Did They Find the Body of Phylicia Barnes?

Phylicia Barnes

It is being reported that a female African American adult-sized body has been found in a Maryland river. [SOURCE]

Actually, there are two bodies found a short distance apart from each other in that river. Police in northern Maryland say it could be several days before they know the identities of the two bodies found in a river, but detectives in the case of missing Monroe teen Phylicia Barnes have been notified.

Work crews near the dam saw the woman's body about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and alerted Maryland state troopers. The body was recovered about 10 a.m. on the north side of the Conowingo Dam by officers from the Maryland Wildlife Service. Then boaters on the south side of the dam spotted a body about 2 p.m. and called police. The man's body was pulled from the river about 2 p.m.

The two bodies were discovered more than a mile apart and there is no evidence linking the two. The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office in Baltimore, where autopsies will be conducted.


This would be a sad ending to this story. Phylicia Barnes was a bright young woman with her future shining bright in front of her. It would be a shame if her life ended in a river many miles away from her North Carolina home.

The prayers of all villagers are with the Barnes family has they wait to learn whether or not Phylicia has been found.

Lakeesha Alert: Chioma Gray Spotted in Mexico

Chioma Gray has been missing for over three years. Federal authorities have told her family that a woman's body found charred beyond recognition in Tijuana was Chioma.


The family doesn't believe that Chioma is dead. In fact, they think that she may be alive and living in Mexico. The family believes that the man who abducted Chioma may be getting help from his parents. [SOURCE]

Villagers recall that Chioma was last seen being hustled into a stolen car in December 2007. According to witnesses, the car was driven by Andrew Joshua Tafoya, 20, who had been released from jail the night before. Tafoya, a former football player at St. Bonaventure High School and Ventura College, had just finished serving a seven-month sentence for having unlawful sex with a minor, Chioma, who was 14 at the time.

The last trace of the two was caught on a screening camera at the Mexican border, which showed the license plate of the stolen car.

Private investigator Chuck Hookstra, a former Oxnard assistant police chief, says that he found the stolen car parked in a compound with flat tires near Acapulco, a resort city in southern Mexico.

“It looked like it’d been there for three years,” said Hookstra.

He also found where the two lived. They apparently worked at a small vacation spot — he taught snorkeling, and she was a waitress. Hookstra said he talked to neighbors and uncovered information that Tafoya received help from his family.

This week, Chioma’s mother filed a federal lawsuit against Tafoya, his father and other members of his family. Hookstra found leads that suggest Chioma and Tafoya are either still in Mexico near the town of Ixtapa or perhaps in Nevada or Texas. Hookstra said there are also indications they stayed in San Antonio, with a relative of Tafoya.

“None of the family members were forthcoming with any information,” Hookstra said in a sworn declaration. “Based on my 30-year career of law enforcement and investigation, I believe that the family members of (Tafoya) do in fact, know where (he) is and have been providing him money to assist him in concealing Chioma Gray from authorities.”

This was one of the first cases of a missing young Black child that we tracked on this blog. I hope it has a happy ending. If Chioma is alive ... and voluntarily staying with Tafoya ... I hope she lets contacts her Mom.

As for Tafoya? I hope he burns in hell.

Lakeesha Alert: Phylicia Barnes, North Carolina Teenager Goes Missing in Baltimore

We are issuing a Lakeesha Alert for Phylicia Simone Barnes, a star high school student from North Carolina who went missing in Baltimore last week. The 16-year-old honor student from Monroe, N.C., was visiting her half-sister when she disappeared three days after Christmas. 

Most villagers know that we live in a world where missing teenage girls are not national news unless they have blue eyes and blonde hair. As such, we've learned not to depend on the Amber Alert system. We go straight to the Lakeesha Alert ... and we ask all of our blogging kinfolk to do what they can to spread the word.

Phylicia was last heard from December 28 when she posted a note on Facebook. She is 5'8" tall ... and a straight-A student. In fact, she finished her high school studies ahead of schedule and planned to attend college in Baltimore. 

