The Disappearance of Crystal Fry

 

Crystal Fry (31) has been missing since late 2020. Before vanishing, the young mother was living in Baltimore, Maryland with her boyfriend/father of her two youngest children. Crystal's family members have not heard from her since November 11th, 2020. 

That day, Crystal called her mother, Teresa Silverman, and told her that the previous three days had been the worst of her life. She explained that somebody had broken into her home by kicking in the front door, so she was staying with the father of her oldest child until it could be fixed. Crystal also told Teresa that she was scared for her life. The two then made plans to meet up the following day so they could talk more about the break-in. Crystal never showed up as planned, and her family has not heard from her again. 

Certain reports state that Crystal was last seen on December 12th, 2020. It's unclear if this was the day she was reported missing, or if she was actually seen on this day. Either way, Crystal's family members have grown very concerned about her safety, especially after she did not show up for any holiday celebrations. It is extremely out of character for Crystal to abandon her daughters and her family members do not believe she would voluntarily stay out of touch with them. 

There have been very few reports about in Crystal's disappearance. Very little is known about the alleged break-in at Crystal's home. Her mother has hired a private investigator to assist in the search. Anyone with information that could lead to Crystal's whereabouts is encouraged to come forward. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please call 410-396-2221. 

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Sources: [one, two]

Fundraiser Friday: February 26th, 2021

For the final Friday of Black History Month, Fundraiser Friday continues to feature only black victims. Both cases this week involve unsolved murders of young black women. The families of both women are desperately searching for answers, and they both hope to raise money for private investigators. Please share their stories and consider donating.

Mary Watkins

Mary Kimberly Watkins was found brutally murdered inside her in Chicago, Illinois on March 9th, 2020. The 37 year-old woman was discovered by her father, who had gone to her residence in the Chatham neighborhood to check on her. Mary kept in touch with her father frequently, and he began to worry when he had not heard from her for two days. Mary's father entered her home shortly before 7pm and found her dead inside her bedroom. She had been brutally stabbed and strangled.

Mary's family members are raising money for both a private investigator and for reward money in Mary's case. [click here to donate] [more info on this case]

Tawana McGowan

Tawana McGowan was shot to death in front of her Redford, Michigan home on January 11th, 2010. The 30 year-old woman had just returned to her residence after working an overnight shift. Before she could even enter the home, she was approached by an unknown assailant who shot her twice in the head. Her 10 year-old son found her body lying face down in the snow shortly thereafter. The killer(s) had already fled the scene in a vehicle. 

Years have passed without any answers in Tawana's case. Her family members believe that police have not thoroughly investigated. In fact, her son has started both a petition for Tawana's case to be re-investigated. He also has started a fundraiser for investigative fees. [click here to sign the petition] [click here to donate] [more info on this case]

The Disappearance of Jacob Tipton

Jacob Tipton (25) has been missing since April 23rd, 2016. That evening, he left the Berea, Kentucky apartment he shared with his brother after stating he was going out for the night with friends. Jacob never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Two weeks after his disappearance, Jacob’s car was found abandoned in the parking lot of a cemetery in Hart County, Kentucky. The cemetery is located over 100 miles—approximately a 2 hour drive—away from Jacob’s home in Berea. According to Jacob’s mother, he does not have any connections in that area and it is unclear why he would drive there—or if he was actually the one to drive the car there himself. 

Jacob’s car was eventually towed to a used car lot, where it was cleaned. The police planned to sell the car as abandoned property, but then they realized it was associated with a missing person. Any potential evidence in the car was likely destroyed when it was cleaned. Since the discovery of the car, there have been very few other clues or details available about Jacob’s disappearance.

Berea Police are investigating. If you have any information that could lead to Jacob’s whereabouts, please contact them at 859-986-8456.

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UPDATE: In March 2020, Jacob's family members reportedly posted on Facebook that Jacob's remains have been found. Over a year later, local police and media reports confirmed that his remains were found in Hart County--not far from where his car was found. A cause of death has yet to be determined. 

