Latisha Rutledge and Family: Found

31 01 2008

I was anxious about an update so I contacted the Click On Detroit website earlier today where I first learned about Latisha. I got an email back from the editor just now saying that Latisha and her children were located safe and sound. The editor added on “She just failed to contact her loved ones”. Okay that’s all good and dandy but why haven’t you updated the story yet? You had people all up in arms about this and you can’t update a story for us? *sighs*

ETA: I also did a cross post at WAOD which explains the steps I took to get this information. It was very frustrating!:

Click here





Missing: Latisha Rutledge and family

26 01 2008

Family members said a pregnant mother from Detroit and her two small children ages 4 and 2 have not been seen in nearly two weeks. They were supposed to board a Greyhound bus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. headed to Downtown Detroit, but no one has seen them since they were spotted at the bus station.

Latisha Rutledge, 22, is eight and a half months pregnant, and her baby is due any day.

Family members said she may have already given birth.

Rutledge had been living with her uncle in Florida for the last couple months trying to start over, but things didn’t work out.

Her uncle dropped Rutledge and her children off at the bus station Jan. 11, and they were supposed to arrive in Detroit Jan. 13.

Rutledge’s mother is frightened and frustrated, and said her daughter has no money.

Greyhound does not require photo identification at all its terminals so there is no way to know if Rutledge even boarded the bus.

Greyhound said it can not release passenger information unless law enforcement request it.

Rutledge’s mother Marsella Satchel said she has not been able to file a missing persons police report yet, because police told her she must contact every hospital in Fort Lauderdale and Detroit before it can be filed.

[Source]

There is something very fishy about this story. And it’s highly frustrating that there is no description on this woman or her kids. We don’t know anything about her, her race, what she look like – nothing. Shouldn’t the media be on this story by now?

I checked to see if she have a myspace page but didn’t find one. Hopefully I can get in touch with the family. This is a very sad story. I’ll keep you updated.





Stepha Henry’s Mom is not losing Hope

26 01 2008

The mother of a missing college student, who is believed to be murdered in South Florida, said she is not losing hope.

Silvia Henry called into an 850 A.M radio show on Sunday, and said she won’t believe her daughter Stepha is dead until her body is found. Henry has been missing for more than 7 months.

Last week, New York Police arrested Kendrick Williams for Stepha’s murder.

At a news conference last week, Jim Loftus, Assistant Director of Investigative Services at the Miami Dade Police Department, explained that on Monday, May 28th, Henry went to a barbecue in Miramar at a friend’s house where she met up with Williams.

Loftus said the two made plans to go to Peppers Café Nightclub, 3828 N. University Drive, in Sunrise the following night. During their night out, she was seen inside the club, but she dropped out of sight afterward.

Police said Williams and Henry arrived at the nightclub in a dark colored Acura Integra. Initially, Williams told investigators he had left the club early and that Henry had decided to stay there and she was never seen again.

Her mother believes that this case is far from over.

“Until they find my daughter am not giving up,” Henry said. “I’ am still praying and hoping and the Lord and I trust the Lord and I’ am looking for positive results as long as the Lord above I’ am gonna continue praying.”

Williams has been charged with second degree murder.

Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, issued the following statement on news of Williams’ arrest.

” We are deeply saddened by today’s news. Stepha Henry was a beloved member of the John Jay Community.

At this hour, we extend our most sincere and profound sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Henry, her sister Shola and their entire family. The seven months since her disappearance have been very painful for her family and friends. We hope that they continue to find the strength they need to get through these difficult times.

As a student, an alumna and a staff member, Stepha embodied the values we hope to impart to all of our students — a thirst for knowledge, a commitment to excellence and a desire to ensure fairness in the pursuit of justice. She was full of hope and promise. We mourn the fact that she was unable to fulfill her dreams .”

[Source]





Where’s the news on Chioma Gray?

24 01 2008

Have you heard of her? I don’t blame you. The news stations in California apparently never heard of her either because I don’t see one, not one article on this missing young lady and she has been missing for over a month.

