DC DC - Relisha Tenau Rudd, 8, SE DC, 26 Feb 2014 *Media Links*

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Originally Posted by popsicle
Nikki Burdine ‏@NikkiBurdine 6m
At 11-Reaction from #RelishaRudd's family as they heard the news about Khalil Tatum's death. Plus more from a walk/vigil for Relisha. @wusa9

NBCWashington ‏@nbcwashington 7m
Body of man wanted in #RelishaRudd disappearance found in DC park. Watch #News4at11 for latest: http://bit.ly/1fIy09B


NBC Washington embedded video segment by @ErikaGonzalez (from vigil) from the linked article posted by popsicle on the main thread:

Man Wanted in Relisha Rudd's Disappearance Found Dead
The body of a man who appeared to have committed suicide at a D.C. park has been tentatively identified as Kahlil Tatum.
By Jackie Benson, Erika Gonzalez | 2 hours ago

http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/news/local/Man-Wanted-in-Relisha-Rudds-Disappearance-Found-Dead/253308541

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Relisha-Rudd-Kahlil-Tatum-Dive-Teams-Searching-Ponds-in-NE-DC-Park-for-Missing-Girl-253102701.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DCBrand
 
Body found in park appears to be that of alleged abductor of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd

But Lanier said investigators believe the dead man is Tatum, and that he killed himself. Two police officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is pending, said distinctive tattoos on the man’s body helped lead to the early identification.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html?wpisrc=al_crime

Video and photo gallery also at link^
 
Embedded video report

AMBER Alert: Family gathers at vigil for missing DC girl
Nikki Burdine, WUSA
March 31, 2014

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Family and friends of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd were gathering to pass out flyers and pray for her safe return as the news broke Monday afternoon.

"Right now I'm feeling shocked and hurt because I want to know where my granddaughter is," says George Turner, Relisha's grandfather.

Relisha's grandparents and great grandmother faced mixed emotions as they heard the news that the man who was last seen with Relisha was found dead. "It's bad news because we don't know who where she is or who has her," says Mary Young, Relisha's great-grandmother. "It's a good thing one way and it's a bad thing another way," says George. "It leaves a whole lot of unanswered questions."

"It means a lot to see all these people," says George. But the dark reality that Relisha is still missing, doesn't escape them for long. "I just want my sweet pea back home," says Young.

As family members marched arm-in-arm, their community behind them through the streets of Southeast. D.C., they begged for answers. "She's somewhere out there and if anybody knows where she's at they would find it in their heart and come forward," says Young.

Organizers of the vigil, Manpower DC, say they plan to have another vigil this coming Sunday at 4:00. A location has not been announced.

http://t.co/samMu3Lnxw
 
Brother of Missing Pamela Butler Aids Search for Relisha Rudd
By Jackie Bensen | Tuesday, Apr 1, 2014 | Updated 9:19 PM EDT


A man whose sister disappeared five years ago is among the volunteers searching for missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd.

Pamela Butler was last seen Feb. 12, 2009. Her brother Derrick Butler helped comb the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for signs of Relisha Monday.


Embedded video segment & interview with Derrick Butler (BAMF):

http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/news/local/Brother-of-Missing-D.C.-Woman-Helps-Search-for-Relisha-Rudd/253471991




much more @ link:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Brother-of-Missing-Pamela-Butler-Aids-Search-for-Relisha-Rudd-253469201.html
 
via twitter
@wusa9
#CommunityAlert
#RelishaRudd

#RelishaRudd is still missing. Please continue to RT to help bring this little girl home. http://t.co/e86DDdhz0t

tusa6ehy.jpg


http://twitter.com/wusa9/status/452123022736896000



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Before Relisha Rudd went missing, the 8-year-old longed to escape D.C.’s homeless shelter
The signs of a child struggling were there: A cheerleading coach at times helped her wash up in a restroom at school, where clean clothes were kept on hand for her. Social workers responded to at least three reports of abuse or neglect within the family, with police called at least twice. Shelter volunteers noticed a little girl who was eager to participate in two after-school programs but who often wasn’t there. And family members were aware that the girl who dressed as a princess for Halloween was being swapped among them and that, in recent months, a new person had joined her rotation of caregivers: Kahlil Tatum, a 51-year-old shelter custodian who took her for sleepovers at his house and on outings to the movies and the mall. Then simply took her.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...1a020a-bc19-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html
 
Some of these articles are no longer on-line or have been updated and do not contain original material.