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[List Series: Cases with Evidence Found in Unexpected Places]

The Disappearances & Murders of Jewel King, Verdell Jefferson, & Dorothy Butts

 

Pictured from left to right: Jewel King (48), Verdell Jefferson (41), and Dorothy Butts (43)

Jewel, Verdell, and Dorothy were three unrelated individuals living in the Washington, DC area when they disappeared during 2006. Jewel was the first of the three women to vanish. She was last seen alive on April 7th, 2006, on Galveston Street. Jewel's mother reported her missing a few days later. Verdell vanished a few weeks later, on May 1st, 2006--but was not reported missing until August 2006. Dorothy vanished on Christmas Day 2006, after she left home to go to a local store and never returned. She was reported missing later that day.

It is unclear if the three missing women knew each other, and initially there was no indication that their disappearances were related. Their cases quickly went cold. There was very little media coverage on any of the women. 

Over a decade after their disappearances, during April 2018, construction workers began enlarging a crawl space in the basement of an apartment building in Congress Heights. While working on the crawl space, the workers spotted a set of human remains. Police were called, and a search of the surrounding area led to the discovery of two other sets of human remains. 

Investigators eventually identified the first set of remains as Jewel King Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that the other sets of remains belonged to Verdell Jefferson and Dorothy Butts. All three women had been murdered. Jewel and Dorothy had been shot to death, while Verdell had been bludgeoned. Investigators have yet to find a connection between the three women, nor have they announced any suspects. However, the DC police chief stated that he believes the women were all killed by the same person. 

The murders of all three women remain unsolved today. If you have any information that could help solve their cases, please call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411 to submit an anonymous tip. 

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Sources:
DC Witness
Washington Post
WUSA 9

The Murder of Taneke Daniels

 

Taneke Daniels vanished in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during May 2005. Taneke's family was alerted about the 27-year-old's disappearance on May 23rd, 2005, when she did not show up for a scheduled court date. That day, Taneke was due in court to testify against her older boyfriend, Glenn Hansen. Glenn had been abusive to Taneke throughout their entire relationship. She planned to testify on May 23rd about an incident in which Glenn had been her beaten so severely that she needed a cast for her wrist and a brace for her neck. 

Taneke's mother, Gail Daniels, arrived at court that day to support her daughter as she testified. Gail immediately knew something was wrong when the scheduled court date came and went without any sign of Taneke. Gail filed a missing person's report shortly thereafter.

Throughout the investigation, it was determined that Taneke was last seen alive on May 12th, 2005, at Glenn's apartment in Overbrook. She never returned home, nor did she ever contact her family members again. This was highly unusual, as Taneke always kept in touch with her family members, and it was unlike her to abandon her three young children. Glenn was inevitably questioned about Taneke's disappearance, but he denied any knowledge of her whereabouts. 

On April 24th, 2006--nearly a year after Taneke vanished--a hunter spotted a shallow grave in a wooded area in the Brendan. T. Byrne State Forest. 

The location where the remains were found.

Police were called, and it was quickly confirmed that there were human remains inside the shallow grave. A few weeks later, the remains were confirmed to belong to Taneke Daniels. From there, an investigation into her murder began.

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Identifying Taneke.

At first, investigators struggled to identify the human remains. Taneke's family members heard about the discovery of the remains on the news, and immediately began to wonder if they belonged to Taneke. Her sister then contacted authorities, and detectives showed up at the family's home the following day. 

The detectives asked if Taneke had any broken bones or surgeries that might help identify her. Taneke's mother explained that, months before her disappearance, Taneke had broken her ankle and doctors had placed a metal pin in her leg to help it heal. A pin had also been found amongst the human remains.

 After contacting the hospital where Taneke's ankle was treated, it was confirmed that the pin found on the remains belonged to Taneke--which meant the remains belonged to Taneke, as well.  Detectives credit the pin as the key component to identifying Taneke, and believe it would have taken much longer to identify her otherwise. 

The prime suspect.

Taneke's death was classified as a homicide, although investigators struggled to determine an exact cause of death. Glenn Hansen seemed like an obvious suspect: he was an abusive boyfriend and Taneke vanished just days before she was due to testify against him. On top of it all, Glenn was also the last known person to have seen Taneke alive.

Still, Glenn denied involvement in Taneke's disappearance and death, and investigators initially did not have enough evidence to charge him with anything related to her case.

The witness.

Months passed, and investigators continued to try and nail down a murder suspect. Finally, a witness came forward that caused a break in the investigation. Glenn Hansen's sister, Kelly Hansen.

Kelly contacted authorities and said that she knew what happened to Taneke. Kelly explained that Glenn had confided to her that he had killed Taneke to silence her. Glenn had already been to prison in the past for rape and other assault charges. He told Kelly that he feared the charges Taneke had filed against him were going to send him back behind bars, so he killed her before the case could proceed.