We need to pray for Phylicia Barnes.  We also need to find Phylicia Barnes.  Here is an interview conducted with Phylicia's mother.







The FBI and Baltimore police are conducting the investigation.  Police say that they obtained additional security video from the area surrounding the apartment, but it has yet to shed new light on the case. FBI helicopters have scoured the area for three days without finding any clues.

"If there's any good news, we haven't found anything yet," Baltimore Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

Police say several people who visited the apartment are considered persons of interest, and the two likely scenarios proposed by investigators are abduction or murder.

"At this point, you hope it's an abduction," Guglielmi said.

We need to shine the spotlight on this case to ensure that all available resources in Baltimore and around the nation are galvanized to help locate this missing teenage girl. The Lakeesha Alert has been issued. Help us get the word out.

Barnes was last seen wearing a navy blue pea coat with a hood, a turquoise shirt and blue jeans, white slipper-boots and was carrying a caramel-colored purse.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to contact Baltimore Police at 443-984-7385.

Lakeesha Alert: Kiarra Robinson (Columbus OH)

Villagers, we need your help. We know that the Amber Alert system only works for the Ambers of the world. For people of African descent we need to let the drums ring out with our own Lakeesha Alert! This blog is putting the call out for a Lakeesha Alert on a young woman who has been missing for a week in Columbus OH.

Reggie Hillery is a colleague of mine in Columbus OH. He shared the following message on Facebook tonight:

Hey Columbus- Help me find my niece Kiarra Robinson. She has been missing since Sat. Oct 30th. She is 17 yrs old and was last seen possibly on the North side or Hilliard area. She was wearing sweat pants, tank top and a blue hoodie.

My family would appreciate all your help in locating her. Thanks for your help and prayers. Her picture is my profile picture.

That is picture of Kiarra shown above.  Any support you can provide in helping Reggie and his family locate Kiarra would be very much appreciated!  Reggie can be reached via his email address or his Facebook page.

FOUND: Mitrice Richardson ... Who Murdered Her?

The Lakeesha Alert for Mitrice Richardson can be turned off now. Mitrice's remains were discovered deep in Malibu Canyon by park rangers who had been checking for marijuana plants. Her mother, Latice Sutton, sent a text message informing people that her daughter had been identified.

"It is with great sadness and grief that I [tell you] my baby, Mitrice Richardson, has gone on to our Heavenly Father. Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers."

Villagers may remember that 25-year old Mitrice Richardson was arrested nearly a year ago after being unable to pay an $89 dinner tab at a Malibu restaurant. She was released in the dark, early-morning hours of last Sept. 17 without a car, cellphone or purse.

Can anyone explain why the police would do such a thing? Mitrice's parents don't like the explanations from the police. Both her parents have filed separate lawsuits against the Sheriff's Department alleging negligence.

"This book is not closed," Michael Richardson said. "More chapters need to be written. We are going to hold people accountable. I will continue to fight for her."

I'm very sorry to see how this missing person case turned out. Perhaps now it is time for a murder investigation. Who killed Mitrice Richardson?

Lakeesha Alert: Hasanni Campbell Missing for a Year, Is He Still Alive?

Today is the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of 6-year-old Hasanni Campbell. Hasanni was reported missing by his foster father, Louis Ross, who said the boy disappeared Aug. 10, 2009 from a car parked outside a shoe store in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood.

On Aug. 28, 2009, Oakland police arrested Ross and 30-year-old Jennifer Campbell, Hasanni's aunt and foster mother, on suspicion of murder. The district attorney's office declined to file charges though because of insufficient evidence, and the couple was released.





In early January, the foster parents moved out of the Fremont home where Hasanni had lived with them. Ross is now living in Maryland, and Campbell is in Arizona.

I believe that Ross and Campbell each know more than they are telling about this missing boy. Unfortunately, I also believe that the child is dead. If a young boy with cerebral palsy were alive ... someone would have noticed by now.

