DOB: Jan 7, 1991
Missing: Oct 6, 2007
Height: 5’6″ (168 cm)
Eyes: Brown
Race: Black
Age Now: 16
Sex: Female
Weight: 230 lbs (104 kg)
Hair: Black
Missing From: Prince William County, VA
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.
A 27-year-old woman disappeared after leaving her home in the St. Roch neighborhood Thursday morning, New Orleans police said.
Aisha Berryhill was last seen by her daughter at about 8:30 a.m. at their home on the 1800 block of Painters Street.
Keithshon Berryhill said it’s unusual behavior for her mother to disappear.
Investigators said they think Aisha Berryhill might be with her estranged boyfriend, 29-year-old Jamal Mushatt. Mushatt is wanted on charges of attempted simple kidnapping, aggravated burglary and simple battery.
The pair were last seen leaving in Mushatt’s blue Chevrolet Astrovan with a gold New Orleans Saints helment on the hood, police said.
Aisha Berryhill is described as a 27-year-old black woman, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds. She has a brown complexion and black hair.
Anyone with information that can help locate Aisha Berryhill should call the New Orleans Police Department at 504-821-2222.
A 27-year-old woman disappeared after leaving her home in the St. Roch neighborhood Thursday morning, New Orleans police said.
Aisha Berryhill was last seen by her daughter at about 8:30 a.m. at their home on the 1800 block of Painters Street.
Keithshon Berryhill said it’s unusual behavior for her mother to disappear.
Investigators said they think Aisha Berryhill might be with her estranged boyfriend, 29-year-old Jamal Mushatt. Mushatt is wanted on charges of attempted simple kidnapping, aggravated burglary and simple battery.
The pair were last seen leaving in Mushatt’s blue Chevrolet Astrovan with a gold New Orleans Saints helment on the hood, police said.
Aisha Berryhill is described as a 27-year-old black woman, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds. She has a brown complexion and black hair.
Anyone with information that can help locate Aisha Berryhill should call the New Orleans Police Department at 504-821-2222.
BLACK LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE (BLFJ)
www.Blacklawyersforjustice.org
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2007
NATIONAL MARCH AGAINST
HATE CRIMES:
MEGAN WILLIAMS: KIDNAP, TORTURE AND RAPE VICTIM IS FOCUS OF NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
When: Saturday November 3, 2007 12:00 noon
Location: Charleston, West Virginia. Beginning in front of West Virginia State University and Marching to the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.
March Purpose: To bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses and other current acts of injustices and intimidation against Blacks/African Americans will all be highlighted at this National March against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges be brought in the instant case. They are also demanding Congressional hearings on hate crimes against Black residents as well a wide range of actions to combat the growing attacks on Blacks in America.
Who are the Organizers? The primary march organizers are Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) and the Support Committee For Megan Williams. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy and leaders of every stripe. An initial endorsement list will be produced on 10-15-07.
Contact: Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) / Malik Shabazz, Esq.
Attorney/ advocate for Megan Williams and the
Williams Family)
Ph: NATIONAL (202) 397-3577 local (304) 657-1493
E-mail: shabazzlaw@aol.com
Website: Blacklawyersforjustice.org
WHY A MARCH TO SUPPORT MEGAN WILLIAMS AND OPPOSE HATE CRIMES?
On November 3, 2007 a historic National March will take place in Charleston, West Virginia. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks or African Americans. On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces as her six white tormentors berated her calling her “nigger” incessantly. According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal that is verified by several of co-defendants signed confessions. This is an this ugly and outrageous ordeal. Prosecutors said. “Every time they stabbed her, they called her ‘nigger.” Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. “She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, ‘Mommy.’ What’s really, really bad is, we don’t know everything, and they did to her. She is crying all the time.” No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.
Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 –six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia. The suspects took turns beating, stabbing, choking and sexually abusing Williams, while consistently threatening her with death, according to criminal complaints. A rope was placed around Williams’ neck, her hair was ripped out and she was made to eat dog and rat feces, drink from a toilet and lick up blood, the complaint charges. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, “This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that’s what we do to niggers around here.”
“The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6”…said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice, speaking at the October 3rd preliminary hearing in Logan County, West VA.
