time consuming, but it’s fulfilling. I think
everybody should do more to help everybody else.”

Tim Miller, founder of Equusearch mapped out specific areas for
volunteers to look for Walker. Miller said EquuSearch has found 72
people in the more than 700 cases they’ve taken on.

Walker was last seen May 20, driving a car her long-time boyfriend
had been repairing for a relative. Walker’s brother reported her
missing, five days after neighbors last saw her.

That car was found two weeks later in the Harvard/Fleet area of Cleveland, only three miles from her house.

Saturday, volunteers checked potential dump sites in that area. They
found a five-foot long, mound of dirt next to the tracks near Walker’s
home. It was nothing.

“I think Gloria is findable,” Miller said. “I think some new
information came to law enforcement that may lead them in another
direction.”

Greg Washington, who said he fathered a son with Walker, was thankful for Miller’s expertise.

“He’s a godsend,” Washington said. “Every day has been getting up thinking about Gloria. Where is she?”

Even though Saturday’s searchers did not find Walker, Washington said the search encouraged him.

“We’ll keep turning over every stone we can,” Washington said. “I’m
not giving up. I promised her we would always watch each other’s back.”

[Source]

Video:

[Click]

Joshua Akeem Bland: Missing Since Sept. 27, 2007

2007-10-30T03:47:00.001-04:00

Missing: Sep 27, 2007.

Joshua may still be in the local area. His front tooth is chipped. Joshua's nickname is Josh.

Missing From:
COUNTRY CLUB HILLS
IL
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Country Club Hills Police Department (Illinois) 1-708-798-3191

Joshua's poster

DOB: Feb 20, 1994
Age Now: 13
Weight: 125 lbs (57 kg)
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Hair: Black

Restaffing...

2007-10-30T03:39:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lag, but I've been swamped.

However, I've put out the call for more help and so far so good.

So more to come. However, in the meantime click over to the Black and Missing blog because she's doing great work.

Olivia Maricela Soriano-Almendaris: Missing Since Oct. 2, 2007

2007-10-07T08:21:00.000-04:00

Ohio Police Seek Missing Pregnant Mom

Ohio police issued missing person alert Thursday for a pregnant woman who disappeared from a bank on Oct. 2.

Olivia Maricela Soriano-Almendaris, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, is nine months pregnant and vanished on the same day she was due to give birth, according to the release from the Columbus Division of Police.

Soriano-Almendaris is 5-feet, 6-inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing green pants, a white T-shirt and a gray sweater, police said.

Authorities believe she may have been driving a black 1995 Ford Explorer with Ohio license plate number DZW-7021.

Anyone with information is asked to call the missing persons unit of the department's special victims bureau at 614-645-2358.

Shardae "Mimi" Jenkins: Missing Since Sept. 29, 2007

2007-10-05T09:07:00.000-04:00

Mother Seeks Help In Finding Missing 13-Year-Old

CHICAGO -- A North Side mother is asking for the public's help in finding her missing teenager.

Shardae "Mimi" Jenkins, 13, left the home she shares with her mother near Peterson and Western avenues on Saturday night and has not been seen since.

Her mother said that the girl may be with a boyfriend who is known to the mother only as "Outlaw." She described him as a black man between 17 and 21 years old.

Shardae was last seen wearing a white shirt with dollar signs on it and blue jeans. Her mother described her as being 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 104 pounds. She is a light-skinned black girl, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago Police Department's Area 3 Special Victims Unit at 312-744-8266.

Glenda Furch: Last Seen Sept. 28, 2007

2007-10-05T08:46:00.000-04:00

PD: Fort Worth Woman's Disappearance Suspicious

Missing Fort Worth Woman's Car Found Burned

There's new information concerning the search for a Fort Worth grandmother who has been missing for nearly a week.

According to police, Glenda Furch's burned-out car was found in Dallas Thursday morning.

Furch's daughters have been holding vigil at their mother's Fort Worth apartment. The girls said they were hoping their 51-year-old mother would come back safe and sound.

Furch's daughter Shimon is begging the public for help. "We just need to know what happened. So if anybody knows anything we just plead to the community... today it's me, tomorrow it could be you. Just to the community, just to get involved and if you know anything just call the police and let them know."

The women broke down in tears when they learned about the discovery of the vehicle.

Furch has not been seen since she left her job at the General Motors plant in Arlington around midnight on Friday. Police have been looking for her and her 1998 4-door gold/champagne colored Mazda Millenia ever since.

Early Wednesday morning firefighters in southeast Dallas found a car on fire at an abandoned car wash near Hatcher and Military Parkway.

After tracing the cars identification numbers, investigators confirmed Thursday that the vehicle is Furch's.

Investigators with the Fort Worth Police Department say the discovery of the car is a significant development. "That's one less thing that we have to focus efforts on – finding the car," says FWPD Spokesman Lt. Dean Sullivan. "Now we have to find out who's responsible for setting it on fire, determine whether or not there's any involvement."

Fort Worth homicide detectives and crime scene investigators spent part of the day in Dallas looking for evidence in or on Furch's car and checking out the area where it was found.

"Really still, at this point even though we suspect foul play, we haven't concluded exactly that there's any crime that's been committed. Of course worst case scenario, if it does determine that we locate her in peril or some otherwise means of course we'll have to start working on developing suspects," Sullivan said.

Furch's co-workers from the Arlington GM plant are planning a candle light vigil for her on Saturday.

Black Children Missing in Alarming Numbers

2007-10-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

This is a news piece from May 2006, but I notice that it's still very much the case. I pull a lot of the missing children from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website.

I notice that the numbers of missing black children is huge. I noticed because you can run searches based on race. I almost always search for the most recent cases, so I run searches for case where the child has been missing for a month or less.

I always get a page full of faces of missing black kids, but from time to time no results for minority children of other races. Of course, I wish for no results at all, but it's profoundly disturbing to see how many kids who look like me go missing on a monthly basis.

Anyway, here is the link to the audio report: Black Children Missing in Alarming Numbers

Crusade to find missing Nailah made us care

2007-10-05T08:28:00.000-04:00

An interesting article by Mary Mitchell at the Chicago Sun-Times discussing how the crusade to find Nailah was different from other cases of missing black women.

Crusade to find missing Nailah made us care
Black families push to get coverage of disappearances

October 2, 2007
BY MARY MITCHELL Sun-Times Columnist

The relatives of Nailah Franklin are living a family's worst nightmare. Last Friday, an unclothed body that was discovered in the Calumet Woods was identified as the 28-year-old Franklin. With her fashion model looks, Franklin has been described as the "star" of her close-knit family.

Franklin was reported missing Sept. 19.

Like most parents, I worry about my adult daughters because, unfortunately, there is too much mayhem in the world. I don't think my family is much different from a lot of others.

And while every missing person is neither pretty or even lovable, if someone we love goes missing, we want police to turn over every stone. We want our friends and our neighbors to fan out across the city and join in the search. We want that person's face plastered on national news programs as well as in the local papers.
She was not seen in the same light

Yet, too often when young black women disappear, none of those things happen without the family waging a crusade.

These relatives have to scuffle to get alerts posted, and when the police department distributes the alert, it is still a fight to get the notice in a newspaper.

Franklin's disappearance didn't follow that pattern for several reasons.

First, she was a very attractive black woman who came from a middle-class background.

As such, her disappearance didn't get typecast as a throwaway. Franklin wasn't seen in the same light as the troubled black women who walked the streets in neighborhoods like Roseland and Englewood and ended up being found dead in abandoned buildings without anyone knowing they were missing.

Neither was Franklin's disappearance viewed in the same way as law enforcement views the average teenage runaway. Although many of the parents and guardians of these young people do their best to get media attention, their pleas are routinely ignored. And while police will pick up runaways if they happen to bump into them, they don't make it a priority to locate teens who bolt from their homes.

Franklin's relatives and friends made sure her plight was not ignored. Her sister, Lehia Franklin Acox, used her media contacts to ensure that photographs of her missing sister were widely circulated. For consecutive days, Nailah's beautiful smile graced the front pages, while updates of the search aired regularly on national news programs.

This is a significant change from just four years ago.

When Nancie Walker, a Chicago businesswoman, disappeared in 2003, her family and friends had to pressure the Chicago Police Department to investigate the disappearance as a possible abduction even though Walker was not known to take off without letting anyone know of her whereabouts.

Three months after vanishing, Walker's dismembered body was found in plastic bags. No one has been charged with that crime.

The way Nailah Franklin's disappearance was handled -- not just by the police but by the media -- shows that black families now are more aggressive about getting the media's help.