In any case, this blog wants you to know that the Lakeesha Alert is still open for young Hasanni Campbell. Please say a prayer for him after you read this blog post.

Rep. Maxine Waters Issues Lakeesha Alert for Mitrice Richardson

Mitrice Richardson has been missing for over a year. The mainstream media doesn't appear to care. The Amber Alert system isn't working for this nubian sister ... so it is good to see that a Lakeesha Alert is being sent by U.S. Rep Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles). Rep. Waters asked the Department of Justice to investigate the disappearance of Mitrice, who was released in September from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. [SOURCE]

Mitrice Richardson was arrested at Geoffrey's, a Malibu restaurant, for not paying an $89 dinner bill. Deputies who took the Cal State Fullerton graduate into custody described her as "coherent and rational," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca told the Board of Supervisors in a letter.

Waters asked the Justice Department in a May 5 letter to investigate alleged civil rights violations by the deputies.

"I believe that Mitrice's civil rights were violated when she was arrested and then let go in the middle of the night without money, a phone or transportation," Waters said.

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the department, said that the deputies followed policy.

"We believe that everything was done right," he said, adding that Baca "obviously believes that nobody's civil rights have been violated."

Waters previously had asked the FBI to investigate the disappearance, but she said she was told by the agency that it does not probe adult missing persons.

Mitrice's 25th birthday was April 30th. Let's hope that she is found sooner rather than later. I encourage other bloggers to share the Lakeesha Alert for Mitrice Richardson with their blog readers!

Lakeesha Alert * Mitrice Richardson

I still don't understand how the national mainstream media can get worked up over some missing women (or children), usually blondes with blue eyes, while ignoring others -- usually African American. We've seen it with Chioma Gray and Hasanni Campbell.

Now we're seeing it in southern California with Mitrice Richardson.
That is why this blog is calling on all bloggers to re-issue their Lakeesha Alert for missing Mitrice.

It's been more than six months since Mitrice Richardson disappeared after being arrested in Malibu. Her family and friends refuse to give up hope and are asking for help as they launch a new search for the missing woman on Sunday. [SOURCE]

"How could a person just vanish," said Richardson's mother Latice Sutton. "There is no way to move on or in any direction for that matter."

The 24-year-old disappeared September 17. The Cal State Fullerton graduate was arrested at Geoffrey's, a high end restaurant in Malibu, because she did not have the money to pay for her bill. Other diners and restaurant staff said Richardson was acting in bizarre manner.

Richardson was booked at the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station. Deputies said Richardson acted normally and passed a sobriety test and had no reason to hold her overnight. She was released at 12:30 a.m. -- Villagers, what right-thinking police officer releases a woman after midnight in a strange area? -- Mitrice didn't have a car, cell phone, identification or money. The police in Malibu didn't contact her family to let them know about the release ... nor did they take her to a bus station or taxi stand. They just let this young lady out in the woods with the wolves. Her family has not heard from her since.

On Sunday, family members and friends will hold an all volunteer search. The volunteer search is from noon to 4 p.m. in six different locations around the Los Angeles area.



If our women and children are going to continue to be ignored ... we're going to need to get more active with our Lakeesha Alerts throughout the afrosphere. Do you agree?

Lakeesha Alert: Mitrice Richardson Case is Treated as a Homicide

Villagers may recall that we issued a Lakeesha Alert for Mitrice Richardson, 24, over three months ago. Richardson disappeared after being released from the Lost Hills sheriff's station jail for her arrest on suspicion of not paying her bill at a Malibu restaurant.

Her case is now being treated as a homicide. Sheriff Lee Baca ordered a homicide investigation into the disappearance of Mitrice Richardson although he does not necessarily believe she is dead.

"He has declared it a homicide investigation," Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Baca. "But by opening up a homicide investigation, it does allow the sheriff's department to put some of our top investigators on the case."

Richardson's family had been campaigning for the sheriff to open up the case as a homicide investigation.