Kelly continued to explain to investigators that Glenn admitted that he suffocated Taneke to death with a pillow. He then sexually assaulted her postmortem. Glenn kept Taneke's body in his apartment for days before eventually burying her in the shallow grave at the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. Kelly told authorities that Glenn had previously taken her to his location, which ended up being the exact location where Taneke's remains were later found. 

The slow road to justice.

On November 2nd, 2006, Glenn was arrested and charged with Taneke's murder. He was also charged with abuse of corpse. 

It took years, but he finally went to trial during May 2011. A jury eventually convicted him of the charges. Glenn received an automatic life sentence, and he remains behind bars today. 

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Sources:
CBS News
Inquirer
Websleuths

The Murder of Garrett Burton

Garrett Burton was only 16 years-old when he was shot to death during the early morning hours of August 30th, 2008. Garrett lived in Columbus, Ohio, and he had begun his junior year of high school just days before he was killed. On the Friday afternoon of August 29th, 2008, Garrett was picked up from school by two friends.

The three friends then went to the Hilliard-Rome area to hang out. Garrett's mother Patti Burton expected him to be home by his 11:30 PM curfew, but he never showed up. A short time later, Patti learned her son had been killed.

Like many teens, Garrett was a bit mischievous. However, according to his loved ones, he had never been in any serious trouble before. During the late-night hours of August 29th into the early morning hours of August 30th, Garrett and his two friends were throwing eggs at passing cars in the Hilliard-Rome area. 

At some point, a man got angry about the egging and approached Garrett and his friends with a gun. 

The friends reportedly ran and hid behind a tree, while Garrett remained in plain sight. One of the friends would later tell Garrett's mother and investigators that "he saw Garrett put his hands up and say I did not throw any eggs at your car, but he said I can help you wash it off." 

The man then demanded that Garrett get down on the ground. Garrett began to comply, but before he could get all the way down, the man shot him in the neck. The man then fled the scene before Garrett's friends were able to get a good look at him.

Over a decade has passed since Garrett's death, and his killer has still not been captured. Earlier reports on the case state that Garrett's friends apparently did not even see a vehicle that his killer might have been driving. Since it was dark outside at the time of the shooting, it was difficult to see any distinguishing features on the suspect as well. 

There is a monetary reward for anyone with information that could lead to Garrett's killer. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please go here to submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
10tv, (2)
Ohio Attorney General

The Disappearance of Carlita Yvette Gentry Lohmeier

 

Carlita Yvette Gentry Lohmeier has been missing since November 20th, 2009. The 56-year-old lived in Detroit, Michigan at the time of her disappearance. On the day she vanished, Carlita was at her home with her mother. She needed to grab a few things from the store, so she left her house on foot to walk to a store on Hubbell and Fenkell. The store was located just two blocks from her home, and she told her mother that she would only be gone a few minutes. Unfortunately, Carlita never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again. 

There are very few details available about Carlita's case, but it is not believed that she is missing on her own accord. She reportedly left behind her identification and other personal items. Over a decade has passed without any answers about what happened to Carlita, and many questions remain unanswered.

Nearly 8 years later, another member of Carlita's family went missing. Her cousin, Mia Patterson, vanished at the age of 25 during May 2017.  Mia was last seen alive near the corner of Plymouth Road and Mendota Street in Detroit. Her remains were found a year later, and her murder remains unsolved. A write-up on Mia's case can be found here. 

It is not believed that Carlita's disappearance and Mia's murder are related, but both still remain unsolved. Their family members are hoping to one day see justice for both of them. If you have any information that could lead to Carlita's whereabouts, please call 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Newsbreak
Our Black Girls
Uncovered

The Disappearance and Murder of Lechmani Desroches

 

Lechmani Desroches was only 23 years-old when he vanished on June 23rd, 2017. He was last seen in Orlando, Florida. 

Lechmani's family members were incredibly worried when they realized he was missing. It was unlike him to drop out of sight and stay out of touch. Lechmani was part of a large family with almost 20 half brothers and sisters. He travelled each month from Orlando to Tallahassee, Tennessee to visit one of his older sisters, Marie Desroches. According to Marie, she and Lechmani were the two closest out of all the siblings. 