For those of you who don’t know, Chioma Gray is a 15 year old black female who went missing from Ventura, California on December 13, 2007. She was abducted by Andrew Tafoya. He was issued a felony warrant for kidnapping the next day.

Below are pictures of Chioma and Andrew:


And guess what? Not only is there no news on Chioma, but the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website messed up her poster several times. The first time, they released an updated poster on Chioma without a picture of her abductor. They also misspelled the city she went missing from.(The city was spelled “Vetura” instead of “Ventura”)

Here’s the evidence

Then on Tuesday (Jan 22), they updated the poster again. They added the abductor picture back but changed his relationship to her. He is now a companion instead of abductor even though the poster states that there’s still a felony warrant out for his arrest. And they still didn’t spell the city name right! Yup, confusing I know.

”Updated” poster

So what’s really going on here? No news on Chioma, no Amber Alert issued and now her kidnapper is her friend?!

Just to make a few points:

Google news search:
Nada
Yahoo news search:
Zip
Google Blogs search:
138+ Results to blogs and none linking back to local news

I’ve sent out some emails to the local news stations regarding this issue but still haven’t received an answer. I’m sending out more emails after this post. This is very disappointing.





Where’s the news on Chioma Gray?

24 01 2008

Have you heard of her? I don’t blame you. The news stations in California apparently never heard of her either because I don’t see one, not one article on this missing young lady and she has been missing for over a month.

For those of you who don’t know, Chioma Gray is a 15 year old black female who went missing from Ventura, California on December 13, 2007. She was abducted by Andrew Tafoya. He was issued a felony warrant for kidnapping the next day.

Below are pictures of Chioma and Andrew:


And guess what? Not only is there no news on Chioma, but the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website messed up her poster several times. The first time, they released an updated poster on Chioma without a picture of her abductor. They also misspelled the city she went missing from.(The city was spelled “Vetura” instead of “Ventura”)

Here’s the evidence

Then on Tuesday (Jan 22), they updated the poster again. They added the abductor picture back but changed his relationship to her. He is now a companion instead of abductor even though the poster states that there’s still a felony warrant out for his arrest. And they still didn’t spell the city name right! Yup, confusing I know.

”Updated” poster

So what’s really going on here? No news on Chioma, no Amber Alert issued and now her kidnapper is her friend?!

Just to make a few points:

Google news search:
Nada
Yahoo news search:
Zip
Google Blogs search:
138+ Results to blogs and none linking back to local news

I’ve sent out some emails to the local news stations regarding this issue but still haven’t received an answer. I’m sending out more emails after this post. This is very disappointing.





Repost: Who keep killing Our Babies?

23 01 2008

Repost from www.whataboutdaughters.com

Two mothers killed while holding their babies


Jordan Hunt (23 months), his mother, Gina Hunt (24), Charlii Yarrell (4 months), and her mother Andrea Yarrell, 24 were shot to death late last Monday. All died at the house where they lived except for Charlii who later died in the hospital. Both mothers were holding their child when they were killed.

Two handguns were found within a block of the house, where all four of those killed lived, said Sgt. Matthew Mount, a police spokesman.

“Whoever is responsible for this, we’re going to track you down like dogs,” Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson said. “We’re not going to stop until we find you and put you in a cage where you belong.”

Annie Boyd, the mother of Andrea Yarrell’s boyfriend, told The Indianapolis Star that her son heard a gunshot while he was on the phone with Yarrell.

Gene Boyd, who is in the Indianapolis Men’s Work Release Center on charges in a drug case, told his mother he heard someone break into the home.

“He heard the shot, then heard Gina holler out: ‘Those are my babies!”‘ Annie Boyd said. “After that the phone went dead.”

Gene Boyd then called his mother, who called 911.

A set of scales, several weapons, a safe and one pound of what is believed to be marijuana were found in the house, Talley-Sanders said. She said police had been called to the home three times in 2007 to investigate reports of armed robbery, burglary of a resident and a stolen vehicle.