Posted: March 20 2014 (not time stamp)
Relish Rudd: Amber Alert for 8 year old missing from Prince George County
Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/rel...-8-year-old-missing-from-prince-george-county

Posted: March 20, 2014 05:57 am
Relisha Tenau Rudd missing in Southeast D.C.
Source: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/03/relisha-tenau-rudd-missing-in-southeast-d-c--101337.html

Posted Updated: Thursday Mar 20, 2014 10:31 PM EDT
Amber Alert issued for missing 8-year-old DC girl Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/250249...g-8-year-old-relisha-tenau-rudd#axzz2wdX66v5h

Posted Updated: March 20, 2014 12:58 pm
DC Amber Alert: Relisha Renau Rudd Missing, May be With Rickie Lyles, Kahliil Tatum
[Original Post March 20, 2014 ]
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/572...ssing-may-be-with-rickie-lyles-kahliil-tatum/

Posted Updated: Thursday Mar 20, 2014 2:46 PM EDT
D.C. AMBER ALERT: 8-Year-Old Relisha Rudd Missing
[Original Post, March 20, 2014 1:57 PM EST]
Source: http://www.wric.com/story/25029641/dc-amber-alert-8-year-old-relisha-rudd-missing

Posted March 21 2014 (no time stamp)
Warrant issued in woman’s death for man sought in Amber Alert case
[in original story and removed sometime later. ]
Shamika Young, Relisha’s mother, told Belinda Wheeler and other family members that her daughter was “fine” and that there was no cause to be worried.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...0f1-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html?hpid=z2

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 (no time stamp)
Man linked to missing girl charged in wife’s death
Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/21/police-truck-linked-to-missing-girl-found/

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 (no time stamp)
Anyone with information about the homicide
Source: http://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2014/03/pgpd-charges-khalil-tatum-person-of.htm
[no longer on-line]

Posted March 21 2014 (no time stamp)
Amber Alert out for DC girl, 8, allegedly given to homeless shelter janitor by mom
Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=9474794

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 (no time stamp)
The Prince George's County Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant
Source: http://pgpolice.blogspot.ca/
[no longer on-line]

Posted Updated: Friday, March 21, 6:22 AM
D.C. police find truck, continue search for missing 8-year-old girl
[Original Posted: March 20 2014]
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html?tid=pm_pop

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014, 7:56 AM
Wife of man wanted for missing Maryland girl, 8, found dead in hotel: report
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/cri...and-girl-8-found-dead-hotel-article-1.1729067

Posted updated: Thursday, March 21, 2014 09:51am
AMBER Alert: Missing 8-year-old DC girl could be in RVA
[Original Post: March 20, 2014, 1:14 pm]
Source: http://wtvr.com/2014/03/20/relisha-tenau-rudd-amber-alert-1/

Post UPDATED: March 21, 2014 10:12 a.m.
WASHINGTON (WNEW) — Police have recovered a white truck
[original post March 20, 2014 5:54 AM]
Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014...for-8-year-old-girl-missing-in-southeast-d-c/

Posted: UPDATED: March 21, 2014 10:12 a.m.
Truck Found, Missing Girl And Suspected Abductor Remain At Large
Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014...for-8-year-old-girl-missing-in-southeast-d-c/

Posted: Friday - 3/21/2014, 12:44pm ET
Search for missing 8-year-old expands
Source: http://www.wtop.com/109/3586498/DC-police-seek-missing-girl-8
[No longer on-line]

Posted: March 21, 2014 1:18 p.m. EDT
Video Clip & News Article WUSA-TV, Washington
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/21/8-year-old-girl-missing/6691397/

Posted: Updated Friday, March 21 2014 5:25 PM EDT
Truck in Amber Alert Found in Md.; Search for 8-Year-Old Relisha Tenau Rudd Continues
[Original Post: Mar 21, 2014 ]
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...d-Reported-Missing-From-SE-DC--251168541.html
[This article no longer in full on-line replaced with Monday March 24 2014 4:445pm.]