The investigation into Lechmani's disappearance seemed to go cold quickly. There was very little media coverage about the case. Over a year later, in September 2018, Marie was contacted by Orange County detectives and told that a set of human remains were found in a wooded area off of Marden Road in Apopka. Detectives mentioned there was a possibility that the remains belong to Lechmani, so they asked Marie to provide a DNA sample for comparison. Marie obliged, but still continued to hold out hope that Lechmani would return home safely.

It took months, but the remains were positively identified as that of Lechmani Desroches during April 2019. This news was inevitably devastating for Lechmani's family members. Marie had just given birth to a baby girl and was still in the hospital when she learned the news. Now, she was left with even more questions about what happened to her brother. Detectives made it clear that Lechmani had been murdered, but his exact cause of death was not revealed. No suspects or persons of interest have been named either. 

Lechmani's murder remains unsolved. If you have any information that could lead to Lechmani's killer(s), please call (800) 423-8477 to submit an anonymous tip. 

Fundraiser Friday: February 19, 2021

This week's Fundraiser Friday features cases of two missing women. Both young women vanished under suspicious circumstances, and their devastated family members are left without answers. Please consider donating to these families and sharing their stories!

LaQuanta Riley

LaQuanta Riley vanished at the age of 18 on December 7th, 2003. She was last seen by her family members at their home Montgomery, Alabama.  LaQuanta’s last encounter with her family was very brief; she arrived at the family’s home around 11:30pm to get a jacket, then left immediately after that. During the short amount of time she was inside the house, LaQuanta’s brother noticed that she had been driven there by a person in a dark green car that he did not recognize. When he asked her who the driver of the car was, LaQuanta simply replied that the driver was her friend. After retrieving her jacket, LaQuanta returned to the dark green car and was driven away. She never returned home after that.

LaQuanta's family members have spent nearly two decades searching for her. Over the years, the investigative fees plus everyday life bills began to add up and place financial strain upon the family. They have since begun the Riley Relief Fund, which you can donate to via Facebook. [fundraiser link] [more info on this case]

Paige Coffey

Paige Coffey has been missing since May 7th, 2019. The 27 year-old was reportedly last seen at the Steelyard Commons shopping center in Cleveland, Ohio. She has never been seen or heard from again.  There are not many details available about the day of Paige's disappearance, but her case is considered suspicious. It is unlike Paige to not contact her family, and her loved ones have been worried for her safety since the day she vanished. Paige's mother is hoping to hire a private investigator to help find answers about what happened to her daughter. [fundraiser link] [more info on this case]

The Murder of Tawana McGowan

 

Tawana McGowan (30) was tragically murdered outside of her Redford, Michigan home on January 11th, 2010. Her killer still remains at large. 

On the morning of her untimely death, Tawana was returning home after working an overnight shift. She arrived at her residence around 8:30am, and was planning to take her 10-year-old son to school. Before Tawana could even enter her home, she was approached by an unknown assailant who shot her twice in the head. Her son found her body lying face down in the snow shortly thereafter. The killer(s) had already fled the scene in a vehicle. 

Once police began investigating, they noted that Tawana's murder "did not appear to be random." It was immediately believed that she was targeted by someone she knew. Tawana's husband was investigated and cleared. In March 2010, it was reported that Tawana's ex/her son's biological father is a person of interest. However, years have passed, and no arrests have been made.

While in high school, Tawana was best friends with the late R&B artist Aaliyah. Over the years, fans of Aaliyah have shared Tawana's story and bring more attention to her murder investigation. Tawana's family members believe that police have not investigated the case thoroughly. Media coverage about her murder has been scarce as well. 

Tawana's son has started a petition in hopes of bringing more attention to his mother's case. If you'd like to sign the petition, you can do so here.  If you have any information that could lead to Tawana's killer, please call (313) 387-2500 to submit an anonymous tip.

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Sources:
Change.org
M Live

The Disappearance and Murder of Alexis Murphy

Alexis Murphy (17) vanished on August 3rd, 2013. That day, Alexis left her family’s home in Nelson County, Virginia, to head to Lynchburg for a hair appointment she had planned in preparation for her upcoming senior portraits. She never returned home, and her loved ones never saw her again.

 

In 2013, Alexis was an avid social media user with a decent following for a young teen from a small town in Virginia. She posted several tweets throughout the day on the 3rd. At 5:04pm, Alexis tweeted “burg bound !” to indicate she was headed to her hair appointment. Her final tweet was posted at 5:40 PM, presumably before her appointment began.