Because of the Franklin family's efforts, I saw the face of Nailah Franklin so often, I began to feel as if I knew her. And just as the faces of two other missing persons -- Laci Peterson and Natalee Holloway -- were etched into our consciousness through media exposure, by the time Franklin's body was found 10 days after she disappeared, many of us were genuinely moved by the tragedy.

It is a tragedy, but also a blessing that Franklin has been humanized in a way that so many missing black women have not been.
Case can't be dismissed

From her sisters, we learned that Franklin was someone who brought incredible joy to their lives. From her employers, we learned that the young professional was so well-respected in the workplace that her unscheduled absence was cause for alarm.

During days of waiting, we learned that Franklin had a spiritual family, that she had career goals and that she was a real role model for her younger relatives.

Nailah Franklin's family made sure there would be no presumptions. People who loved Franklin made sure that her disappearance wouldn't be dismissed as just another act of random violence.

No missing person should get less than that.

If Madeleine McCann was Black, Would the Media Care?

2007-09-29T22:41:00.000-04:00

This is an blog by Robbie Gennet that I found on the Huffington Post today.

I've copied the text here, but you can click over to read the original.

It's Gennet's writing and comments should be posted there. So click over if you have any feedback on this.

If Madeleine McCann was Black, Would the Media Care?
Madeleine McCann, who you've no doubt heard has been missing over in Europe, is a white British four-year-old whose disappearance has sparked a massive global media focus. Front pages of major magazines, top news stories on television and a hunt that has spanned continents. No matter how awful that is, it is hard to imagine this same scenario playing out if she was not white.

Imagine if the exact same chain of events -- daughter missing on vacation, parents distraught and searching for clues -- happened to a black family. Or Hispanic, Asian, name your race. Would the world be in such an uproar? Would the parents be invited to the Vatican to pray with the Pope, as did the McCann's recently? Imagine if the genocide in Darfur got the media coverage of Madeleine McCann. Or any one of the thousands of missing children in this country others that are so unfortunate as to be non-white. Now I am not a parent (though I am a new uncle) but I can imagine the grief one would go through having their child go missing.

However, the media focus on this case has grown to a level that is completely out of balance with reality. I'm sure we all agree that solving Madeleine's disappearance would be a positive turn of events. But until there is some parity in the world's concern about ALL missing children of EVERY race, color and nationality, a case like this only serves to propagate the mistaken stereotype that if you're white, you somehow matter more. And to all the parents of missing non-white children out there, that is a cruel and unnecessary facet of a reality that desperately needs to change.

Ethlin Williams Ruddock: Missing Since Sept. 22, 2007

2007-09-29T22:27:00.000-04:00

North American Missing Persons Network: Ethlin Ruddock

Brooklyn Woman with Alzheimer's Still Missing
Last Seen in Flatlands

NEW YORK -- An elderly Brooklyn woman with Alzheimer's has been missing from her Brooklyn home for a week. Her family has been handing out photo fliers, hoping someone has seen Ethlin Williams Ruddock, 78.

Police said she was last seen Saturday, September 22, at 5:30 p.m. on East 46th Street in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn.

She was wearing a floral-print shirt, beige skirt, black sandals, a black Coach purse, and a gold wedding band inscribed with "To Ethlin Love Alvin." She is of African-Caribbean descent and has black eyes, a dark complexion, and thin salt-and-pepper hair.

Ruddock is enrolled in the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return program. Her identification number is 232665, but she is not wearing any of her identification products.

Anyone with information can call the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return program at 800-572-1122 or the Crime Stoppers hot line at 800-577-TIPS (8477).

Courtney Raven Morgan: Missing Since Sept. 2, 2007

2007-09-29T22:24:00.001-04:00

Courtney was last seen on September 2, 2007 around 1100 hours. She was last seen with her cousin, Alicia (B/F), on a Greyhound bus headed towards Baltimore, Maryland. Courtney wears corrective black glasses and has a scar on her right hip.

Missing From:
HALIFAX COUNTY
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Halifax County Sheriff's Office Deputy Burton (434) 476-3334

Courtney's Missing Kids poster.

DOB: Dec 18, 1993
Age Now: 13
Missing: Sep 2, 2007
Sex: Female
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black
Race: Black

Nailah Franklin's Body Found

2007-09-27T14:11:00.000-04:00

Update 1 (Sept. 30, 2007 @ 9:38am KST)

There were some people who didn't believe the body was Nailah's. However, authorities have confirmed that it's her body with medical records.

Here is the article: Police identify body of missing Chicago woman
______________________________________________

Horrible news - Nailan Franklin's body has been found according to a report from the Associated Press.

I'm posting the article here, but as I mentioned in the original post on Nailah, the Crime US blog is posting regular updates on this case.

Uncle: Missing drug rep's body found

Story Highlights

NEW: Uncle of Nailah Franklin says her body was found

Police haven't identified body found in Illinois forest preserve

Franklin was reported missing September 19 after missing a meeting

Her car was found in Hammond, Indiana, near abandoned building

CALUMET CITY, Illinois (AP) -- A drug sales representative who disappeared last week was found dead near a forest preserve, not far from where her car was abandoned, her uncle said Thursday.

Calumet City Police Chief Russell Larson confirmed only that an unidentified woman's body had been found in the area Thursday morning.

But Nailah Franklin's uncle Jon Merrill and family friend Andrew Holms said authorities had told the family the body is that of Merrill's 28-year-old niece.

Franklin, a pharmaceutical sales representative for Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly, was reported missing September 19 after she missed a meeting at work. Her car was discovered in Hammond, Indiana, on Friday night near an abandoned building.

Franklin had filed a police report shortly before her disappearance about getting threatening phone calls from a man she had dated briefly.

Chicago police said Monday they had interviewed someone Franklin once dated but have not named a suspect in her disappearance.

Since her disappearance, family members and volunteers have papered the area with fliers and taken out a newspaper ad seeking the public's help.

They have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

JOSIAH DAWSON: Missing Since Sept. 24, 2007

2007-09-27T02:43:00.000-04:00

Josiah was last seen on September 24, 2007 wearing a red shirt, blue jeans, and white Nike sneakers. He may have a backpack with the Harley Davidson logo. Josiah may be in the company of an adult female. He may be in need of medical attention.

Missing From:
Newark, NJ, USA

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACTNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)Newark Police Department (New Jersey) 1-973-733-6000
Link to Josiah's Missing Kids poster

DOB: Mar 24, 2006
Missing: Sep 24, 2007
Sex: Male
Height: 2'0" (61 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Race: Black
Age Now: 1
Weight: 26 lbs (12 kg)

Simone Baldwin: Missing Since Sept. 8, 2007

2007-09-27T02:28:00.000-04:00

Simone was last seen on September 8, 2007 wearing a red t-shirt and yellow shorts with red strawberries on them. She has pierced ears and wears glasses. She may be in the company of a Hispanic male named Carlos. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
RICHMOND
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Henrico County Police Department Officer Nance (804) 501-5000

Link to Simone's poster.

DOB: Nov 1, 1992
Missing: Sep 8, 2007
Age Now: 14
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)

Nailah Franklin: Missing Since Sept. 18, 2007

2007-09-24T10:58:00.000-04:00

Nailah Franklin is 5′2″ and weighs about 115 lbs.

Please call the police at (312) 746-9259 if you have any information about the case.

For more info about the case check the Crimeblog USA which is updating its post on Nailah regularly: Missing Person from Chicago: Nailah Franklin

The latest news as I'm typing this is that her vehicle was found in Indiana, but she's still missing.
Here is an article from CBS News in Chicago.

Family Fears Missing Woman Was Harmed

Friend Says Nailah Franklin Disappeared After Threatening Message From Ex-Boyfriend

(CBS) CHICAGO A massive effort is underway to find a missing woman who disappeared apparently without a trace. Nailah Franklin's family and friends, along with police, are scrambling to get the word out.

As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, the Little Gym in University Village served Friday as the gathering point for Franklin's family and friends. There was a continuous flow of well wishers stopping by, picking up fliers that they're passing out in the community. Both the police and Franklin's family say they're not giving up hope she'll be found.

Family and friends spent Friday afternoon passing out fliers near Franklin's University Village condominium.

"We just want to get as much information possible out about Nailah and to be able to talk and keep the momentum in the streets," said Franklin's friend Lavelle Smith.

The 28-year-old Eli Lilly pharmaceutical representative was last seen on September 18. Her family says she is always in constant contact, especially by text message. The last message she sent was that night, saying she was at dinner and would call later. No one has heard from her since.