Posted: Monday, Mar 24, 2014 Updated 4:45 PM EDT
Man Possibly With Missing Girl Wanted for Wife's Murder
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...d-Reported-Missing-From-SE-DC--251168541.html

Posted: March 21, 2014, 5:50 pm
Truck in Amber Alert Found in Md.
Source: http://www.csnwashington.com/article/truck-amber-alert-found-md

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 Updated 5:51 PM EDT
D.C. Child and Family Services Had Contact With Missing Girl's Family
[Original Post Mar 21, 2014 ]
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...sing-Girls-Relisha-Rudd-Family-251521641.html

Posted: March 21, 2014 6:00pm EDT
Truck in Amber Alert Found in Md.; Search for 8-Year-Old Relisha Tenau Rudd Continues
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/...ar-Old-Relisha-Tenau-Rudd-Continues/251567981
[no longer on-line]

Posted: March 22, 2014 12:51 a.m. EDT
AMBER ALERT: DC Girl Missing; abductor charged in murder
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/03/20/8-year-old-girl-missing-southeast-dc/6642457/

Posted: UPDATED: March 23, 2014 5:29 p.m.
WASHINGTON (WNEW) – A man has been charged with killing his wife
Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014...for-8-year-old-girl-missing-in-southeast-d-c/

Posted: Sunday, March 23, 8:17 PM
D.C. shelter residents say janitor sought in girl’s disappearance gave gifts to children
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...469b3e-b2a3-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html

Posted: Monday, March 24, 2014 Updated 4:45 PM EDT
The man police believe is with a missing 8-year-old girl is wanted on murder charges
[Original Post: Mar 24, 2014]
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...d-Reported-Missing-From-SE-DC--251168541.html

Posted: Monday, Mar 24, 2014 Updated 4:45 PM EDT
Man Possibly With Missing Girl Wanted for Wife's Murder
Source: http://www.csnwashington.com/article/man-wanted-wifes-murder

Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Homicide Suspect Kahlil Tatum
Source: http://pgpolice.blogspot.ca/2014_03_01_archive.html

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2014 10:19am
The Prince George’s County Police Department is offering up to $25,000
Source: http://pgpolice.blogspot.ca/2014_03_01_archive.html

Posted on: 7:45 am, March 28, 2014, by Web Staff, updated on: 08:02am, March 28, 2014
Missing DC girl could be traveling through Carolinas, FBI says
Source: http://myfox8.com/2014/03/28/missing-dc-girl-could-be-traveling-through-carolinas-fbi-says/

Posted: Updated: Mar 28, 2014 8:47 PM EDT
DC Police: Suspect in Relisha Rudd case had contact with other girls at shelter
[Original Post: Friday, Mar 28, 2014 5:54 AM EDT ]
Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/250977...nues-at-dc-park - ixzz2xInD5J8m#axzz2xrDJZXUn

Posted: Friday, Mar 28, 2014 Updated 6:45 PM EDT
The man sought in the disappearance of an 8-year-old girl had contact with other young girls
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...irl-Relisha-Rudd-Criminal-Past-252328821.html

Posted: Friday, Mar 28, 2014 Updated 6:45 PM EDT
The man believed to be with a missing 8-year-old girl from D.C. has a criminal past in Northern Virginia
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...irl-Relisha-Rudd-Criminal-Past-252328821.html

Posted : March 29, 2014 updated 09:16am, Chelsea Rarrick,
D.C. girl’s alleged abductor’s phone pinged to Gilpin Court
Source: http://wtvr.com/2014/03/29/sources-dc-girls-accused-abductors-phone-pinged-to-gilpin-court/

Posted: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 10:12 AM
Murder Suspect Kahlil Tatum Found Dead in Washington, DC
Source: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/0...rch-of-relisha-rudd-101649.html#ixzz2ynzltDzB

Posted: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 10:12 AM
Murder Suspect Kahlil Tatum Found Dead in Washington, DC
Source: http://pgpolice.blogspot.ca/2014/04/murder-suspect-kahlil-tatum-found-dead_1.html

Posted: April 2, 2014 11:32 p.m. EDT Mola Lenghi, WUSA
A national missing persons organization in Washington, D.C. thinks that a missing 8-year-old girl could have been sold into a human trafficking network
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/02/relisha-sold/7237501/

Posted: April 3, 2014 By: Lauren Ober
Police Halt Search For Relisha Rudd At Kenilworth Park
Source: http://wamu.org/news/14/04/03/police_halt_search_for_relisha_rudd_at_kenilworth_park

Posted: Thursday Updated: Apr 03, 2014 1:34 PM EDT
WASHINGTON - Investigators have ended their search of Kenilworth Park for 8-year old Relisha Rudd.
Original Post: Apr 03, 2014 10:41 AM EDT
Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/251534...f-park-for-missing-relisha-rudd#axzz2xpqObBbi

Posted: April 3, 2014 1:36 p.m. EDT Delia Goncalves, WUSA
Grand jury may charge mother of Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...sing-grand-jury-mother-shameka-young/7250521/