Villagers -- do you think that there is a happy ending for this missing person case in our future?

Lakeesha Alert: Mitrice Richardson is Missing

Villagers, have you been following the case of Mitrice Richardson? She is a young college graduate from California State University of Fullerton, in Psychology, with a 4.00 GPA. Mitrice Richardson has begun the process of acceptance into the Psychology Professional College, Alliant, to pursue her Ph.D. as a Clinical Psychologist.

The Amber Alert system is failing. Mitrice is not blue-eyed woman with blonde hair ... so her disappearance isn't valued by the mainstream media. It is time for us to put out a Lakeesha Alert for this sister.

On September 16, 2009, Mitrice Richardson was booked into custody after 10:00 pm, and then the police released her shortly after 12:38am.

The police released Mitrice Richardson in a desolate area of canyons and wildlife with no money, food, water, identification or cell phone. She was not familiar with the area and had no transportation. The police did not contact her mother ... despite the fact that the mother had been talking with the police at 10:30 pm that same night. Mitrice was obviously in a depressed state of mind. She is loved and supported by her family and friends. Mitrice Richardson is in a crisis and is in danger, support is needed to find her.

Villagers, there is something seriously wrong. First, I ask you to listen to the police audio from the night of her arrest:





Now compare those audio clips with the police interpretation of events a few days later:





This blog joins other online activists who seek a federal investigation into the whereabouts of Mitrice Richardson to bring her home and to ensure that this does not happen to anyone else.

Lakeesha Alert: Hasanni Campbell, Missing 5-Year Old Child

Louis Ross, the foster father of a missing California boy with cerebral palsy says he left the child alone near his car before the child vanished August 10th from a shoe store parking lot. Nobody has seen or heard from 5-year old Hassani Campbell since that moment.

Where is Hasanni Campbell?


I do not have a good feeling about the eventual outcome. It is time to put out a Lakeesha Alert ... the Amber Alert system ain't working!

I would like all Black bloggers that read this blog post to share information about this missing child with their blog readers. It is time that we pump up the volume with the mainstream media and with other national organizations. They need to become aware of a young boy who has not been seen or heard from in over a week.

The foster dad says he left Hassani Campbell so he could ask his fiancee to look after boy. Hassani, who has cerebral palsy, has not been since that point. Ross took polygraph and the police have searched his home and nearby area. The fiancee refused to take a polygraph because of fear it would impact on her pregnancy. There has been a $10,000 reward offered to anyone that can help find the young 'un. Anyone with information can call the Oakland Police: (510) 238-3641.

Let me know if your blog is participating in this effort. Here is a list of participating bloggers:

1. African American News


2. BV Black Spin


3. Field Negro


4. YoungBlackNews

My prayers are for Hasanni's safe return... What say u?

Found: Dead Body of 2-Year Old Jada Justice; Her Killers in Custody

The body was found just off U.S. 421 and Snyder Road, near Otis, Indiana. Police said the investigation has shifted to a murder investigation. They expect to file charges against two people in custody soon.

Jada Justice disappeared June 16, when she was reported missing by her babysitter and cousin, Engelica Castillo. Police said Castillo, 18, seemed to be under the influence of some substance when she talked with police. Police have also said Castillo and her boyfriend Tim Tkachik have not been cooperative in the investigation.

Authorities believe Tkachik burned his face when he tried to burn Jada's dead body, a source close to the investigation said. Mug shots released by authorities clearly show blistered and burn-damaged skin on Tkachik's face.

The source said Jada did not die of those burns, and authorities believe Jada may have died two weeks ago Saturday -- several days before Castillo reported the toddler's disappearance.

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Our prayers go to Jada's family with this sad news. Our special hope is that the people who caused her death burn slowly in hell.

Lakeesha Alert

Originally posted in May 2008

Villagers, please take a moment and hug, call or think about your child.