"She is very bright, smart, educated, a beautiful black woman," said Franklin's uncle Dwayne Johnson.

At a news conference on Friday afternoon, police said they are tracing phone calls as well as personal and business credt card records. They're also going over video from a surveillance camera outside her condo.

"I'd just like to find her," said Sgt. Virginia Zic-Schlomas of the Area 4 Special Victims Unit.

Police are talking with several people Franklin has had relationships with. Sources say one of them has a history of making threats to other women. A week before she vanished Franklin had filed a report with police about a man she had dated, claiming he was threatening her by phone.

"She had already had contact with a detective of our agency, who was in constant contact with her giving her advice," Zic-Schlomas said.

Among the advice was to file a restraining order against the man.

Franklin's friend Dana McClellan said the message contained the following: "Basically 'I could do harm to you. You haven't seen that side, of me but I do have a bad side and I could do harm to you.'"

Franklin's sister went to the Harrison Area police headquarters Friday morning to talk to detectives about the case. She said detectives called her and asked her to come in.

Police say they still have confidence Franklin will be found.

"I'm still hoping there's a positive outcome in the results of all this," Zic-Schlomas said.

Two computers are also missing from Franklin's home: a personal laptop and one she used for her work with Eli Lilly.

Franklin is 5-feet 2-inches, 115 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

Her company car, a 2005 four-door, black Chevy Impala, has also vanished. It has Illinois license plate number of 1957855.

Eli Lilly is also involved in the investigation since one of their employees, and a company computer, is missing.

"This is someone who just had everything to live for; she was at the top of her game professionally; she bought two condos on her own as a single woman; she dotes on her niece, my daughter; she's just a person who is very connected with the people she cares about," Franklin's sister said. "This is so out of character."

If you have any information about the case, police ask that you call (312) 746-9259.

Wireless AMBER Alerts

2007-09-20T02:33:00.000-04:00

Opt in to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts as text messages on your cell phone! This free public service is offered in partnership by The Wireless Foundation, the membership of CTIA-The Wireless Association® and the U.S. Department of Justice to deliver AMBER Alert.

Sign up now at www.wirelessamberalerts.org or through a participating wireless carrier.

JHERICA SHARRELL SMITH: Missing Since Sept 15, 2007

2007-09-17T02:01:00.000-04:00

Jherica was last seen on September 15, 2007 at approximately 1:30 am. She was last seen wearing Capri jeans with a "G-Unit" detail and a turquoise shirt. Her ears are pierced.

Missing From:
RIVERSIDE
CA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)

Riverside Police Department (California) 1-951-787-7911

Jherica's Missing Kids poster

Case Type: Lost, Injured, Missing
DOB: Jul 5, 1994
Sex: Female
Age Now: 13
Race: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)
Hair Color: Brown

DANIEL GABRIEL ORONA: Missing Since Sep 9, 2007

2007-09-17T01:52:00.000-04:00

Daniel may be in the company of Ernesto Orona. The photo in the middle and the bottom photo are of Ernesto.

Daniel has a scar on his thigh. Ernesto has a tattoo on his left arm. CAUTION IS ADVISED.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)

Irving Police Department (Texas) 1-972-721-2518

Daniel's Missing Kids poster

Daniel Gabriel Orona's info:
DOB: Jul 27, 2004
Missing: Sep 9, 2007
Age Now: 3
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Black
Height: 2'8" (81 cm)
Weight: 30 lbs (14 kg)

Ernesto Orona's info:
DOB: Aug 25, 1978
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Weight: 230 lbs (104 kg)

Some Good News!!!

2007-09-17T00:22:00.000-04:00

I was over at the Black and Missing but not Forgotten blog, linked via the picture on the right, and there are some stories with good news.

I'll link them here, so you can click over and read them!

Missing Indy girl found after a 12-hour search

Israel Bell found with teen near S.C. truck stop

MISSING: ISRAEL BELL

2007-09-15T12:34:00.000-04:00

Update 1 (Sept. 17, 2007 2:34pm KST)

FOUND!

_______________________________________

Michigan: AMBER Alert Active for Israel Bell

September 14, 2007 10:30 AM If you have information, please contact Detroit Police Department at (313) 596-1100 or 911.

Victim
Name Israel Bell
Sex
Height 20"
Hair Color
Skin Color Black
Age 11 days
Weight 7 lbs. 11 ozs
Eye Color Brown
Other Wearing pink, white, purple striped outfit with matching hat

Suspect
Name Jasmine
Sex
Height 5'0"
Hair Color Black and red
Skin Color
Age 17
Weight 105
Eye Color Brown
Other Wearing red jacket, red shirt, blue jeans, hair is in a weave

More Info Here: Missing Newborn

Also, apologies for the lack of updates from my side of the camp -- I haven't had access to the Internet since July.

For Teens and Parents: Think Before You Post

2007-09-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

Three campaigns to inform teens and parents against online preditors. Click, read and learn.

Think Before You Post
Learn how posting images and personal information can put you at risk.

Don't Believe the Hype
Learn how to better protect yourself from online sexual predators.

Help Delete Online Predators
Learn how to better protect your children from online sexual predators.

Evana Taylor: Missing Since August 4, 2007

2007-09-12T07:19:00.000-04:00

Circumstances: Evana was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Evelyn Taylor, on August 4, 2007. A felony warrant was issued for the abductor on August 16, 2007. They may travel to Oregon.

Missing From:
NEWPORT
AR
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Newport Police Department (Arkansas) 1-870-523-2722

Evana's poster

Evana Taylor
DOB: Apr 17, 1999
Missing: Aug 4, 2007
Age Now: 8
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 4'0" (122 cm)
Weight: 70 lbs (32 kg)

Evelyn Taylor
Abductor
DOB: Oct 9, 1980
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)

Monica Omena Ofurie: Missing Since August 12, 2007

2007-09-07T07:25:00.000-04:00

Both photos shown are of the child. Monica may be in the company of her non-custodial mother. They may travel to the United Kingdom.

Monica's poster

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Lynn Police Department (Massachusetts) 1-781-595-2000

Missing From:
LYNN
MA
United States

DOB: Aug 12, 2002
Missing: Aug 20, 2007
Age Now: 5
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 3'6" (107 cm)
Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg)

Cinthia Pulido-DelToro, Lilibeth Sierra DelToro and Anahi Josette DelToro: Missing Since August 29, 2007

2007-09-07T07:09:00.000-04:00

On August 29, 2007, Cinthia picked up her children, Lilibeth and Anahi from their babysitter's residence in Phoenix, Arizona and was on her way back home to Mesa, Arizona. She contacted a family member at approximately 9:30 pm and said she would be home soon. Cinthia and the children have not been heard from since. They were last known to be traveling in a 2005 blue Chevy Cavalier with Arizona license plate 036-MBZ.

The poster containing information on all three.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Mesa Police Department (Arizona) - 1-480-644-2211

Cinthia, Lilibeth and Anahi
Missing City: PHOENIX
Missing State : AZ

Cinthia's description:
DOB: Jun 21, 1982
Sex: Female
Missing Date: Aug 29, 2007
Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 25
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown

Lilibeth's description:
DOB: Jun 28, 2004
Sex: Female
Missing Date: Aug 29, 2007
Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 3
Height: 3'0" (91 cm)
Weight: 35 lbs (16 kg)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown

Anahi's description:
DOB: Apr 16, 2007
Sex: Female
Missing Date: Aug 29, 2007
Race: Hispanic
Age Now: 4 Month(s)
Height: 2'0" (61 cm)
Height: 12 lbs (5 kg)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown

Kristian Isaih Allen: Missing Since August 16, 2007

2007-09-07T06:50:00.000-04:00

Kristian Isaih Allen

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Maryland Center for Missing Children
1-800-637-5437 (1-800-MDS-KIDS)
Maryland State Police, Annapolis Barrack, 410-974-3301

Missing City: CHELTENHAM
Missing State : MD
Missing Country: United States

DOB: Apr 21, 1992
Age Now: 15
Sex: Male
Missing Date: Aug 16, 2007
Race: Black
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown

Your Bloggers - MIA, sorry.

2007-09-07T06:02:00.000-04:00

Hey folks.

My apologies. What turned out to be a two person blog seems to have turned into a one person blog.

Eh, no pressure. If you're in, you're in and if you're not...well, you're not.

I am in, but the semester started for me, along with a new work schedule. I'd been on vacation since late June. I also just graduated!

Anyway, I've been very busy and I'm a bit disappointed in myself because I try to update this blog at least once a week.