Posted: April 3, 2014 6:09 p.m. EDT Russ Ptacek, WUSA
Suspect bought Relisha Rudd swimsuit prior to motel stay
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/inv...14/04/03/relisha-rudd-swimsuit-motel/7271399/

Posted: April 3, 2014 7:11 p.m. EDT WUSA 9 Staff
AMBER Alert: Relisha's mom flaunted wad of cash
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/03/relisha-rudd-missing-amber-alert/7272765/

Published: April 3, 2014 Updated: 23:34 EST By Daily Mail Reporter
Suspicion falls on mom of missing Relisha Rudd, 8, and her boyfriend
[Original Posted: April 3, 2014 23:28 EST]
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ys-daughters-disappearance.html#ixzz2xv0qWYL4

Posted April 4 2014 (no time stamp)
Video - Seeking to Identify Individual Regarding Missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd
YouTube Video Source: http://youtu.be/owtTKpCYa6o

Posted: Apr 4, 2014 1:46 pm
Police released a video today showing a man they want to speak to
Source: http://dcist.com/2014/04/police_seek_man_in_reference_to_mis.php

Posted: updated April 04, 2014 at 11:08 AM
Was missing homeless girl Relisha Rudd sold into human trafficking network? National group thinks so
[Original Posted: on April 04, 2014 at 8:51 AM]
Source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/was_missing_homeless_girl_reli.html

Posted: April 4, 2014 1:46 PM
Police Ask for Help IDing Man on Video Regarding Relisha Rudd
Source: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014...-man-in-video-regarding-missing-relisha-rudd/

Posted April 4 2014 2:21 p.m. EDT
Suspect bought Relisha Rudd swimsuit prior to motel stay
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/inv...14/04/03/relisha-rudd-swimsuit-motel/7271399/

Posted: April 4, 2014 5:54 p.m. EDT Russ Ptacek, WUSA
Relisha Rudd mom, grandma explain wads of cash
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/04/relisha-rudd-cash-facebook/7319811/

Posted: April 4, 2014 9:52 p.m. EDT Russ Ptacek, WUSA
Relisha Rudd mom, grandma explain wads of cash
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/04/relisha-rudd-cash-facebook/7319811/

Posted: April 06, 2014
Police seek ID of man on video in hunt for missing girl Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/0...-video-in-hunt-for-missing-girl-relisha-rudd/

Posted: Sunday, Apr 6, 2014 Updated 11:25 AM EDT
Volunteers Continue Search for Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Volunteers-Continue-Search-for-Relisha-Rudd-254091631.html

Posted: April 6, 2014 12:44 p.m. EDT Nikki Burdine
Citizens reach out to help find Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/06/public-search-for-relisha-rudd/7382697/

Posted: April 7, 2014 10:10 a.m. EDT
AMBER ALERT: Community members search for Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/2014/04/07/relisha-rudd-police-dc-missing-video/7428005/

Posted: Monday, April 7 8:23pm By Petula Dvorak,
Why wasn’t Relisha Rudd taken from her home before vanishing? It’s complicated
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...6ca232-be92-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html

Posted: Tuesday April 8, 2014 7:06 a.m. EDT Mola Lenghi, WUSA
Rudd case: How was alleged abductor hired by shelter?
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...elon-shelter-dc-relisha-rudd-missing/7449429/

Posted: WUSA 9 Staff, WUSA 5:18 p.m. EDT April 8, 2014
Rudd case: Gray calls for review, closure of DC General
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...gray-relisha-rudd-dc-general-shelter/7477019/

Posted: April 8, 2014 6:12 p.m. EDT Russ Ptacek, WUSA
Room 132 photos: Relisha Rudd suspect wife's murder site
Source:
http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/inv...2014/04/08/relisha-rudd-photos-motel/7478465/

Posted: April 9, 2014, 1:40 a.m. EDT WUSA 9 Staff
Relisha Rudd's grandmother talks to WUSA9
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/08/relisha-rudd-melissa-young-amber-alert/7492829/

Posted: April 8, 2014 - 11:18 pm
Mayor Gray orders review in Relisha Rudd case
Source: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/04/mayor-gray-orders-review-in-relisha-rudd-case-101979.html

Posted : April 9, 2014 5:34 p.m. EDT WUSA
Police admit they may never find Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2014/04/09/police-admit-they-may-never-find-relisha/7519149/

Posted: April 9, 2014 5:36 p.m. EDT WUSA
Marshals: Nothing found at Relisha Rudd suspect's place
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2014/04/09/kahlil-tatum-dc-eviction-relisha-rudd/7502837/