“There’s just a number of factors that have to be looked at,” Mount said. “Because of the things that were found at the scene they are going to look at every possible motive.

[Source]

Last Thursday, Jasper Frazier, 36 turned himself in to the police but said that even though he was at the scene, he did not pull the trigger.

“I ain’t kill them kids, man,” Frazier said, speaking from Toledo. “I’m not running. I’m turning myself in with my family. The people that killed the kids, they was going to kill me,” he said.

Two other men, Zarumin Coleman (21) and Tommy Warren (24), were in custody Thursday night on unrelated warrants and were being questions in the deaths of the four victims. Frazier said that Coleman and two other men pulled him into a robbery that turned into a murder. He said he was in the house when another man fired the shots.

“Yeah, I was there, man,” Frazier said, “and I asked the dude there, ‘Why the (expletive) you kill those kids?’ “

According to Mahada Frazier, who said she was Frazier’s sister, three men came to Jasper’s (Frazier) home and asked if he wanted to make quick money. Jasper then went along with them to the house where the four victims were. Mahada went on to say that Jasper then went inside with one man while Coleman and another man waited in a black sport utility vehicle.

The other man kicked the door, went in to find the woman and told them that they wanted the dope and the money. The woman said that they didn’t have anything and in response the man started shooting. (All this was told to Mahada by Jasper before he turned himself in)

[Source]

Update #1

Four Men Arrested In Killings of 2 kids, 2 women

Ronald Davis (pictured, top left), and Dontae Hobson (pictured, top right), both 30, were arrested on preliminary charges of murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the slayings in a house in the 3200 block of Hovey Street, police said at a news conference.

Jasper Frazier (pictured, bottom left), 36, and Zarumin Coleman, 21, also known as Corey Parker, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. Frazier also was being held on a charge of attempted robbery, and Coleman was facing a charge of assisting a criminal, police said.

Hobson was arrested Saturday and the other three suspects were detained between Thursday and Friday, according to police. Authorities said information from the public helped them name the suspects and make the arrests.

More Here

More than 1300 mourn slain mother and child

The sight was jarring: a young mother lying in a coffin, holding her infant.

Stoicism turned to quiet tears or outright sobbing Monday as mourners filed past the bodies of Andrea Yarrell and her 5-month-old daughter, Charlii Simone Daye-Yarrell.

Mourners also filled the Yarrells’ service at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. The mood was more than sad; there was outrage.

“There’s just no excuse for something like this,” said Monica Cowans, a high school friend of Andrea Yarrell’s mother, Dana Davidson.

Sheriff Frank Anderson, whose Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has arrested four men in the case, received a standing ovation.

“I’m sick and tired” of violence, said Anderson, in a preacher’s voice. “I’ve had enough of this. We’ve had enough of this!

“When we start killing babies … enough is enough!”

Anderson went on to say that whoever committed the crime, “If they make it to heaven’s gate, they’ll see a ‘no vacancy’ sign.”

Police Chief Michael Spears said that “part of God’s plan is justice, and we’re committed to this justice.”

More Here

Update #2

What prosecutors say happened
What officials allege these men did in connection with the Hovey Street killings:

Jasper Frazier, 36: He accompanied Ronald Davis into the house in search of 50 pounds of marijuana and cash, officials say. Told police Davis shot the four victims using a Glock pistol, officials say.

Ronald Davis, 30: Claimed to have carried a 9 mm pistol into the house and told police Frazier shot the women, officials say. However, others said Davis carried the Glock used in the killings, and Frazier told police that Davis killed the victims, officials say.

Donte Hobson, 30: Rode in the SUV to the house and waited outside, officials say. Advised the two who entered the house to try a crowbar after they couldn’t break in on their first attempt, officials say.

Zarumin Coleman, 21: Told police he picked up Frazier, Hobson and Davis in a black SUV “rented” to him in exchange for drugs and drove them to the house, officials say. He remained in the vehicle, officials say.