Alexis was seen for the last time that evening at 7:15 PM at a gas station in Lovingston, Virginia. The image posted below was captured from CCTV footage at the gas station. She disappeared shortly after this footage was captured. Her family reported her missing later that evening when she did not return home. The FBI joined the case two days later.

source: Blue Ridge Life

On August 11th, 2013, 48-year-old Randy Allen Taylor was arrested on kidnapping charges in Alexis’ case. Investigators were led to Taylor after they found that he, too, was at that gas station in Lovingston on the evening of August 3rd. In fact, surveillance footage shows Taylor opening the door to the gas station convenience store and Alexis walking in.

The footage shows that the two did not speak and it did not appear that they knew each other at the time of this interaction. Additionally, investigators found that Alexis’ final cell phone pings were located close to Taylor’s camper located off US 29 near Lovingston.

Initial evidence.

When investigators first questioned Taylor on August 5th, he denied knowing Alexis and claimed he was elsewhere on the night of the 3rd; the footage from the gas station must’ve simply been mis-marked.

Alexis just seconds after Taylor held the door for her. (source: Blue Ridge Life)

The next day, on August 6th, Alexis’ car was found parked in a movie theater in Charlottesville. Surveillance footage shows the car arriving there around 10:00 PM on August 4th, but the images are too dark to make out the driver. However, witnesses said they saw Taylor at a nearby Applebee’s that night. Several people apparently observed him looking for a cab for a ride home.

When investigators searched Taylor’s camper several days later, they found the t-shirt Taylor was seen wearing in the surveillance video stuffed under the couch. It was covered in bloodstains, and had long, dark hair extensions and artificial eye lashes wrapped up inside it. DNA tests later proved that the blood belonged to Alexis.

A changed story.

After being presented with this information, Taylor changed his story. While in custody, Taylor admitted that he did meet Alexis at the gas station on the night of August 3rd and that he invited Alexis to come to his camper to smoke marijuana. Taylor claims Alexis accepted this invitation, but when she showed up, she was not alone. 

According to Taylor, Alexis was accompanied by a “black male friend named Damien Bradley,” and that the two left his camper in separate cars around 9:00 PM that night. Investigators did not buy Taylor’s story, citing that they had found evidence that a “violent struggle” had occurred between Alexis and Taylor inside Taylor’s camper.

Despite Alexis’ body not being found, prosecutors charged Taylor with her murder on January 6th, 2014. He pleaded not guilty to both the kidnapping and murder charges. 

Trial and sentencing.

Randy Allen Taylor's trial began on May 1st, 2014. Just a little over a week later on May 8th, Taylor was found guilty of murder in the commission of an abduction and abduction with intent to defile by a Nelson County jury. He was sentenced to two life-terms.

At the time of his conviction and sentencing, Taylor continued to deny his guilt and he did not reveal the location of Alexis' body.

Alexis is found.

Years after Taylor's conviction, in February 2021, a crucial announcement was made: Alexis' remains had been found. 

On December 3rd, 2020, human remains were found on a private property along Route 29 in Lovingston, Virginia. In February 2021, the remains were confirmed to belong to Alexis Murphy. The discovery of Alexis' remains finally provided her loved ones with an opportunity to lay her to rest. 

Taylor's status.

Taylor remains incarcerated today. He also remains the main person of interest in the 2010 disappearance of Samantha Clarke. A write-up on her case can be found here. 

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Sources:
ABC 13 News
Richmond Times-Dispatch
WTOP

The Disappearance of Eugene Wekesa

Eugene Wekesa has been missing since November 24th, 2010. 

Eugene was 22 years-old at the time of his disappearance, and he lived with his mother in Bellevue, Washington. He was a student at Bellevue College and was very dedicated to school. According to his mother, Eugene spent the morning of November 24th studying. It was the day before Thanksgiving, so while Eugene studied, his mother went grocery shopping at Safeway in preparation for their Thanksgiving meal. When his mother returned from shopping, Eugene was still studying. However, once his mother realized she had forgotten to get a few things, Eugene offered to go back to Safeway to get them. Surveillance cameras captured Eugene both entering and exiting the store by himself. 