Forgive me and I'll try to stay on it more diligently now.

Okay, time to put up some missing faces.

Jasmine Black: Missing Since August 17, 2007

2007-08-26T01:41:00.001-04:00

Jasmine was last seen on August 17, 2007. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
CHICAGO
IL
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Chicago Police Department (Illinois) 1-312-745-6052

DOB: Jun 30, 1991
Missing: Aug 17, 2007
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Age Now: 16
Sex: Female
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Hair: Black

Denasia Nycole Brooks: Missing Since July 30, 2007

2007-08-26T01:34:00.001-04:00

Denasia wears braces on her teeth.

Missing From:
HOUSTON
TX
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Texas Department of Public Safety
(512)-424-2811 or 424-5043 or 1-(800)-346-3243

DOB: Mar 4, 1991
Missing: Jul 30, 2007
Age Now: 16
Sex: Female
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 152 cm (4'11")
Weight: 52 kg (115 lbs)

Deontae Latham: Missing Since Jul 27, 2007

2007-08-17T07:33:00.000-04:00

Deontae Latham was last on July 27, 2007. He may still be in the local area or he may travel to Chicago, Illinois.

Missing From:
ELGIN
IL
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Elgin Police Department (Illinois) 1-847-289-2700

DOB: Aug 24, 1993
Missing: Jul 27, 2007
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Age Now: 13
Sex: Male
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Hair: Black

Jose Henriquez-Diaz: Missing Since June 3, 2007

2007-08-17T07:22:00.000-04:00

Jose Henriquez-Diaz:

Both photos shown are of the Jose. He was last seen on June 3, 2007. Jose has a scar on the right side of his forehead.

Missing From:
SELLS
AZ
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Tohono O'Odham Nation Police Department (Arizona) 1-520-383-3275

Type rest of the post here
DOB: Nov 26, 1993
Missing: Jun 3, 2007
Age Now: 13
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)

Repost: Global Missing Children Channel Launched

2007-08-15T06:32:00.000-04:00

Global Missing Children Channel Launched
Friday, August 10, 2007
Read the press release.

Nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States alone¹. Thankfully the vast majority of these childrenare recovered quickly. However, worldwide the problem is even larger. That’s why the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), in partnership with Google’s YouTube and The Find Madeleine Campaign, launched a new YouTube missing children’s channel.

The new Internet channel— www.youtube.com/DontYouForgetAboutMe — shows videos of missing children from around the world. It will also feature safety and educational materials in several languages and messages from dignitaries and soccer star David Beckham.
The timing of the announcement coincides with the 100th day that 4-year-old Madeleine McCann has been missing. The channel’s headline banner, “Don’t You Forget About Me,” is named after the hit song by the Scottish rock group “Simple Minds,” and is featured in Madeleine’s video. Madeleine disappeared on May 3, 2007 while on a family vacation in Portugal.

Anyone with information about a missing child featured on the website will be directed to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Instructions and criteria for submitting a video

¹[Andrea J. Sedlak, David Finkelhor, Heather Hammer, and Dana J. Schultz. U.S. Department of Justice. "National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview" in National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, October 2002, page 5.]

Zetra Bohannon: Missing Since August 2, 2007

2007-08-10T22:13:00.000-04:00

Zetra Bohannon may be with a male companion. They may travel to Chicago, Illinois. Zetra's ears are pierced.

Missing From:
BARTLETT
IL
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Bartlett Police Department (Illinois) 1-630-837-0846

DOB: Nov 2, 1989
Missing: Aug 2, 2007
Age Now: 17
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)

Deshawn Cunningham: Missing Since July 31, 2007

2007-08-10T21:59:00.000-04:00

Deshawn Cunningham was last seen on July 31, 2007 wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and white/grey/blue Nike shoes. He may be with a female. He may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
RICHMOND
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Chesterfield County Police Department (804) 748-1251

Case Type: Missing
Missing: Jul 31, 2007
DOB: Nov 22, 1990
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Age Now: 16
Sex: Male
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Hair: Black

Jesus Merino-Mendoza: Missing Since July 26, 2007

2007-07-29T10:39:00.000-04:00

DOB: Feb 4, 2004
Missing: Jul 26, 2007
Age Now: 3
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 3'0" (91 cm)
Weight: 30 lbs (14 kg)
Missing From:
PORTLAND
OR
United States

Jesus Merino-MendozaJesus was last seen at home on July, 26, 2007.

He may be in the company of an adult male relative. Jesus has a faint V-shaped birthmark on his forehead. Jesus was last seen wearing a blue jersey style tank top, blue shorts and sandals.

CAUTION IS ADVISED!

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Portland Police Department (Oregon) 1-503-823-0400

Companion
DOB: Dec 25, 1969
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)

Josephine Howell-Baxter: Missing Since July 19, 2007

2007-07-29T10:12:00.000-04:00

Josephine Howell-Baxter

Josephine was last seen on July 19, 2007. She was wearing black pants, a white t-shirt and black shoes. She goes by the nickname "Josie", has pierced ears and wears glasses. She may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Prince William County Police Department (703) 792-6500

DOB: Sep 23, 1989
Age Now: 17
Sex: Female
Missing: Jul 19, 2007
Height: 4'9" (145 cm)
Weight: 123 lbs (56 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Hair: Black

Maci Dawn McKinsey: Missing Since July 16, 2007

2007-07-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

Maci McKinsey

Maci was last seen on July 16, 2007 wearing a light colored top, jean shorts, and sandles and carrying a book bag. Her hair was in micro-braids. She has a scar on her left elbow and her ears are pierced. She is believed to be in the local area.

Missing From:
NEWPORT NEWS
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Newport News Police Department (757) 247-2500

Sex: Female
DOB: Mar 22, 1993
Age Now: 14
Missing: Jul 16, 2007
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Hair: Black

Jasmine Shanae Powers: Missing Since Jul 12, 2007

2007-07-26T19:55:00.000-04:00

Jasmine Powers

Missing From:
CANAL WINCHESTER
OH
United States

Jasmine was last seen on the evening of July 12, 2007. She was last seen wearing jean capris and a cream colored Aeropostle shirt.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Columbus Police Department (Ohio) 1-614-645-4701

DOB: Mar 6, 1990
Age Now: 17
Missing: Jul 12, 2007
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
Weight: 125 lbs (57 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Hair: Brown

Found: Mahalia Xiong Missing

2007-07-26T16:40:00.000-04:00

Update: August 11, 2007
Mahalia Xiong Laid to Rest
Funeral set for Mahalia Xiong

-------------------------------------

I got notified about this case via email on July 27th (remember I'm one day ahead by a few hours here in Seoul.)

Thank you for letting Missing Minorities know about this.

Help Find Mahalia Xiong

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay student Mahalia Xiong was reported missing after she didn’t return from a night of bowling with friends, said her brother, Tou Lee, on Sunday.

From what family members have pieced together, Xiong and her friends left Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley, 2929 Allied St., sometime after 2 a.m. Friday, Lee said.

Mahalia is described as a 5-foot tall, 105-pound Asian with a medium build. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and black high-heeled shoes.

She was last seen driving a four-door, 1996 Mercury Sable with a Wisconsin license plate of TFD-715.

Anyone with information about Mahalia Xiong is asked to call Green Bay police at (920) 448-3208.

Click "Read more" for links to flyers and articles on this case.

reappropriate: Missing Student

Flyer #1: http://mahaliaxiong.pleasehelpfind.org/images/flyer1a.pdf

Flyer #2: http://www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/missing.htm

News Articles:

Groups:

Keinya Carroll: Missing Since July 21, 2007

2007-07-26T09:07:00.000-04:00

Keinya Carroll
Missing From:
TAKOMA PARK
MD
United States

The missing child was last seen wearing blue jeans, a multi-colored shirt and glasses.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Maryland Center for Missing Children
1-800-637-5437 (1-800-MDS-KIDS)
Takoma Park Police Dept/Det Conrad 301-270-1100 or 301-891-7146

DOB: Feb 17, 1990
Age Now: 17
Missing: Jul 21, 2007
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
Hair: Brown

Tiffany Junelle Arcand: Missing Since July 23, 2007

2007-07-26T08:43:00.000-04:00

Tiffany Arcand

Missing: Jul 23, 2007

Missing From:
EAST MISSOULA
MT
United States

Tiffany may be in the local area. When she was last seen she was wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans that have glitter on the back of them.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Missoula Police Department (Montana) 1-406-552-6299

DOB: Jun 27, 1994
Age Now: 13

Missing: Jul 23, 2007
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Am. Ind.
Sex: Female
Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg)
Hair: Brown

Natalee Holloway's Mother In Philadelphia

2007-07-26T08:26:00.000-04:00

This is actually old news as it happened in November 2005. However, I keep up with the news and I didn't hear a peep about this story. It would have went a long way to help those looking for loved ones to know that Natalee's mom reached out to parents and families who were also missing loved ones in West Philadelphia (traditionally a minority neighborhood.)