Shabazz also said, “The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track of. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks”.
HATE CRIMES DOCUMENTED
In addition to the Megan Williams case, criminal acts of hatred and intimidation using hanging nooses have sprung up all over the nation. The hanging noose, central to the Jena case, is used by racists as an actionable threat to the safety and well being of Blacks, who have suffered innumerable historical injustices via hanging ropes and lynchings. On Sept 7th, a three foot noose was found hung at the University of Maryland, College Park, roiling the campus. On October 4th, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that police were investigating several cases in which nooses were left at workplaces to intimidate black employees in the Pittsburgh area. The Tribune reported, “a supervisor at the Verizon Wireless Business Services Center in Marshall found a black doll with a noose around its neck and racial slurs directed at it.” Several similar hate crime incidents have been reported in the Pittsburgh area in the last month. In Long Island, New York last month, police found a noose hanging in the locker room. Many believed it was hung by a police officer and was in response to the newly elected Black police chief. Last month, in North Carolina, nooses were found hung at a public school. On October 3rd in Washington D.C., white students and historical Galluadet University for the deaf, reportedly held a Black student hostage for over an hour and repeatedly wrote “KKK” all over his body with markers. All over the U.S., Police assaulting and killing unarmed Black victims is on the rise again.
A FOLLOW UP TO JENA
The November 3rd National March against Hate Crimes is also an effort to end the continued persecution of the Jena 6. Mychal Bell and the Jena 6 are still facing jail after responding to racist persecution at the High school in Jena, Louisiana. Also the addresses and phone numbers of the Jena 6 Families were posted on Neo-Nazi/Klan websites, subsequently, white supremacists have committed acts of aggression near their homes and BLFJ has copies of letters from various Ku Klux Klan organizations directly threatening the Jena 6 families. Members of the Jena 6 are endorsing and are expected at this march.
Over 100 organizations, student groups, youth organizations, clergy, rappers, and leaders are set to endorse the November 3rd March (a list will be released on 10/15/07) Like in Jena, organizers going to get busses, travel the highway and organize to support Megan Williams and organize against these attacks.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday November 2nd 7:00 pm: A pre march remembrance/ prayer vigil will take place at the Logan County trailer home where Megan Williams was kidnapped and tortured
Saturday November 3rd 12:00 noon: National March against Hate Crimes, Charleston, West VA. March will begin in front of West Virginia State University.
Saturday November 3rd 5:00 pm: Fundraiser for Megan Williams and Town Hall Meeting on Race Relations to take place at Rehoboth Cathedral of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia- Bishop James Carter III is the host pastor.
To Endorse This March Or For Updates And Further Details, Visit The Website: Www.Blacklawyersforjustice.Org Or Call (202) 397 -4577 The Email Is Shabazzlaw@aol.Com
By now, we should know that nothing spreads venom faster than the Internet.
What’s going on in the Nailah Franklin death investigation should be of concern to every young woman who regularly uses e-mails, text messages, and other forms of modern technology to connect with friends.
Unfortunately, I am one of the people who received copies of private e-mail exchanges — allegedly between Franklin and Reginald Potts, the man who has identified himself in e-mails as having had a personal relationship with Franklin.
While the Internet harnessed the energy of hundreds of people to search for the 28-year-old black woman when she went missing on Sept. 19, it also is the vehicle that is now driving a nasty war of words about who is responsible for Franklin’s death.
“You people amaze me! Here is a young man who’s life has been turned upside down, by the media’s desire to have an interesting story,” begins an e-mail that was forwarded and forwarded and forwarded until it is nearly impossible to determine its origin.
“His family and friends know he had nothing to do with this terrible situation. He cannot come out and defend himself … because as you all know he was one of the targets of this still open investigation,” said the writer of an unsigned e-mail that accompanied those allegedly written by Franklin and Potts.
Franklin’s body was found in a wooded area of south suburban Calumet City on Sept. 27, nine days after she disappeared.
E-mails reveal mean, insulting man
Shortly before her disappearance, Franklin told police Potts had threatened her. Still, major newspapers refrained from identifying Potts as “the boyfriend” because he was not named as a suspect.