(source)

Eugene then returned to his home, but quickly realized that he, too, had forgotten an item. Instead of going back to the grocery store, he opted to walk to the Crossroads Mall shopping center-which is located near his residence. Eugene never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Although Eugene left the house to go buy something, he left his wallet behind. He also left behind his keys and cell phone. Once Eugene was reported missing, investigators pulled surveillance footage from both the Safeway he had visited earlier that day and from the Crossroads Mall shopping center. The Safeway footage did not yield any clues about his disappearance. The footage from the Crossroads Mall never captured Eugene entering or exiting the shopping center. It appears that he never actually made it there. 

Eugene's disappearance is considered suspicious. According to both his loved ones, Eugene spent most of his time studying and did not socialize often. It does not appear that he planned to meet up with anyone on the day he vanished. In 2014, investigators stated that "there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate foul play," but they still consider Eugene's disappearance to be suspicious. There have been no known sightings of him, and his social security, bank accounts, and social media accounts have remained inactive since he vanished. 

Eugene remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to his whereabouts, please call 1-800-222-TIPS to submit an anonymous tip. 

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Sources:

Fox 13

Seattle Times

The Murder of Taymir Germany

Taymir Germany was only 17 years-old when he was tragically murdered on October 29th, 2016. The teen lived with his family in Wilmington, Delaware, and he was a senior in high school at the time of his death. Taymir was well-liked in the community and was not known to cause trouble. This makes Taymir's death all the more baffling, and a motive for his murder remains unknown. 

On the weekend of his death, Taymir traveled to Chester, Pennsylvania to visit friends. Investigators have not revealed the identities of the people Taymir visited, and it is unclear if they are considered suspects in the case. It was also noted that some of Taymir's relatives live in Chester-but they live on the side of town opposite from where Taymir was found. It is unknown if Taymir saw those relatives while visiting Chester.

What is known is that Taymir's body was found on the evening of October 29th. Reports state that someone walking through the woods stumbled upon Taymir's body near 11th and Palmer in Chester. He had been shot in the torso and left alone to die. 

Taymir did not have any identification on him when he was found, so it took a few days for his body to be identified. Once it was confirmed that the body was Taymir, his family members were left with more questions than answers. His mother stated that "[Taymir] was in the car with some guys, led to that area, taken through the woods, and assassinated." However, another report states that Taymir was shot while riding in the car, and then his body was placed in the woods after the fact. Investigators have not confirmed either version of events. 

Taymir's murder remains unsolved. If you have any information that could lead to his killer(s), please contact authorities in Chester at 610-447-7908, or authorities in Delaware County at 610-891-4700.

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Sources:
ABC 6 Philadelphia
WMDT

The Disappearance of Nigel Jay

Nigel Jay has been missing since April 7th, 2013. The 34-year-old man lived in Hayward, California at the time of his disappearance. Nigel also spent a lot of time in the Alameda/Oakland area. He worked as a chef at a restaurant in Alameda and also as a cook at a homeless shelter in downtown Oakland.

Nigel did not own a vehicle, but on the weekend of his disappearance, he rented a car so he could drive his father to and from his medical appointments. On the evening of he vanished, Nigel was supposed to deliver medicine to his father before returning the rental car to the Hertz rental lot at Oakland airport. He never completed either task, nor did he return home. Nigel has never been seen or heard from again.

Nigel's girlfriend and family members spent the following days trying to locate him before they finally reported him missing on April 10th, 2013. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that Nigel was last seen around 9pm on April 7th. He went to the 1900 block of Broadway Street in Oakland to bring keys to his friend. Nigel seemingly vanished after that. His cell phone and bank accounts have not been accessed since that evening.

A few days later, the rental car Nigel was driving was found abandoned near 98th Avenue in Oakland. The car was unlocked and appeared to be in good shape. There was no sign of a struggle in or around the car, and no sign of Nigel, either. 

Investigators describe Nigel's disappearance as suspicious. No persons of interests or suspects have been publicly named. Nigel's loved ones are continuing to fight for justice. If you have any information that could lead to Nigel's whereabouts, please call 510-293-7195.

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Sources:
Charley Project
East Bay Times
Uncovered

Fundraiser Friday: Petition Edition (Feb. 12, 2021)

In continuance with the honoring of Black History Month, this week's Fundraiser Friday includes 3 cases of missing young black girls. This particular week will include petitions instead of fundraisers. Please share these stories and please consider signing! It will cost nothing and it will help the families of these young girls move forward with their investigations.