Here is the article and if you click on the link there is a 2 minute video report too.

Natalee Holloway's Mother In Philadelphia

Walt Hunter
Reporting

(CBS 3) PHILADELPHIA Five months after she disappeared without a trace on a class trip to Aruba, the search for missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway has united people around the country and around the world.

Her mother is in Philadelphia thanking people for their support in her quest for answers.

“I just want to give a big thank you to the city of Philadelphia because they just have been so supportive,” said Beth Holloway-Twitty.

The mother of missing teen Natalee Holloway, who vanished on Memorial Day while on a school trip to Aruba had words of thanks for the city of brotherly love.

“We have always spoken that we do not have family or friends here but I feel like I do now,” said Holloway-Twitty.

Sadly, she revealed there were no new leads in the search for Natalee, a search she is convinced has been mishandled by Aruba investigators.

“The current investigative team, we have to look into removing them and replacing them,” explained Holloway-Twitty.

As she presses forward in her efforts to find her, Beth came to Philadelphia to help other families of missing children at an all day conference at West Philadelphia High School on Saturday.

Among those joining her will be Melvin Figueroa, the father of murder victim, LaToyia Figueroa.

“The idea is to invite people who have missing loved ones in this city and for them to come forward and tell their story,” stated City Councilman Juan Ramos.

With no end in sight, she says it is the support from other parents that makes all the difference.

“They have just stayed with us since the beginning and we are so grateful because that is the only way we can get through this,” said Holloway-Twitty

Shaniece Dorsey Missing Since June 16, 2007

2007-07-12T10:23:00.000-04:00

Shanience Dorsey -
Circumstances: Shaniece was last seen on June 16, 2007.

Missing From:
TOLEDO
OH
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Toledo Police Department (Ohio) 1-419-245-3111

DOB: Jul 15, 1992
Age Now: 14
Missing: Jun 16, 2007
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
Hair: Brown

Michael Juan Davis - Missing Since June 21, 2007

2007-07-12T10:17:00.000-04:00

Michael Davis -

Michael was last seen on June 21, 2007. He has a tattoo on his right forearm that says "JUAN" and another tattoo on his left forearm. He may still be in the local area.

Missing From:
BOTETOURT COUNTY
VA
United States

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Botetourt County Sheriff's Office (540) 473-8631

DOB: Feb 28, 1990
Age Now: 17
Missing: Jun 21, 2007
Sex: Male
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Hair: Black

Harjit Kaur - Missing Since June 22, 2007

2007-07-12T10:09:00.000-04:00

Harjit Kaur -
She may be with a male companion. They may be in the local area. Harjit's nickname is Jittie.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Carteret Police Department (New Jersey) 1-732-541-4181

DOB: Nov 9, 1989
Missing: Jun 22, 2007
Age Now: 17
Sex: Female
Race: Asian
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
Weight: 115 lbs (52 kg)
Missing From:
CARTERET
NJ
United States

Rashiya Bond - Missing Since June 14, 2007

2007-07-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a few days, but I've been doing an internship. However, tonight I've decided to just get other stuff done. So, unfortunately, here are some new missing minorities.

Rashiya Bond -

Rashiya may be in the company of her non-custodial mother and an adult female. They may travel to Lansing, Michigan. Rashiya has a scar above her left eye. Her nickname is Shi.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Grand Rapids Police Department (Michigan) 1-616-456-3400

DOB: Jul 3, 2004
Missing: Jun 14, 2007
Age Now: 3
Height: 2'6" (76 cm)
Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Hair: Brown

Missing From:
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
United States

Happy Dance!

2007-07-10T18:02:00.000-04:00

Just a few days out of the starting block and Missing Minorities has been nominated for a June 2007, Just Post award!

I woke to see an email from Izzy over at the Blogchicks blogroll that said my blog had been nominated for something. Of course, I thought it was my other blog (I won't link it here, but if you're curious click on my profile and it's there.) However, when I read it, I knew what I usually blog about might interesting it's not "very important".

Hi there,

I just wanted to let you know I nominated your blog for a "Just Post"
award. Normally, you would do this for a post but I nominated your
whole blog because I think what you're doing is very important.

I'm still wiping the sleep from my eyes, so I'm not even sure how this works, but the Just Post June 2007 list is here and I've also put it in our side bar. So click over, show us some support and take a look at the other nominees while you're there.

I see this as a way to just spread the word about what we're all doing so it's win-win for everyone.

Thanks Just Post readers!

Happy Dance time!

Kendra Antionette Hedgespeth - Missing since 6/20/07

2007-07-02T15:27:00.000-04:00

KENDRA ANTIONETTE HEDGESPETH
Case Type: Missing
DOB: Nov 27, 1991 Sex: Female
Missing Date: Jun 20, 2007 Race: Black
Age Now: 15 Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Missing City: PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)
Missing State : VA Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: USVAVA06-401

Circumstances: Kendra was last seen on June 20, 2007 wearing a light blue t-shirt, blue jeans and Nike tennis shoes. Her ears are pierced and is believed to be wearing studs. She also wears glasses. Kendra may be in the local area.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Prince William County Police Department (703) 792-6500

SAQUOYA LUCRITIA GERALD - Missing since 6/4/2007

2007-07-02T15:22:00.000-04:00

SAQUOYA LUCRITIA GERALD
Case Type: Family Abduction
DOB: Oct 22, 1994 Sex: Female
Missing Date: Jun 4, 2007 Race: Black
Age Now: 12 Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
Missing City: RIVERDALE Weight: 90 lbs (41 kg)
Missing State : GA Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: NCMC1072672

Circumstances: Saquoya may be in the company of her non-custodial father. They may travel to Houston, Texas.

If you have any info, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Jovain Sisters -- Missing Since 3/1/07

2007-07-02T15:14:00.000-04:00

ANDLUNE SURVIVA JOVAIN:

Case Type: Family Abduction
DOB: Aug 26, 2002 Sex: Female
Missing Date: Mar 1, 2007 Race: Black
Age Now: 4 Height: 3'4" (102 cm)
Missing City: BRADENTON Weight: 60 lbs (27 kg)
Missing State : FL Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: NCMC1065494
Circumstances: Andlune and Jedanar were last seen on March 1, 2007. They may be in the company of their non-custodial father. They may still be in the local area or they may travel to Palm Springs, Florida. The children's ears are pierced. Jedanar has a scar on her left leg.

JEDANAR KAYLA JOVAIN:

Case Type: Family Abduction
DOB: Aug 23, 2003 Sex: Female
Missing Date: Mar 1, 2007 Race: Black
Age Now: 3 Height: 3'2" (97 cm)
Missing City: BRADENTON Weight: 40 lbs (18 kg)
Missing State : FL Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: NCMC1065494
Circumstances: Andlune and Jedanar were last seen on March 1, 2007. They may be in the company of their non-custodial father. They may still be in the local area or they may travel to Palm Springs, Florida. The children's ears are pierced. Jedanar has a scar on her left leg.

If you have any info on these missing girls, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children -- Website at http://www.missingkids.com

Kimberly Brown - Missing Since June 9, 2007

2007-07-02T08:45:00.000-04:00

Missing From:
MANASSAS
VA
United States

Kimberly was last seen on June 9, 2007 around 2025 hours. She was wearing a grey t-shirt and grey sweatpants. She may be headed to the east end of Prince William county.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Prince William County Police Department Officer Cieslinski (703) 792-6500

DOB: Aug 21, 1992
Age Now: 14
Missing: Jun 9, 2007
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Sex: Female
Weight: 120 lbs (54 kg)
Hair: Black
Race: Black

Link to Missing Children.

Riguet Cesard - Missing Since June 11, 2007

2007-07-02T08:35:00.000-04:00

Missing From:
ORLANDO
FL
United States

Riguet was last seen on June 11, 2007. He may still be in the local area, or he may have traveled to Tampa, Florida. Riguet has scars on the right side of his chest, the left side of his leg, and the back of his right hand.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Orange County Sheriffs Office (Florida) 1-407-836-4357

DOB: Jan 1, 1992
Age Now: 15
Missing: Jun 11, 2007
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Sex: Male
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Hair: Black

Link from Missing Children.