How much would it tear you up if your child was missing? Two of my colleagues in The AfroSpear have made the commitment to use their online resources to highlight the disparity of coverage for missing children of color in favor of missing white children. HustleKnockin' and Black & Missing But Not Forgotten each do remarkable work to inform us when children of color are missing.

KTHustle feels that the Amber Alert only works for the Ambers of the world. As such, he created the Lakeesha Alert with the following operating instructions:

"Upon being pushed your Lakeesha Alert button will send
hyper-sonic signals to urban radio stations, online communities, urban newspapers, bloggers, street gang members ... and on the outside chance that they’re not too busy and might display a casual interest ... the police and mainstream media."

The idea is tongue-in-cheek. The topic and the need for our continued awareness and support is very real! Villagers, what say u about the idea?

Lakeesha Alert: 2-Year Old Jada Justice is Missing

The Amber Alert system isn't working for our nubian toddler, Jada Justice. It is time to see if the Lakeesha Alert system can make a difference.

The search for a missing northwestern Indiana toddler has entered its second week as the FBI and police continue to investigate her disappearance.

Authorities say 2-year-old Jada Justice of Portage was apparently abducted from a car June 16 while her 18-year-old cousin who was baby sitting her went into a convenience store in Gary. The cousin was briefly held as a person of interest but has since been released.

Melissa Swiontek, Justice's mother, said, "I don't know. I don't know what to feel. I don't know. I feel there are so many speculations, there's so many things. I feel like I'm going to find her. I mean, I do feel like she can't be gone ... like this is not even happening."

Clothes worn at time of abduction: Jada was wearing an orange skirt, a white tank top with orange and green stripes, white sandals and purple underwear.

Circumstances: She was last seen on June 16, 2009. Jada may be with an adult companion. She was last seen wearing an orange skirt and a striped shirt.

Gary police are searching for a young girl who disappeared when a cousin who was taking care of her left the toddler alone in a car to get milk at a gas station.

Jada Justice, who turns three in August disappeared from the car at a gas station near the intersection of East Ridge Road and Louisiana Street in Gary about 9:30 p.m.

Jada was in the back seat of the car when her cousin stopped at the gas station about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. When the cousin returned to the car, Jada's car seat was still there, but Jada was missing.

Jada had been staying with her cousin temporarily, but was due to return to her mother on Saturday. No family member is involved in a custody dispute with the mother over Jada, and there's no reason to believe a family member may have taken her.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or Gary police Cmdr. Anthony Titus at (219) 881-1237, (219) 881-1229, (219) 881-1209 or (219) 881-1210.

Found (Again): Tekenya Wooten (Durham NC)

UPDATE: Tekenya has been found, one day after she was reported as a runaway for a second time in two weeks.

"Laws related to juveniles limit what can be done and said about this case. Tekenya has not committed any criminal act as far as we know," Deputy Police Chief Ron Hodge said.

"We are concerned about her safety and the safety of her unborn child," he said.

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Police are asking for help finding a missing 12-year-old girl who has apparently run away for the second time in a month. Tekenya Wooten was last seen on yesterday Garrett Road wearing a black flight jacket, black shirt, jeans and black Nikes.

She is 5-foot-1, weighs 100 pounds and is eight months pregnant. She is under supervision of the Lenoir County Department of Social Services.

Last week Wooten went missing from a group home at 3529 Manford Drive on Oct. 18. Officers found her unharmed last Friday on Gordon Street.

Durham police refuse to issue an Amber Alert for Tekenya. Police claim that the state's Amber Alert program excludes children thought to have run away.

Found: Tekenya Wooten (Durham NC)

Tekenya Wooten, a pregnant 12-year-old girl who had been missing since Saturday was found this morning in Durham, police said. [SOURCE]

Durham police officers found Tekenya on a local street at about 11:45 a.m. today. She appeared to be unharmed.

Wooten was living in a Durham group home that operates as a residential and maternity child care facility. Investigators were treating her disappearance as a runaway case and did not trigger the state's Amber Alert program in this week's search. Durham Police Chief Lopez shares his thoughts on this case here.