Relisha Rudd

Relisha Rudd was only 8 years-old when she vanished in Washington, DC during March 2014. Prior to her disappearance, Relisha and her mother lived at a homeless shelter in the city. While living there, Relisha and her mother became acquainted with a janitor named Khalil Tatum. Khalil gained their trust, and eventually Relisha's mother trusted him enough to allow Relisha to stay overnight with him at his grandmother's house where he lived. 

Relisha was last seen in the company of Khalil. She had stopped attending school at this point, and was eventually reported missing by the school staff on March 19th, 2014. A search began for both Relisha and Khalil. Throughout the search, authorities discovered Khalil's wife--Andrea Tatum--dead from a gunshot wound to the head. To this day, Khalil is the only suspect in her murder. Then, on March 31st, 2014, authorities discovered Khalil's body as well. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Relisha remains missing today. Although the person responsible for her disappearance has died, it is possible that someone else out there knows what might have happened to her. Her family has started a petition for the mayor of DC to raise the reward money in Relisha's case. They are hoping this will motivate someone who might have information about her whereabouts to come forward. [sign the petition] [more information about this case]

Kierra Coles

Kierra Coles was three months pregnant when she vanished on October 3rd, 2018. The 27 year-old woman was last seen near 82nd Street and Vernon Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Kierra was reported missing by her mother after days passed without any contact from her. Police conducted a welfare check at her apartment, but found no sign of her. Kierra’s car was still parked outside of the apartment, and her cell phone, wallet, and packed lunch were found inside the vehicle. Police immediately began to believe that foul play was responsible for Kierra's disappearance, and they even identified a few persons of interest. However, the case has now seemingly gone stagnant.

Kierra's family members believe that police have not adequately investigated her disappearance. They have began a petition for the Chicago Police Department to conduct a more thorough investigation. [sign the petition] [more information about this case]

Jamekia Sabb

Jamekia Sabb vanished at the age of 17 on November 22nd, 2013. It is believed that Jamekia left her family's Charlotte, North Carolina home on her own accord. She was labeled as a runaway by investigators, and all search efforts for the young girl were minimal at best. Additionally, there has been very little information about Jamekia's case in the media. Jamekia's loved ones initially had hope that she would return home safely. However, as the months turned into years without any sign of her, Jamekia's loved ones began to believe that she might have come to harm. 

Jamekia's loved ones have began a petition for Jamekia's case to be more thoroughly investigated. [sign the petition] [more info on this case]

The Disappearance and Presumed Homicide of Jerome Johnson

Jerome Johnson has been missing since March 30th, 2016. The 58 year-old was last seen in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lived in the 1300 block of West 22nd Street. Jerome had only lived there for a few months at the time of his disappearance. He was discovered to be missing on April 1st, 2016, when his landlady went to his home to collect his rent. The landlady had unsuccessfully attempted to contact Jerome numerous times before she decided to enter his apartment. Upon entering, she stumbled upon a frightening scene: there was blood all over Jerome's bedroom, and Jerome himself was nowhere to be found. 

The landlady called police, and investigators arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Once the scene was investigated, it was determined that the amount of blood found in Jerome's bedroom was enough to indicate that a homicide had occurred. However, Jerome himself has not been located, nor have any suspects been identified. Police have revealed very little information about the investigation. 

In July 2019, human remains were found in a wooded area off Utsey Road--located just 8 miles away from Jerome's residence. This inevitably lead to speculation that the remains might belong to Jerome. The remains were ultimately identified as that of Corbin Johnson--an 18 year-old who had vanished a year earlier. Corbin is also believed to be a victim of murder. A write up on his case can be found here. 

It's unknown if investigators believe that Jerome and Corbin's cases are related, but they did occur within close proximity of each other, and both cases remain unsolved. Jerome remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to his whereabouts, please submit an anonymous tip.

The Murder of Keira Banks

 

On the evening of November 16th, 2007, the Seminole County Sheriff's office received a call about a possible shooting on Stefanik Road in Winter Park, Florida. When officers arrived on the scene, they found 24-year-old Keira Banks lying unconscious in the doorway of her home. Her 2-year-old daughter was found unharmed inside the home. Keira was transported a local hospital, where she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries two days later on November 18th, 2007. 

