8 Year Old Relisha Rudd Missing Since 2/26/14 in Washington, DC … Amber Alert Issued (Update: 51 Year Old Kahlil Malik Tatum Wanted in Andrea Denise Tatum’s Murder)(Update: DC Police: “We cannot ignore the possibility that he may have killed her.”)(Update: Dive Teams Search Waters of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens)
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An AMBER ALERT was issued for Relisha Rudd on March 8, 2014; however, 8 year old Relisha Rudd has been missing since February 26, 2014 in Washington, DC. She was last seen Feb. 26 at the D.C. Shelter for Families on the grounds of the old D.C. General Hospital in Southeast. Relisha is believed to be in the company of Kahlil Tatum, who works as a janitor at the shelter. According to the Relisha’s mother’s fiance, Antonio Wheeler, the mom gave permission to Khalil Tatum, a janitor at the shelter, to take her daughter. Relisha had been missing since late February, but here disappearance was only brought to the attention of police on Wednesday when officials with D.C. Public Schools realized she hadn’t been showing up for class. Better late than never, I guess. Relisha is described as a black female, standing 4 feet tall and weighing between 70 and 80 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a medium complexion.
Police were searching a homeless shelter next to a Washington, D.C., jail Thursday after missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd’s mother was taken away.
The mother’s fiance said the woman gave permission to Khalil Tatum, a janitor at the shelter, to take her daughter.
“She said she is at Mr. Tatum’s house she’s good,” said Antonio Wheeler, fiance. “I seen Mr. Tatum today and he said he would bring my daughter back.”
Wheeler said he asked Tatum again later.
“I asked him, he said, ‘She is my house… would bring her back when I get off work today,’” Wheeler said.
That never happened, Wheeler said.
Authorities released surveillance footage of Tatum and Relisha taken on Feb. 26 at the Holiday Inn Express located at 1917 Bladensburg Road in Northeast D.C.
The search for Kahlil Tatum led to the Red Roof Inn in Oxon Hill. Upon further room to room searches at the hotel, the body of 51 year old Andrea Denise Tatum, the wife of Kahlil Malik Tatum, was found dead. An arrest warrant has been issued for Kahil Tatum for the murder of his wife. The police believe Relisha Rudd is traveling with Kahlil Tatum, who may be armed and dangerous, either on foot or in a different vehicle.
Since Relisha Rudd has disappeared and the events that followed, according to Shamika Young, the mother of missing Relisha, DC Child and Family Services have taken custody of her other children three children, ages 7, 5 and 4.
Left to Right, Relisha Rudd, Kahlil Tatum. (Metropolitan Police Department)
A man has been charged with killing his wife and may be traveling with an 8-year-old D.C. girl who has been missing for more than three weeks, authorities said.
Prince George’s County Police have obtained an arrest warrant charging Kahlil Malik Tatum, 51, of Southeast Washington with murder in the death of his wife, Andrea Denise Tatum, the police department said in a news release.
The body of Andrea Tatum, 51, was found Thursday in a motel room in Oxon Hill, where Prince George’s County officers had gone to assist the Metropolitan Police Department in its search for Relisha Tenau Rudd, who was reporting missing earlier in the week.
UPDATE I: Truck linked to missing Relisha Rudd found in Maryland. (VIDEO)
Police say a truck sought as part of the search for a Washington, D.C., girl has been found in Maryland, but police are still looking for the girl.
Prince George’s County Police said Friday that the unoccupied truck described in an Amber Alert seeking 8-year-old Relisha Rudd was found parked in Chapel Oaks.
UPDATE II: Search for missing Relisha Rudd intensifies to area of area of Kenilworth Park. … Kahlil Malik Tatum May Have Killed Relisha Rudd.
“We’re not making any assumptions, but I think it’d be prudent for us at this time to make sure we’ve searched – and this is a very large area – searched this area very well,” said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. “We cannot ignore the possibility that he may have killed her.”
The search of the aquatic gardens area of Kenilworth Park was prompted by evidence the man, identified as Kahlil Malik Tatum, 51, spent time there after the last credible sighting of Relisha Tenau Rudd, 8, on March 1.
“On March 2, we know that Mr. Tatum purchased, among other items, a carton of black, 42 gallon, self-tie contractor trash bags within the District of Columbia,” Lanier said at a news conference near the search area. “Not long after that purchase, Mr. Tatum was in the area of the aquatic gardens for a period of time.”
UPDATE III: Dive Teams Search the Waters of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
D.C. police spokesman Hugh Carew said dive teams were searching the Anacostia River in the 700-acre park in Northeast Washington, DC.
The search for missing 8-year-old girl Relisha Rudd resumed Saturday, with dive teams continuing to sift through the waters of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for possible remains.
The search for Relisha, last seen alive on March 1, enters day three at the heavily wooded park in Northeast Washington.
It began with a foot search Thursday, after authorities discovered Kahlil Malik Tatum, the man suspected of abducting Relisha, spent more than two hours in that area shortly after purchasing a number of 42-gallon contractor style garbage bags, a shovel and lime on March 2.
Police ask anyone with information on Relisha’s whereabouts to call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099, the Youth Investigations Division at 202-576-6768, or 911.
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