Sarah Bridgeman - Missing Since June 7, 2007

2007-07-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

Missing From:
MONROE
GA
United States

Sarah was last seen on June 7, 2007.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Monroe Police Department (Georgia) 1-770-464-0310

DOB: Oct 31, 1989
Age Now: 17
Missing: Jun 7, 2007
Sex: Female
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Race: Black

Link at Missing Children.

Teresa Blount - Missing Since June 15, 2007

2007-07-02T08:26:00.000-04:00

Missing From: HAMPTON, VA United States

Teresa was last seen on June 15, 2007 wearing blue jeans and carrying two bags. She has a tattoo on her right shoulder of a cross. She may still be in the local area.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
Virginia Missing Children's Clearinghouse
1-800-822-4453
Hampton Police Department Officer Chapman (757) 727-6111

DOB: Sep 1, 1990
Missing: Jun 15, 2007
Age Now: 16
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Sex: Female
Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)
Hair: Brown

Link at Missing Children.

Derrell Dean Anthony Thomas - Missing since June 27, 2007

2007-06-29T08:50:00.000-04:00

Missing From:
AUBURN
NY
United States

Circumstances: Derrell was last seen on June 27, 2007. Details can be found at the National Center for Missing Children website: DERRELL DEAN ANTHONY THOMAS

DOB: Feb 3, 1997
Age Now: 10
Missing: Jun 27, 2007
Height: 4'11" (150 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Sex: Male
Weight: 100 lbs (45 kg)
Hair: Black

Derrell was last seen on June 27, 2007. He may be in the local area.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
Auburn Police Department (New York) 1-315-253-3231

News Focuses on Missing Person Stories of Whites

2007-06-29T06:45:00.000-04:00

Photo montage from GuerrillaFunk.com's Spotlight Skips Cases of Missing Minorities (also linked below).

As the first post on this blog mentioned, the idea of creating a blog focused on missing minorities came to fruition because the media just doesn't give these stories much, if any, press.

It came from a thread where we were discussing Stepha Henry. There was a lot of complaining. I believe that complaning only further perpetuates the status quo. It's when you couple the complaint with action that you inspire change.

To that end, I asked everyone to email their friends, put it up on their MySpace or Facebook and to blog Stepha's story if they had a blog. From that, the idea for this blog was born.

Due to work and school commitments I've only now gotten the time to turn my attention to this new blog. To be honest, I hope the need for it doesn't last very long.

However, I'll start off by posting a blog from MSNBC where Dateline's Josh Mankiewicz did a piece called "What's Missing?" and wrote a blog named Missing Minorities in Missing Person Stories. In both, he asked the tough questions about why the stories about the missing persons like the ones we'll post here go unnoticed in the media.

This segment was aired back on August 7, 2005 however I found a transcript of it on Cybersleuths Crime Discussion in a thread aptly named White world of missing women. Here is the transcript. I also advise clicking on Mankiewicz's blog on this to read the comments because they're interesting.

Dateline, Friday, August 7th: What's Missing?; National news tends to focus on missing persons stories of white people.

Announcer: From our studios in New York, here is Ann Curry.

AC: Good evening. Parents do all they can to protect their children, but sometimes a parent's love just isn't enough. For more than two months now we've watched as Natalee Holloway's mother has conducted a desperate search for her missing 18year-old daughter, the tragedy covered extensively by the media.

But our next story is not about Natalee Holloway. We want to tell you about another family's agonizing search for a young woman who is also missing. But unless you live near her home town, you've probably never heard of her, and the question Josh Mankiewicz asks tonight is, why not?

(Tape) A 24-year-old California college student...

(Tape)...new developments in the search for that missing American teen...

Wolf Blitzer...who hasn't been scene since last Monday.

Harry Smith ...and was reported missing.

Josh Mankiwitcz: It's the lead story...

(Excerpts from various news broadcasts shown with photos of missing persons)

Lester Holt: (From news broadcast) ...student missing for five months.

Josh Mankiwitz: The networks and the cable news channels can't seem to get enough of it.

(Excerpts from various news broadcasts shown with photos of missing persons)

Tape ...police are now into their second week of searching.

JM: It's the story of Laci, of Chandra, of Lori, of Jennifer, of Elizabeth, of Natalee.

(Photo of Laci Peterson; photo of Chandra Levy; photo of Lori Hacking; photo of Jennifer Wilbanks; photo of Elizabeth Smart; photo of Natalee Holloway)

John Seigenthaler: Authorities are hoping for a break in the case.

JM: Their disappearances have brought heartaches and anguish. But if all you did was watch the TV news in this country, you might that think these are the only people who are missing, or that their fate in particular is incredibly important since we tell the story of their disappearances not once, but again and again.

(Home video excerpt of Peterson; family; woman cooking at home; news program excerpts of stories about missing persons; Levy missing person poster; photo of girl on TV screen; police escorting person covered with a blanket; video excerpt of Holloway shown on TV screen; video excerpt of Peterson and others; Peterson missing person poster shown on TV screen)

Peter Jennings: Laci Peterson...

Ann Curry: Laci Peterson...

Harry Smith: Laci Peterson.

JM: But in a country of almost 300 million, these Americans are missing too. The difference is that we don't cover their stories.

Meet Tamika Huston: bright, beautiful, with an angel's voice. Get a good look at her, because you won't be seeing her again and again on national television. She's singing at Rebecca Howard's wedding. Tamika is Rebecca's niece.

(Photos of missing persons shown in rapid succession; video excerpt of Tamika Huston performing; Rebecca Howard in wedding gown)

Rebecca Howard: She is an amazing young woman.

(Video excerpt of Huston and Rebecca at Rebecca's wedding)

RH: Very bubbly, very bright. She has an amazing singing voice.

JM: Tamika's dream of becoming a singer led her to try out for the TV show "American Idol." She didn't make the cut,but the experience seemed to inspire Tamika to set her sights beyond the life she was living in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

(Excerpts from opening sequence of "American Idol"; photo of Huston; Spartanburg)

RH: I think she really realized, `It's time for me to, like, figure out what I really want to do with the rest of the my life.'

JM: And then one day she vanishes.

RH:: One day.

JM: It was late May of last year. At 24, Tamika had quit her waitressing job and was going out on interviews. Since she was living alone, it took a couple of weeks for her family to notice that they hadn't heard from her in a while.

(Spartanburg; photo of Huston; restaurant; home)

RH: I spent my day Saturday, Sunday trying to find her. By Monday morning I called police in Spartanburg and said that something is terribly wrong.

JM: Police went to Tamika's home.

RH: She's not there.

JM: And there's no sign of a struggle.

RH: No.

JM: And yet what police did fine was reason for you to worry even more.

RH: Oh, absolutely. Her dog, Macy, who Tamika treated like her child, the dog was there, had given birth to a litter of puppies that had obviously been left alone for some time in distress. So at that point, I knew without question that something had gone horribly wrong.

JM: And the news got worse. Inside Tamika's home police found her driver's license, her cell phone, and some uncashed paychecks. It didn't appear that Tamika had just gone on vacation. Six days later officer's found Tamika's car on the other side of town. Inside the car they found a set of keys that led them to these apartments, a place with seemingly no connection to Tamika Huston.

JM: So you took Tamika's picture and walked around that apartment complex and asked if anybody had seen her.

Lt. Steve Lamb: Correct.

JM: And no one had.

Lt. Lamb: No.

JM: Spartanburg police Lieutenant Steve Lamb led the investigation.

JM: It doesn't sound as if Tamka's family had any difficulty at all persuading you to take this seriously.

Lt. Lamb: I mean, we looked at the family. They were extremely concerned.

JM: Police were at work, and so was Tamika's aunt Rebecca, a public relations executive in Miami.

RH: I draft press release, I start making phone calls.

JM) And here in Spartanburg Rebecca's PR skills paid off.

News clip: Twenty-four-year-old Tamika Huston disappeared around May 21st.

RH: The local media picked up on Tamika's story pretty quickly.

(Excerpts from news programs about Huston's disappearance)

JM: But Rebecca knew she had to spread the word outside Spartanburg.

(Excerpts from news programs about Huston's disappearance)

RH: Tamika could be anywhere from California to New York.

RH: So I wanted to cast as wide a net as I could possibly cast.

JM: So you start calling the broadcast networks.

RH: Yeah, absolutely.

JM: And what happens?

RH: Nothing. Nothing. I couldn't understand why I wasn't even getting, `Thank you very much but, you know, we're not interested in the story at this time. I would, I...