Investigators later revealed that Keira was shot to death. When police interviewed various neighbors, they were told that the shooting likely occurred around 10:20 PM. Shortly thereafter, witnesses saw "three or four black males fleeing from the victim's' home in a blue or green Crown Victoria or Grand Marquis." 

There are very few details available about the investigation into Keira's murder. The case remains unsolved, and no suspects have been publicly named. Keira's family members are still hoping to one day see justice for Keira. If you have any information that could lead to Keira's killer(s), please call 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) to submit an anonymous tip. 

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Sources:
The Criminal Journal
Seminole Sheriff's Department

The Disappearance of Kamesha Williams

 

Kamesha Williams has been missing since August 9th, 2009. She was 24 years-old at the time of her disappearance, and she was raising two young children. Kamesha was last seen riding her bike away her friend's house in Byhalia, Mississippi. She never made it home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Kamesha left her friend's residence around 11:00 AM. Approximately 12 hours later, her cell phone was used to call a male acquaintance. The acquaintance was in the Memphis, Tennessee area at the time. Kamesha's phone pinged off of a tower near the Mississippi/Tennessee state line when the call was made. It's unclear if Kamesha herself was the one to actually make the call, or if somebody else had possession of her phone. The phone has not been used again.

Kamesha remains missing today, and her case has unfortunately gone cold. There are very few details available about the investigation. The Marshall County Sheriff's Office is in charge of her case. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please call 662-252-1311.

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Sources:
Charley Project

MissingSippi

The Murder of Jessica Wilson

Jessica Wilson was only 20 years-old when she was shot to death during the early morning hours of November 27th, 2016. She was in Trotwood, Ohio at the time, and she was killed while riding in a car on Salem Avenue. The car was headed south on the 5200 block when another car began shooting. Jessica was struck by the gunfire before the shooter's vehicle fled the scene. Shortly thereafter, Jessica was transported to Grandview Hospital, where she later died. 

Investigators do not believe that Jessica was the intended target of the shooting. The identities of the other people in the car with Jessica have not been publicly identified. There's also very little information about the shooter's vehicle or any other description of the suspect(s). A short time after the shooting, an Ohio State Patrol trooper attempted to stop a vehicle on a traffic violation. The car took off but was stopped by spike strips. The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot and were never apprehended. It was initially reported that investigators were unsure if this was the shooter's vehicle, and it is unclear if they were ever able to link the two events. Very few other updates on Jessica's case have been provided. 

Jessica's murder case is quite similar to the murder of Destiny Mills. Destiny was also a 20 year-old woman who was shot to death in Trotwood during March 2015. Also like Jessica's case, it is not believed that Destiny was the intended target when she was killed. A more detailed write-up on Destiny's case can be found here.  

Jessica's murder remains unsolved. If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, please call 937-222-STOP(7867) to submit an anonymous tip. 

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The Disappearance of Arianna "Peaches" Davis

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Arianna "Peaches" Davis has been missing since April 30th, 2010. The then-21 year old lived with her parents in Henrico, Virginia at the time of her disappearance. Before vanishing. Arianna was known in her community as a happy-go-lucky and responsible young woman. During the spring of 2010, she was due to graduate from a massage therapy program she had been enrolled in at Fortis College. In fact, Arianna was just six weeks away from her graduation when she vanished. 

Arianna was last seen after leaving a J Express Mart located just 3 blocks away from her family's home. She bought a Black & Mild cigar from the store around 1:30pm. According to the clerk, who frequently saw Arianna at the store, there was nothing unusual about the way she was behaving when she left. She was spotted one final time walking back towards her residence. Some reports state that Arianna also was seen with a man at this time. Either way, Arianna never made it home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Arianna's family members immediately began to worry when she did not return home. She had never even spent a night away from home before she went missing. Arianna also would always communicate with her family if she was going to be away from home for longer than an hour. After Arianna was reported missing, investigators labeled her disappearance as suspicious. 

The man that Arianna was allegedly last seen with has never been identified to the public, but investigators are well aware of his identity. Said man is currently incarcerated for stabbing another woman. However, he has not been charged with anything related to Arianna's case. Investigators have made it clear that they believe foul play was involved in her disappearance, but no suspects have been publicly named. 

Arianna remains missing today. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to her whereabouts. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please call 1-804-780-1000 to submit an anonymous tip. 
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Sources:
Charley Project
NBC 12

OBG

WTVR