But, when it is reported that the “former boyfriend” once escaped FBI custody, and managed to slip out of his handcuffs and run away, even a school-aged sleuth can use the Internet to figure out the person’s identity.
Potts was initially questioned by police and released, but speculation over whether or not he had any role in Franklin’s disappearance and death spread rapidly, and ramped up when Franklin’s unclothed body was found.
His name also popped up on several Web sites, many of them frequented by Potts’ friends. The former boyfriend apparently struck back by forwarding the e-mails he allegedly exchanged with Franklin during July and August 2007.
Apparently, Pott’s goal was to challenge the speculation that he was a jilted lover who had a motive to kill Franklin. The e-mails allegedly written by Franklin expressed the level of anger and disgust one would expect from a woman who is fed up with a bad relationship.
Pott’s response to Franklin, however, revealed a man who seemed to take pleasure in someone else’s pain. He was mean and insulting.
So while Potts may have wanted to smear Franklin’s character by exposing explicit details of the nature of their relationship, he didn’t score any points. He hasn’t been identified as a suspect in Franklin’s death, and if he were to be, we all understand that he is still innocent until proven guilty.
Speculation won’t solve case
But this is a high-profile case involving a woman whose disappearance captured the hearts of the public in Chicago and abroad. And Potts is a black man with a criminal background and an arrogant attitude.
After reading his alleged e-mail to Franklin, the public is more likely to believe Potts is capable of committing a truly evil act than to believe that Franklin isn’t the shining star her family has lifted up.
Still, Franklin’s family has suffered a painful loss.
This family should not have to wage an Internet campaign to counter Potts’ nasty e-mails. Also, this is a case that is ripe for a rush to judgment. The person who is responsible for Franklin’s death should not be tried on the Internet, nor will justice be served if the wrong man is charged with this heinous crime.
The firestorm of speculation about Franklin’s death is not going to help solve this case.
So, here’s what we do.
If you get a copy of these salacious e-mails, hit the delete button. And, please do not forward the e-mails to your friends. On a personal note, this is a good time to rethink the kinds of conversations you are having online.
When it comes to the Internet, privacy is just an illusion.
Columbus police reported that a previously missing teenager has been found.
Myesha Little, 16, was found safe on Tuesday, NBC 4 reported.
Little has a mental disability and did not have her medication with her.
Columbus police reported that a previously missing teenager has been found.
Myesha Little, 16, was found safe on Tuesday, NBC 4 reported.
Little has a mental disability and did not have her medication with her.
A 7-year-old girl who went missing Tuesday afternoon was found safe with relatives Wednesday morning.
Da’Shae Dorsey was reported missing Tuesday after she was last seen around 4 p.m., walking east on the 5300 block of South Justine with an unknown female classmate from Libby Elementary School, according to Chicago police.
She was found Wednesday morning and safely returned to her family, police said.
A 7-year-old girl who went missing Tuesday afternoon was found safe with relatives Wednesday morning.
Da’Shae Dorsey was reported missing Tuesday after she was last seen around 4 p.m., walking east on the 5300 block of South Justine with an unknown female classmate from Libby Elementary School, according to Chicago police.
She was found Wednesday morning and safely returned to her family, police said.
Police dogs trained to locate human remains joined the search Tuesday for missing New Castle resident Ernestine Mitchell.
The dogs scoured the grounds of Mitchell’s home in the first block of Buttonwood Ave. and nearby woods for five hours.
Mitchell, 53, the daughter-in-law of Delaware civil rights activist Littleton Mitchell, was last seen walking north on Del. 9, wearing a green shirt and green pants, on Sept. 27.
She told her husband she was going to take a bus to see her father in Woodland, N.J., but never arrived.
Tuesday’s search uncovered nothing, which New Castle City police Lt. Adam Brams said “is a good thing.”
The effort left Mitchell’s family with mixed feelings: “To me, when I think of search dogs being out there, I don’t think of it as being a positive sign,” said Kenitra Webb, one of Mitchell’s three children who are in their 30s. But, “whatever we have to do to find my mother, I’m for.”
The search came a day after police said they had recovered Mitchell’s working cell phone last week; investigators would not say where.