JM: You mean people didn't even tell you that?

RH: No.

JM: No one responded.

RH: No.

JM: This is true at NBC?

RH: Yes.

JM: ABC?

RH: ABC, yes.

JM: CBS?

RH: CBS.

JM: CNN?

RH: CNN.

JM: FOX?

RH: FOX.

JM: MSNBC?

RH: Yes. MSNBC.

JM: It was crushing news for Rebecca, who was desperate to get out any information about Tamika. Her family had done everything they could think of, from prayer vigils and a $50,000 reward, to Web sites devoted to news about Tamika. And this was a family with some connection. An uncle works for US Senator Patrick Leahy, and another uncle, Rebecca's husband, is a celebrity: Former NFL star Desmond Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner, and later Super Bowl MVP. But those connections didn't help enough, and this family found the disinterest in Tamika's story frustrating, because to them, Tamika's story was so similar to those of other women, like Chandra Levy and Lori Hacking.

(Rebecca; people at prayer vigil; Huston missing person poster; Web pages; family photo; Capitol Building; video excerpts of Rebecca and Desmond Howard's wedding; Desmond being awarded Heisman trophy; excerpt from football game; photo of Huston; Huston missing person poster; billboard poster of missing person; Peterson missing person poster; Levy missing person poster; Hacking missing person poster)

JM: What made you think that this particular story about Tamika Huston disappearing would be the kind of thing that network news would be interested in?

RH: Well, Lori Hacking went missing about three weeks after my niece did...

(Voiceover) ...and her family was getting round-the-clock coverage on that case.

(Photo of Hacking; excerpt from "Today" show of Hacking family being interviewed)

RH: And I had just spent the preceding three weeks, trying to get the attention of those same reporters, of those same programs, of those same networks to pay attention to what I was saying about Tamika. I was flabbergasted.

JM: But Rebecca wouldn't take no for an answer. Seeing the steady drum beat of the Laci Peterson coverage, she says she called the "Today" show directly and got nowhere. The same was true at "Good Morning America," at "The Early Show" on CBS, at "20/20," and right here.

(Rebecca; excerpt from "Today" show program about Peterson; excerpt from "Today" show; excerpt from "Good Morning America"; excerpt from "The Early Show"; excerpt from "20/20"; excerpt of DATELINE opening sequence)

JM: DATELINE?

RH: DATELINE.

JM: You called us?

RH: I called DA, I never got past. I was directed to please send an e-mail, which I did.

JM: And nobody ever, and nobody ever messaged you back?

RH: No. No.

JM: No one's claiming that every missing person story should get a place on the news. There are almost 50,000 people in the FBI's database of missing persons cases. But consider this: most of those missing adults are men. Almost thirty percent of those abducted or kidnapped are black. So why is it then that we in the news media seem to focus so much on cases that involve victims who are young, attractive, female and white?

RH: Tamika's young, she's attractive, middle class. The only thing that she isn't is white. You know, I don't know what else it could be.

JM: Before you dismiss that criticism, look at the numbers gathered by media analyst Andrew Tyndall who regularly monitors network news. In the year that Tamika's relatives were begging for air time, the morning news broadcast on NBC, ABC, and CBS aired a combined 941 minutes on the Laci Peterson story; 135 minutes on Lori Hacking, killed by her husband in Salt Lake City; and 98 minutes of coverage on Audrey Seiler, a University of Wisconsin student who faked her own abduction.

(Magazine article; network logos; photo of Peterson; photo of Hacking; photo of Audrey Sealer)

Tape (From news broadcast) But first, a developing story.

JM There was even more coverage on cable, and here at Dateline we did almost six hours just on the Laci Peterson story.

For this story we contacted the presidents of all three network news divisions, as well as the heads of the cable news channels. Only one of them agreed to sit down for an interview.

(Excerpt from CNN news program; excerpt from Dateline; photos of news division heads accompanied by their network logo)

JM: Why is there such a huge disparity in stories about white victims as opposed to the other kinds.

Neil Shapiro, Network President: Well, let me say, I don't like hearing that that's true.

JM: Neil Shapiro is president of NBC news.

(Neil Shapiro speaking at meeting)

NS: You know, our mission is to try to cover America, and that means all facets of America.

(Shapiro speaking at meeting)

NS: And when our coverage doesn't reflect that, it distresses me. That said, I think it's important that people in the industry talk about it. I think the fact that I'm talking about it, I think the fact that Dateline NBC is devoting air time to it means we take it seriously. And we have to do better.

JM: Critics describe these stories as `damsels in distress.' Neil Shapiro says the wall to wall coverage often starts not with the networks, but with cable, which has 24 hours to fill each day and can follow a developing story in an effort to hold an audience. But that doesn't explain all those network hours devoted to stories like Laci Peterson.

(Photo of Holloway; military searchers in Aruba; Shapiro and reporter walking in city; photo of Holloway; photo of two teen girls; excerpts from news programs; Peterson missing person poster)

JM: I can only conclude that the reason we do those kinds of stories again and again and again is because they work with the audience, because they get a rating.

NS: I think we do stories that people care about, and there's no doubt that when a story get, has, reaches such talkability that everybody is talking about it, that it's on talk radio, that it's on cable, that if we as a network news division feel like we can weigh in, we can advance the story, we should. I think we shouldn't be above the news.

JM: He says there are no rules, written or unwritten, about who should or should not be covered.

(Photo of Wilbanks; photo of Smart; photo of Hacking)

NS: I think when the Peterson story first started, I remember hearing it on the radio.

(Photo of Peterson)

NS: And I had no idea who the Petersons were or what they looked like. So I think certainly when we start to chase stories, I'm not sure we even know.

JM: But is the fact that the victim in that case turned out to be an attractive white woman, is that why we covered it so many times and devoted so much air time to it?

NS: I hope not, and I don't think so.

JM: To what extent is the race of the people involved a factor in making editorial decisions?

NS: Let me make this clear: Race is not a factor in who we cover or how we cover it.

JM: Not everyone is convinced.

(Deborah Mathis talking to man in office)

Deborah Mathis: If you're covering the nation, cover the entire nation. If you're covering the American people, cover all the people.

JM: Deborah Mathis writes a newspaper column, and also teaches journalism at Northwestern University. For 15 years she saw the TV news business from the inside as an anchor, reporter, producer and newsroom manager.

(Mathis in offices; Mathis report on Web page)

Deborah Mathis: I am not accusing news executives of racism, not per se. I am, I am accusing them of, of ignorance. No, you don't cover every white woman, but you don't cover any black women. Now, just please tell me how this is right? You can't do it.

JM: Months after Tamika vanished, Rebecca Howard finally made some headway. Tamika's story got a 15 second mention on the FOX News Channel, "America's Most Wanted" aired a show about the case, and "Headline News" did the story.

Meanwhile, police have made progress. Through a key found in Tamika's car they discovered what might be a crime scene in a nearby apartment. Blood evidence on a carpet matched Tamika's DNA. And police now have a suspect, but no proof if Tamika is dead or alive.

After we interviewed Rebecca Howard, USA Today picked up the story, and recently news programs have been discussing not the story of Tamika, but why the story of her disappearance received so little attention.

(Rebecca looking through scrapbook at home; excerpt from news program; "America's Most Wanted" logo from show; "Headline News" opening sequence; photo of Huston; keys; interior of apartment; photo of Huston; Rebecca at home; USA Today cover page; excerpt from "The Early Show")

Brian Williams, NBC: (From "NBC Nightly News") Three young boys, including one...

JM: And the broadcast networks and cable news channels did give more coverage than usual to the story of three missing Hispanic boys in Camden, New Jersey. And in the midst of the Natalee Holloway coverage some national attention was given to the story of Latoyia Figueroa, a 24 year old pregnant mother of one who's ben missing from Philadelphia since July 18th.

Despite the best efforts of her family, Tamika Huston is still missing from her home and lives of her relatives. She's missing from those hours of network and cable news coverage as well, but she is finally in the headlines, ironically as a symbol of how missing Americans who look like her are almost never on the nation's electronic front page.

(Excerpts from "NBC Nightly News"; Latoyia Figueroa missing person poster; Figueroa volunteers; man wearing T shirt with Figueroa picture; people gathered for prayer vigil; still image of Huston singing at Howard wedding; photo of Huston and Rebecca at wedding; photo of Huston and children; photos and articles in USA Today; photo of Huston and other missing persons)

END OF SEGMENT

Unfortunately, Tamika's story has a bad ending because her remains were found. Her killer was apprehended due to a tip after America's Most Wanted aired a segment on her disappearance. The killer was sentenced and put on trial, and now he's serving a life sentence without parole.