Tommy Warren, 24: Agreed to rob the house with Coleman in a search for 50 pounds of marijuana and cash, but he did not participate in the robbery, officials say. He has not been charged in the case.
Source: Marion County prosecutor’s probable-cause affidavit

What’s next

The four men charged in the Hovey Street case are scheduled to appear at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Court 6.

[Source]

Videos:

Lesley Yarrell on his daughter
Police SWAT response
IMPD on Hovey Street killings
Anderson’s fiery reaction
Mourners pay their respect
Hovey street neighbors pray
Father’s emotional reaction

Update: Police Charge One Suspect in Kamya Weathersby Murder


Banks denied killing Kamya while being led out of Little Rock Police headquarters downtown into an awaiting squad car bound for the Pulaski County Detention Facility.

Goins asks: “Kevin Banks, did you shoot Kamya Weathersby?” Banks says: “No sir, I did not sir.”

The family of Kamya does not believe him. Lashandria Washington, 26, Kamya’s mother, says she believes he’s responsible.

“I think he did it, he had something to do with it, that’s what I’m hearing,” Washington said Tuesday night. “I don’t know him.”

Word of Banks arrest spread quickly throughout the city. At Temple of Restoration church on Chicot Road, Reverend Benny Johnson was overseeing a Stop The Violence Youth Revival when he found out and informed the service.

“We have some good news. The Little Rock Police Department just caught one of the guys,” Johnson said to an eruption of applause and cheering. “I’m glad this person is off the streets, he can’t hurt anyone else. I understand there are more suspects out there so I’m hoping people will help get these other people off the streets.”

For Washington, she wants the two other suspects caught that police are looking for in her daughter’s murder.

“It’s just a relief for me, makes me feel not 100% better, but a little better that someone has been caught,” Washington says.

[Source]

Related Posts:

Missing, Murdered and Found





Repost: Who keep killing Our Babies?

23 01 2008

Repost from www.whataboutdaughters.com

Two mothers killed while holding their babies


Jordan Hunt (23 months), his mother, Gina Hunt (24), Charlii Yarrell (4 months), and her mother Andrea Yarrell, 24 were shot to death late last Monday. All died at the house where they lived except for Charlii who later died in the hospital. Both mothers were holding their child when they were killed.

Two handguns were found within a block of the house, where all four of those killed lived, said Sgt. Matthew Mount, a police spokesman.

“Whoever is responsible for this, we’re going to track you down like dogs,” Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson said. “We’re not going to stop until we find you and put you in a cage where you belong.”

Annie Boyd, the mother of Andrea Yarrell’s boyfriend, told The Indianapolis Star that her son heard a gunshot while he was on the phone with Yarrell.

Gene Boyd, who is in the Indianapolis Men’s Work Release Center on charges in a drug case, told his mother he heard someone break into the home.

“He heard the shot, then heard Gina holler out: ‘Those are my babies!”‘ Annie Boyd said. “After that the phone went dead.”

Gene Boyd then called his mother, who called 911.

A set of scales, several weapons, a safe and one pound of what is believed to be marijuana were found in the house, Talley-Sanders said. She said police had been called to the home three times in 2007 to investigate reports of armed robbery, burglary of a resident and a stolen vehicle.

“There’s just a number of factors that have to be looked at,” Mount said. “Because of the things that were found at the scene they are going to look at every possible motive.

[Source]

Last Thursday, Jasper Frazier, 36 turned himself in to the police but said that even though he was at the scene, he did not pull the trigger.

“I ain’t kill them kids, man,” Frazier said, speaking from Toledo. “I’m not running. I’m turning myself in with my family. The people that killed the kids, they was going to kill me,” he said.

Two other men, Zarumin Coleman (21) and Tommy Warren (24), were in custody Thursday night on unrelated warrants and were being questions in the deaths of the four victims. Frazier said that Coleman and two other men pulled him into a robbery that turned into a murder. He said he was in the house when another man fired the shots.