Our prayers remain with Tekenya Wooten as she struggles with the reality of being pregnant at such a young age. Our appreciation is for all villagers that supported our efforts to raise the alarm for this young girl.

It appears that we can turn off the Lakeesha Alert now.

Lakeesha Alert: Tekenya Wooten (Durham NC)

The Amber Alert system isn't working for our nubian sister, Tekenya Wooten. It is time to see if the Lakeesha Alert system can make a difference.

Gina McCauley laid out the challenge for all warriors in the afrosphere. It is not good enough to simply 'feel bad' about the fact that Tekenya Wooten and her unborn child are missing. When a 12-year old Black girl is missing it is time for all of us to get serious.

We need to get with the authorities in Durham NC so that this situation is resolved within hours ... not days ... not weeks.

The 12-year old girl is 8-months pregnant. I don't know the full story ... but, it appears that she was raped by someone. After all, you don't make mature adult decisions about sexual intercourse when you are in the 6th grade.

Anyhow, I'm following the lead of Gina. I have a client conference call shortly ... but, I'm going to make some calls. Can you do the same?

We need you to follow up today by e-mail, by phone, by fax, by African drums!

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The News & Observer * (919) 829-4500, Ask for the 'News Department'.

I wanted to talk with the reporter assigned to the Tekenya Wooten story. I got as far as the voicemail for the paper's news department. I think that his name is Tad Author ... although, I could be wrong. It was difficult to understand it on his voicemail.

Anyhow, I let him know about my concern that the story of a missing 12-year old girl walking the streets of Durham while 8-months pregnant did not seem to be considered newsworthy by the Durham media. I expressed appreciation for the online bulletin ... however I thought that the newspaper should show more interest when a 12-year old victim of a crime (rape) was overlooked by the county-operated 'group home' in which she lived ... and that this 8-month pregnant child was not being searched for in any type of aggressive manner by the police, mayor or media. The young girl is obviously in danger and needs help. Why do only blonde-haired missing girls get media coverage? Why isn't this 12-year old nubian child being sought by all levels of Durham authorities?

The News & Observer
215 South McDowell Street
P.O. Box 191
Raleigh, NC 27602
Main: (919) 829-4500
Customer Service: (800) 522-4205

Villagers, please follow up with the News and Observer REPEATEDLY throughout the day.

Ask them why this didn’t make it to the print edition of the paper? Ask them why it isn’t newsworthy that North Carolina lost a child in their custody. Ask them why it isn’t newsworthy that you have a 12-year-old running around who is about to give birth any second. Ask them why the Durham Police Department thinks that sending out a random email with no follow up is a sufficient expenditure of law enforcement resources in light of the fact that there are TWO children’s lives at stake?

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WRAL * (919) 821-8600, Fax: (919) 821-8541 * Updated Alert from WRAL

I talked with Sally. I explained the situation, especially the concern about the Durham Police Department treating this as a simple runaway and not as a more serious 'HIGH RISK' case. Sally informed me that Erin Hartness was the reporter assigned to the case. Sally indicated she would pass along my concerns to Ms. Hartness. I appreciate the bulletin posted by WRAL, however, this is a much more serious case and it requires a much more forceful local media presence. After all, Tekenya is 12. She’s 8-month’s pregnant. If she’s not high risk, what about her child? What about the fact that Black women under the age of 20 are the most likely to be the victims of maternal homicide? What about the fact that this little girl was likely impregnated when she was 11-years-old? That ain’t high risk?

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Durham Police Department - Chief Jose Lopez, Sr. (919) 560-4322 jose.lopez@durhamnc.gov

I was transferred to voicemail of Toya Littlejohn. I left voicemail for her to pass along to the chief. I called back. This time I asked for the detective assigned to the Tekenya Wooten case. Instead I was given to Deputy Chief Ronald Hodge.