America's Most Wanted: Tamika Huston's Case
Guerrilla Funk: Spotlight Skips Cases of Missing Minorities
USA Today: Spotlight skips cases of missing minorities

Amber Wright - FOUND!

2007-06-22T10:55:00.000-04:00

Amber Wright has been found!

Missing Detroit teen found safe

Norman Sinclair The Detroit News / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- A 17-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. High School student reported missing from her near west-side home early Saturday told police Wednesday she had been "hanging out with friends."

Amber Wright, the subject of a police search, turned up at her grandmother's home that afternoon, alone and unharmed, said James Tate, Detroit police spokesman.

Wright told police she had been out late Friday night and was afraid to return home. Tate said police will not pursue the matter further.

"Our concern was for her safety and once we found out she had returned home, we ended our involvement," Tate said. "This is now a matter between her and her parents."

Wright's mother, Chere Harris, said earlier her daughter had never left home before. Harris did not return phone calls on Wednesday.

Wright was elected president of King High School's senior class for the coming year.

Hopefully she'll take this as a learning experience and not do something like this again.

Source: DetNews

Amber Wright - Missing since 6/16/07

2007-06-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Popular student missing since Saturday

Norman Sinclair and Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Police are seeking information on a 17-year-old girl -- the incoming senior class president at Martin Luther King Jr. High School -- who has been missing from her home near Detroit's west side since early Saturday morning.

Amber Wright was reported missing after her mother, Chere Harris, said she checked her daughter's room at 1 a.m. Saturday and Wright was not there.

Harris said later that morning she found her daughter's purse in her car outside the house in the 12000 block of Cloverlawn and her cell phone on the ground nearby.

"At this time there are no signs that she was abducted or is being held against her will," said James Tate, Detroit police spokesman.

He said officers interviewed a man with whom Wright was seen Friday night and do not believe he is involved in her disappearance.

On Tuesday evening, police said they were investigating a report that the girl was last seen at an east-side Quiznos restaurant around 3 p.m. Saturday.

The restaurant released the video showing the girl standing in line behind two Detroit police officers at the counter of the restaurant on Mount Elliott.

"I looked at (the video) closely and it's her," Harris said. "There's got to be a reason why she discarded everything and left. Something must be going on with her."

Harris said her daughter is an A student and will be the senior class president at King High School in the fall.

Wright was in drama and dancing at school and would sometimes go away for competitions but never without her family, Harris said. Harris said her daughter also modeled and dabbled in singing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit police at (313) 596-5340.

You can reach Norman Sinclair at (313) 222-2034 or nsinclair@detnews.com.

Source: DetNews.com

More info:

Friend Says He Saw Her

Surveillance Picture:

More info:
ABC Video

Another Picture:

Ashani Creighton - Missing Since 3/21/97

2007-06-19T07:27:00.000-04:00

DOB: 8/16/92
DATE ASHANI WENT MISSING: 3/21/97
AGE NOW:14
RACE: BLACK
HAIR: BROWN
EYES: BROWN
HEIGHT: 4'0"
WEIGHT: 50LBS
NICKNAME: KARIN
MISSING FROM: ORLANDO, FL

CREIGHTON WAS LAST SEEN BY HER MOTHER ON MARCH 21ST, 1997 IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF ORLANDO, FL. SHE WAS INITIALLY ABDUCTED BY HER NON-CUSTODIAL GRANDPARENTS, ERNEST S. JACKSON AND KAIA JACKSON, ALSO KNOWN AS ERNEST AND ABIOLA ANDERSON, IN MARCH 1997. THE JACKSONS MOVED FROM ORLANDO TO TULSA, OKLAHOMA IN AUGUST 1998, WITH THEIR FOUR CHILDREN.

CREIGHTON'S GRANDPARENTS WERE ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABUSE CHARGES IN OCTOBER 2000 IN OKLAHOMA. THE CHARGES ARE RELATING TO THE ABUSE OF ONE OF THEIR SONS IN 1988 AND ARE NOT RELATED TO THE CREIGHTON'S CASE. BOTH ERNEST AND KAIA WERE CONVICTED OF THE CHARGES AND SENTENCED TO 12 TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON, RESPECTIVELY. THE JACKSONS' CHILDREN WERE LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA, BUT CREIGHTON WAS NOT WITH THEM AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARREST AND SHE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN AGAIN. HER WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN AND SHE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ENDANGERED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING ASHANI, PLEASE CALL:
THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (FLORIDA): 1-407-737-2400

Picture of Ashani aged to 12 years old:

For more information, please visit:

Project Jason
Omega 7 - Missing Kids
The Urbanite Magazine

Jewel Mahavia Strong - Missing Since 5/28/07

2007-06-16T05:45:00.000-04:00

4 YEARS OLD DOB: 4/14/03
DATE JEWEL WENT MISSING: 5/28/07
WHERE JEWEL WENT MISSING: JETTY BEACH, ST. ANDREWS STATE PARK, FL

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING JEWEL'S DISAPPEARANCE, PLEASE CONTACT:
BAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
SHERIFF W. FRANK MCKEITHEN
3421 HIGHWAY 77 PANAMA CITY, FL 32405
OR
RACHAREL STRONG (FATHER) - 404-357-1881
SIMONA STRONG (MOTHER) - 404-313-4255
TIESA LOCKLEAR (AUNT) - 678-234-4902
TRAMESA LOCKLEAR (AUNT) - 678-480-1635
URSALA WILLIAMS (AUNT) - 678-362-5246

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE FAMILY'S MYSPACE PAGE AT: Jewel Mahavia Strong

Source: The Urbanite Magazine

Stepha Henry - Missing Since 5/29/07

2007-06-16T05:31:00.000-04:00

Here is info on a College Grad who has been missing since 5/29. Had I not been browsing Concrete Loop and reading about celebs I would have never known about this.
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Missing grad's mom seeks answers
BY YAMICHE ALCINDOR
In quiet, grief-stricken voices, family members of a girl missing since last weekend's Memorial Day celebrations made a public plea for any information regarding her whereabouts.

Stepha Henry, 22, was last seen partying at Peppers Cafe, located on 3828 N. University Dr. in Fort Lauderdale, at 1 a.m. May 29.

Steve and Sylvia Henry flew down this week from their home in New York to help search for their child.

''I'm going to stay in Florida until I find my daughter,'' Sylvia Henry said Wednesday, speaking at Miami-Dade police headquarters.

As Miami-Dade homicide detectives joined the search, police said they would work around the clock to find her.

Henry, a recent graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, flew down from New York for Memorial Day weekend to celebrate her sister's 16th birthday. The Henry sisters had been staying with their aunt and cousin in Miami Gardens for the weekend and planned to fly home May 29.

The night before she disappeared, Henry told her family she was getting a ride to Peppers from a friend. Her sister stayed home.

A videotape taken by a promotional group at Peppers shows Henry at the club.

But she never made it home.

Calls placed to Henry's cell phone went straight to her voice mail. The petite woman was last seen wearing a black dress with a white tank top underneath and brown heels. She was carrying a brown clutch purse. Henry, who has long bronze hair, is 5'2'' and 110 pounds.

''It's been very hard. She is not the kind of girl to run off. If anyone has seen her, I am asking that you please come forward,'' Henry's mother said Wednesday.

Emily Chin's family owns Peppers Cafe.

''No one at Peppers knows anything,'' said Emily Chin, whose family owns Peppers Cafe. ''I just hope that her mother finds her.'' Chin added that Peppers employees didn't know Henry was missing until they saw her story in the news.

A vigil was held at Henry's college campus in New York Wednesday, the school said in a news release.

Miami-Dade Detective Roy Rutland said police are looking for information regarding the driver of a dark-colored four-door Acura Integra, who picked Henry up at her aunt's house.

Anyone with information can call Miami-Dade Det. Brigette Robert at 305-418-7200 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Miami Herald staff writer David Ovalle contributed to this report.

Source: Miami Herald

Welcome To Missing Minorites

2007-06-16T05:13:00.000-04:00

This blog was created due to an idea by another sister (ExpatJane) on http://www.nappturality.com . Too many times has a minority gone missing and the media has refused or neglected to inform the masses -- whereas if it were a missing white person (especially an attractive white woman), there would often be next day coverage. She had this wonderful idea, and I was going to post it on my other blog, but I felt that it needed a blog of it's own (another of her ideas).

This blog will focus on missing minority women, men and children as we come across the news of their absences.