Posted: April 9 2014 (No time stamp)
Man questioned in Relisha Rudd case had no new clues, D.C. police chief says
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...hpModule_99d5f542-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394

Link that has information about IR attempting to get visitation and custody.
Source: http://bcove.me/yv3grxt6

Posted: April 9, 2014 4:39 PM
Relisha Rudd’s Grandmother Speaks About Her Disappearance
Source: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/04/09/relisha-rudds-grandmother-speaks-about-her-disappearance/

Posted: April 9, 2014 - 12:42 pm
Chief Lanier answers questions in Relisha Rudd case
Source: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/04/chief-lanier-answers-questions-in-relisha-rudd-case-101995.html

Posted: April 9, 2014 11:24 p.m. EDT WUSA
WUSA9 interviews Relisha Rudd's mother
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/04/09/relisha-rudd-mother-interview/7532971/

Posted: April 11, 2014 5:30PM ET by Lori Jane Gliha
Relisha'€™s grandmother explains why their family didn't report the 8-year-old's disappearance
Source: http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/...o-blame-forthedisappearanceofrelisharudd.html

Posted: Saturday, Apr 12, 2014 | Updated 6:57 AM EDT
D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education Looking Into Relisha Rudd Case
Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/l...ooking-in-to-Relisha-Rudd-Case-254990071.html

Published: April 11 By Colbert I. King
The ‘everybody’ in D.C. who failed Relisha Rudd
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...5ec9a2-c0e6-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html
 
collection of direct quotes from family members and family friends regarding Relisha and Tatum and the case

from CNN aired on March 26, 2014

BRENDA PRINGLE, FRIEND OF RELISHA`S FAMILY (via phone): Thank you for having me.

As far as what I was told, Mr. Tatum was Relisha`s godfather. And we had no problem with him getting her, because he never gave us a reason to doubt or a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) taste in our mouth for us to say maybe. Know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Relisha, know she`s not allowed to do nothing with him no more. To the family, he was a good guy. He never gave us no bad signs, nothing.

As far as Relisha`s illness, to my concern, before she moved into the D.C. shelter, she never had a migraine; she never had a seizure. Once they moved into the D.C. shelter, my niece started having seizures. She started having migraines. Her mother and her stepfather took her to the hospital, and they could not figure out why she was having migraines, or headaches. They was giving her medication for it.

But obviously, the medication was not working, because she almost fell out in front of my eyes. That was cause sometimes for her not to go to school. Because I would call my sister and tell her she`s not feeling well, she`s dealing with a migraine...

regarding how Tatum was to assist with this medical issue

Well, from my understanding, Relisha is on Medicaid. And I guess Medicaid could not afford it. So I guess Relisha`s mother and the godfather, Mr. Tatum, I guess they had a conversation about it. And from my understanding, to my knowledge, Mr. Tatum was supposed to put Relisha on his Kaiser plan for her to get the CAT scan to see what was causing her to have migraines, what was causing her to have seizures.

regarding february 26th - morning

PRINGLE: Her grandmother and her aunt. Mr. Tatum called my sister and the grandmother at 9:07 in the morning, and they asked could they speak to Relisha. He said, "Hold on, I`m going to tell you what Relisha and my granddaughter did."

They said, "OK, what did she do?"

He said they woke up that morning, Relisha and his granddaughter, they woke up and they cooked breakfast. They cooked scrambled eggs...

first they talked to Mr. Tatum. After they talked to Mr. Tatum, then they talked to Relisha. Relisha clarified what Mr. Tatum was telling them at first, that she had cooked breakfast, she had cooked scrambled eggs and toast. They asked if she burned down the place. She said, "No, Grandma. No, auntie, I did not burn down the place, and actually it was good."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1403/26/ijvm.01.html
 
ANE VELEZ-MITCHELL

Relisha`s Grandmother Speaks Out

Aired April 2, 2014 - 19:00:00 ET

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1404/02/ijvm.01.html

MELISSA YOUNG, RELISHA`S GRANDMOTHER (via phone): What I said was, I don`t believe that he killed his wife

M. YOUNG: What I said to the reporter that interviewed me, I never said I don`t blame him. What I said was, I don`t believe that he killed his wife.