“Yeah, I was there, man,” Frazier said, “and I asked the dude there, ‘Why the (expletive) you kill those kids?’ “

According to Mahada Frazier, who said she was Frazier’s sister, three men came to Jasper’s (Frazier) home and asked if he wanted to make quick money. Jasper then went along with them to the house where the four victims were. Mahada went on to say that Jasper then went inside with one man while Coleman and another man waited in a black sport utility vehicle.

The other man kicked the door, went in to find the woman and told them that they wanted the dope and the money. The woman said that they didn’t have anything and in response the man started shooting. (All this was told to Mahada by Jasper before he turned himself in)

[Source]

Update #1

Four Men Arrested In Killings of 2 kids, 2 women

Ronald Davis (pictured, top left), and Dontae Hobson (pictured, top right), both 30, were arrested on preliminary charges of murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the slayings in a house in the 3200 block of Hovey Street, police said at a news conference.

Jasper Frazier (pictured, bottom left), 36, and Zarumin Coleman, 21, also known as Corey Parker, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery. Frazier also was being held on a charge of attempted robbery, and Coleman was facing a charge of assisting a criminal, police said.

Hobson was arrested Saturday and the other three suspects were detained between Thursday and Friday, according to police. Authorities said information from the public helped them name the suspects and make the arrests.

More Here

More than 1300 mourn slain mother and child

The sight was jarring: a young mother lying in a coffin, holding her infant.

Stoicism turned to quiet tears or outright sobbing Monday as mourners filed past the bodies of Andrea Yarrell and her 5-month-old daughter, Charlii Simone Daye-Yarrell.

Mourners also filled the Yarrells’ service at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. The mood was more than sad; there was outrage.

“There’s just no excuse for something like this,” said Monica Cowans, a high school friend of Andrea Yarrell’s mother, Dana Davidson.

Sheriff Frank Anderson, whose Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has arrested four men in the case, received a standing ovation.

“I’m sick and tired” of violence, said Anderson, in a preacher’s voice. “I’ve had enough of this. We’ve had enough of this!

“When we start killing babies … enough is enough!”

Anderson went on to say that whoever committed the crime, “If they make it to heaven’s gate, they’ll see a ‘no vacancy’ sign.”

Police Chief Michael Spears said that “part of God’s plan is justice, and we’re committed to this justice.”

More Here

Update #2

What prosecutors say happened
What officials allege these men did in connection with the Hovey Street killings:

Jasper Frazier, 36: He accompanied Ronald Davis into the house in search of 50 pounds of marijuana and cash, officials say. Told police Davis shot the four victims using a Glock pistol, officials say.

Ronald Davis, 30: Claimed to have carried a 9 mm pistol into the house and told police Frazier shot the women, officials say. However, others said Davis carried the Glock used in the killings, and Frazier told police that Davis killed the victims, officials say.

Donte Hobson, 30: Rode in the SUV to the house and waited outside, officials say. Advised the two who entered the house to try a crowbar after they couldn’t break in on their first attempt, officials say.

Zarumin Coleman, 21: Told police he picked up Frazier, Hobson and Davis in a black SUV “rented” to him in exchange for drugs and drove them to the house, officials say. He remained in the vehicle, officials say.

Tommy Warren, 24: Agreed to rob the house with Coleman in a search for 50 pounds of marijuana and cash, but he did not participate in the robbery, officials say. He has not been charged in the case.
Source: Marion County prosecutor’s probable-cause affidavit

What’s next

The four men charged in the Hovey Street case are scheduled to appear at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Court 6.

[Source]

Videos:

Lesley Yarrell on his daughter
Police SWAT response
IMPD on Hovey Street killings
Anderson’s fiery reaction
Mourners pay their respect
Hovey street neighbors pray
Father’s emotional reaction

Update: Police Charge One Suspect in Kamya Weathersby Murder


Banks denied killing Kamya while being led out of Little Rock Police headquarters downtown into an awaiting squad car bound for the Pulaski County Detention Facility.

Goins asks: “Kevin Banks, did you shoot Kamya Weathersby?” Banks says: “No sir, I did not sir.”

