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D.C. police: Missing 8-year-old girl may be dead D.C. police: Missing 8-year-old girl may be dead
(about 1 hour later)
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Thursday that police authorities “cannot ignore” that a missing 8-year-old girl, gone for nearly a month, might have been killed by a man entrusted to care for her.D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Thursday that police authorities “cannot ignore” that a missing 8-year-old girl, gone for nearly a month, might have been killed by a man entrusted to care for her.
Relisha Rudd was last seen in the care of Kahlil Tatum, a janitor at the homeless shelter where she lived with her mother. Lanier also said police have not given up hope that Rudd is alive, adding: “we cannot ignore the possibility that he may have killed her.” Relisha Rudd was last seen in the care of Kahlil Tatum, a janitor at the homeless shelter where she lived with her mother. Lanier also said police have not given up hope that Relisha is alive, adding: “we cannot ignore the possibility that he may have killed her.”
At an afternoon news conference Lanier said Rudd was seen in the care of Tatum on March 1, six days earlier than school officials have previously acknowledged. Lanier also said that on March 2, the day after Rudd’s last sighting, Tatum bought black garbage bags in D.C. Lanier then characterized the search for Relisha as a "recovery operation." At an afternoon news conference Lanier said Relisha was seen in the care of Tatum on March 1, six days earlier than school officials have previously acknowledged. Lanier also said that on March 2, the day after Relisha’s last sighting, Tatum bought black garbage bags in D.C. Lanier then characterized the search for Relisha as a "recovery operation."
Earlier in the day, D.C. police searched a Northeast Washington park on Thursday morning in another attempt to find Rudd who authorities say disappeared with Tatum from the homeless shelter where she lived with her mother and three brothers.Earlier in the day, D.C. police searched a Northeast Washington park on Thursday morning in another attempt to find Rudd who authorities say disappeared with Tatum from the homeless shelter where she lived with her mother and three brothers.
Two police officials confirmed the search but would not say what led them to the park near the Kenilworth neighborhood adjacent to the Anacostia River and along I-295. It’s roughly four miles from the old D.C. General Hospital that is being used as the homeless shelter where the missing girl, Relisha Rudd, had been living.Two police officials confirmed the search but would not say what led them to the park near the Kenilworth neighborhood adjacent to the Anacostia River and along I-295. It’s roughly four miles from the old D.C. General Hospital that is being used as the homeless shelter where the missing girl, Relisha Rudd, had been living.
A large police presence could be seen in the woods along the 1500 block of Anacostia Avenue NE, near a housing development. Police with dogs were combing the area, and had blocked off a section of the woods. Police are coordinating the search out of the Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center.A large police presence could be seen in the woods along the 1500 block of Anacostia Avenue NE, near a housing development. Police with dogs were combing the area, and had blocked off a section of the woods. Police are coordinating the search out of the Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center.
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Timeline: The disappearance of Relisha RuddTimeline: The disappearance of Relisha Rudd
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Police have been searching for Relisha and the janitor, 51-year-old Kahlil Malik Tatum, since March 19, when a social worker with D.C. Child and Family Services began making inquires because of the girl’s many absences from Payne Elementary School.Police have been searching for Relisha and the janitor, 51-year-old Kahlil Malik Tatum, since March 19, when a social worker with D.C. Child and Family Services began making inquires because of the girl’s many absences from Payne Elementary School.
But Relisha had been with Tatum far longer. The girl’s mother, Shamika Young, said she allowed Relisha to go home with Tatum on Feb. 26, a day of her fifth unexcused absence. Relisha’s last full day in class was March 5, though she was seen in the school on March 7. 7.
Police say Tatum went on the run March 19, when the social worker showed up at the shelter asking for him. Later that day, Tatum’s wife, Andrea Tatum, was found dead in a motel room in Oxon Hill. Two vehicles associated with Tatum were found abandoned in the parking lot.
Police and the FBI have posted pictures of Tatum and Relisha up and down the East Coast and issued a $40,000 reward for Relisha’s return and a $25,000 reward for information leading to Tatum in connection with his wife’s death. Tatum is charged in a warrant with shooting her in the head.Police and the FBI have posted pictures of Tatum and Relisha up and down the East Coast and issued a $40,000 reward for Relisha’s return and a $25,000 reward for information leading to Tatum in connection with his wife’s death. Tatum is charged in a warrant with shooting her in the head.
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