He indicated that the police had no evidence that she was "kidnapped". In fact, the police feel that she "left voluntarily" from the group home. How does a 12-year old girl who is 8-months pregant leave a county-owned facility VOLUNTARILY without the knowledge of the home administrators?. I asked that question to Deputy Chief Hodge. He told me that the "criteria established by the state of North Carolina" for listing Tekenya's case as 'HIGH RISK' had not been met. I pointed out that the young girl had already been victimized and raped earlier this year ...judging from her age and pregnancy. Deputy Chief Hodge told me that he didn't know if she was raped or not ... "it depends on the age of the other person and other factors."

Finally, I was able to ask again if the Durham Police Department would take another look at their designation of this case as a simple runaway instead of the 'HIGH RISK' designation that would kick in Amber Alerts and such throughout the city, county and state. Deputy Chief Hodge didn't want to answer that one. He said, "I have nothing more to say." Then he hung up.

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Durham City Manager- Thomas Bonfield (919) 560-4222 tom.bonfield@durhamnc.gov

I spoke with his assistant, Edie Aikens. I provided my concern about the lack of urgency being displayed by the Durham Police Department. I informed her that the Durham Police Department is wrong for its refusal to designate this case as 'HIGH RISK'. This case will not receive media attention without the 'HIGH RISK' designation by the police department.


Ms. Aikens indicated that she spoke earlier in the day with the police department. Patrol cars are aware of this missing child. The bus routes that Tekenya was known to use have been alerted. The police are trying to track down another photo in addition to the cellphone photo that has currently been released.

Ms. Aikens indicated that I might hear later today from the city manager on my request to have the case upgraded to 'HIGH RISK'.

Ms. Aikens ended our call by stating that 'the hearts of the city go out to this young girl. The city of Durham cares about all our children ... regardless of race ... when they go missing.'

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Mayor of Durham (919) 560-4333 ext. 269 Bill.Bell@durhamnc.gov

I was told that Mayor Bell is at a meeting. I left him a voicemail message with my name, phone number and email address. I told him about our concern that his city administration is not dealing with this matter correctly. A 12-year 'HIGH RISK' little girl is running around in the Durham streets and nobody in the city seems to care. Somebody needs to recognize that this young statutory rape victim is 8 months pregnant and doesn't have pre-natal care to ensure the safety of her or her unborn child. The police are treating this as a simple 'runaway'. How can anything be simple with a 6th or 7th grader is out there unprotected and unappreciated. Is Durham only interested in its new convention center ... or does the city have any concern for its children? Who will speak for Tekenya Wooten in Durham?


Villagers, If you have the time, in addition to the mayor, you can drop a note to each and every one of the Durham city council members their names are here and if you click on their names, their names and number will appear.

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Durham Child Protective Services * Diane Pankey (919) 560-8424

Evidently the group home on 3529 Manford Drive is where Tekenya Wooten was staying before she went missing. Anyhow, it appears that this group home is under the domain of Diane Pankey.

I left a voicemail with Ms. Pankey expressing concern that one of her group homes could lose a 12-month girl that is 8 months pregnant. How does that happen? Isn't their any type of supervision for such a 'HIGH RISK' girl? Anyhow, I left her a voicemail message and we'll see what happens.

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Villagers, I join with Gina McCauley in sending out this call to action for all of us in the afrosphere. We need you to TAKE ACTION right now.

We want to know where she is. We want to know where they think she is. We want to know why she was classified as a runaway and how they make that determination. We want to know how much “investigation” took place because it appears that Tekenya Wooten should be listed as a 'HIGH RISK' missing person. We want to know what, if any, steps have been taken beyond the electronic crime bulletin to find this little girl. If you know where she is and she is safe. Let us know. If not, let us know why you haven’t found her.

Brothers and sisters ... it was OK to feel bad when you first heard about Tekenya Wooten. Now it is time to pick up a spear and search the jungle for the young sister. MAKE A CALL and send some emails today! Let us know what you find out!