The family of Kamya does not believe him. Lashandria Washington, 26, Kamya’s mother, says she believes he’s responsible.

“I think he did it, he had something to do with it, that’s what I’m hearing,” Washington said Tuesday night. “I don’t know him.”

Word of Banks arrest spread quickly throughout the city. At Temple of Restoration church on Chicot Road, Reverend Benny Johnson was overseeing a Stop The Violence Youth Revival when he found out and informed the service.

“We have some good news. The Little Rock Police Department just caught one of the guys,” Johnson said to an eruption of applause and cheering. “I’m glad this person is off the streets, he can’t hurt anyone else. I understand there are more suspects out there so I’m hoping people will help get these other people off the streets.”

For Washington, she wants the two other suspects caught that police are looking for in her daughter’s murder.

“It’s just a relief for me, makes me feel not 100% better, but a little better that someone has been caught,” Washington says.

[Source]

Related Posts:

Missing, Murdered and Found





Reward Offered for Information on Latoya Cole

18 01 2008

During a press conference this afternoon, family members of a Jackson woman missing since Dec. 9 urged the community to speak up if they have any information about the suspicious disappearance of LaToya Cole.

An increased reward of $1,000 has been set for any information on Cole’s disappearance, Sgt. Mike Johnson said during the press conference.

“The Humboldt Police Department has helped located some potential witnesses,” said Jackson police Lt. Mike Holt.

Police would not discuss further details about the evidence recovered in the case. Holt also asked Cole’s family not to share any details on evidence in the case with the media.

“It hurts so bad not knowing where she is,” said Wanda Cole, LaToya’s mother, during the press conference.

Cole, 25, went missing from her Jackson home on Dec. 9, according to Jackson police.

Police responded to her home, at 61 Sherwood Lane, after getting a 911 hang-up call at 1:20 a.m.

Cole, a single mother of four, is believed to have been at home alone before the call was made. Her children were at a relative’s house when she disappeared early that Sunday morning.

After getting the 911 call, police officers went inside the house and found it deserted. The door was open, and lights and a radio or television were on. Officers noted blood and other evidence that indicated possible foul play.

Jackson police still are investigating Cole’s disappearance. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also assisting with the investigation. Authorities have not named any suspects.

Joseph Montgomery, Wanda Cole’s pastor from Higher Ground Assembly, led a prayer before Cole’s family spoke at the conference.

“We pray, O God, that you would continue to strengthen the family. We pray that you would just touch every heart. Someone knows something. Give them to courage to speak up,” Montgomery said.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 424-8477 or the Police Department at 425-8400.

[Source]


Previous article:

Press conference and vigil set for missing woman

An account has been set up at First State Bank in Humboldt to help Cole’s family. For more information, call the bank at (731) 784-1450.





Day Care Owner arrested after 3 year old went missing

18 01 2008

Three-year old Imaniey Hale was discovered Wednesday morning at Christa McCauliff Elementary School in Oceanside, about three miles from the daycare where she was dropped off earlier that morning. Oceanside Police spent the day looking for the toddler’s parents. They say Imaniey’s daycare provider didn’t report her missing until after 5:00 p.m.

“How do you have a three-year-old missing for so long and not notice it?” asks Lanisha Payton, Imainey’s mother.

The little girl eventually told her mother a man in a red truck had picked her up and taken her to the school, but police aren’t sure exactly how Imaniey got there.

The owner of Laura’s Day Care was arrested on one count of child endangerment. Laura Palos-Martinez told police the child had been missing for just ten minutes.

“We located the child at 9:00 in the morning, and we didn’t receive a phone call from [Palos-Martinez] until 5:40 in the evening,” explains Oceanside Police Sergeant Kelean Poorman. “So a better part of eight hours.”

[Source]

Related article:

Day Care Owner Arrested After Child Vanishes

I want to quote the mother again: “How do you have a three-year-old missing for so long and not notice it?” Add a billion question marks and exclamation points after that.





Stepha’s Mother Speaks about the Case: Video

18 01 2008