What I believe -- what I feel right now, and what I believe since finding out that he was found murdered, whether he committed suicide, I believe his wife walked in and interrupted something, or heard something, or seen something that she wasn`t supposed to see or know. That`s why she lost her life.

when asked who might have killed her if not Tatum

M. YOUNG: I don`t know. Maybe it could have been one of the ones that was seen at the hotel with them.

M. YOUNG: I don`t know who could have killed her.

M. YOUNG: I don`t know if a party took place there or not.

M. YOUNG: The hotel where his wife was found. The hotel where Mr. Tatum and Relisha was is here in the District of Columbia. It was five people. It was three other people seen entering that hotel room with him and his wife. So we don`t know who could have killed his wife. Maybe one of them. Maybe Mr. Tatum. We don`t know. Only those that was in the room knows who actually killed his wife.

My thing is, you`ve got two people that turns up dead, OK? In Mr. Tatum`s case, where they found him at, they searched the same very exact location when they first started searching for my granddaughter. They found nothing. No signs of him nor my granddaughter at this very exact location.

On Monday -- Monday just past, you get a tip that leads to right back to that location. What you find when you get back to that same very location that you`d already searched prior to beginning the search for my granddaughter, and you find his body. That should tell you something.

M. YOUNG: That`s what I -- that`s what I feel. That someone killed him, someone else, and put his body there, and then called Metropolitan and told them to go back, that they will find something.

in regard to what she thinks happened to Relisha

M. YOUNG: I don`t know what happened to her. Right now, it`s only -- like I said, in his wife`s case, the only ones that knows that killed her was the ones that was there.

The whereabouts of my granddaughter, the only one that knows the whereabouts right now is Mr. Tatum. And he`s deceased.

Now, if he killed himself, the question leaves now, who -- was she present when he murdered himself or did he leave her with someone else?

regarding speaking to Relisha on the phone about making breakfast at Tatum's

M. YOUNG: On March 19, Mr. Tatum called my daughter, Ashley`s cell phone, because my phone was off. I could not receive no incoming calls, no texts. He called her cell phone. I put it on speaker.

We spoke to Mr. Tatum first. He said Relisha cooked breakfast this morning. She cooked toast, scrambled eggs.

I said, "Did she set the fire alarm off or did she burn the house down?"

He says, no, no smoke detector and no fire trucks. Actually, everything was good. The eggs was great and the toast was wonderful, not even burnt.

Then we asked can we speak to Relisha. Relisha gets on the phone and says, "It`s my Nana. Wow. I`m talking to my Nana today. Nana, I fixed scrambled eggs and toast. I didn`t burn the house down. I didn`t set the smoke detector off. Everything was good."

M. YOUNG: She got off the phone. The next phone call that me and her aunt actually received was at around -- between 12:09 and 12:30. But I must say 12:30.

He called. I asked, where was Relisha. Once again I put the phone on speaker so that everyone in the house could hear. He says, his words were, Relisha was downstairs with his wife, playing with his 9-year-old granddaughter, and his daughter was downstairs. They were going to go out the door to go to the mall and he would see me at 5 p.m.

M. YOUNG: I told this to the FBI and Metropolitan Police. They told me that Mr. Tatum -- I never spoke to Relisha, that Mr. Tatum was at D.C. General. Like I asked them, "How am I supposed to know if I`m sitting in my daughter`s house, and he`s calling me on his cell phone?"

regarding whether she is SURE it was Relisha's voice she heard

M. YOUNG: I know my granddaughter`s voice. Out of all six of my granddaughters, one is still a baby, so he`s not talking; one`s just learning how to talk. Out of all six of my granddaughters, with the exception of the two younger two, she and her younger brother are the only ones that get overly excited when they talk to me on the telephone.

when asked why SY states that Relisha was in your or SY's sister's care at the time Relisha was actually with Tatum

M. YOUNG: I don`t know why she`s saying that. I don`t know. It could be for personal reasons. I don`t want to speculate.

M. YOUNG: I don`t know why she could be saying that.

regarding the unusual situation of Relisha being with Tatum sometimes and why

M. YOUNG: I didn`t mean to -- I didn`t mean to cut you off, I`m sorry. But I was listening to the gentleman when he was speaking, and before he started speaking, I noticed the lady that was speaking, she said the word kidnapping.

In the beginning, Mr. Tatum didn`t kidnap her in the beginning. My daughter actually -- when she -- OK. I don`t know what their relationship, you know, really is, or what the agreement was, with my granddaughter...

M. YOUNG: My granddaughter was never sold to Mr. Tatum. He asked the question what everyone is wondering, what was my daughter`s relationship with Mr. Tatum? They kind of relationship they had, they had a friendship relationship. Nothing sexual, nothing like that.

regarding the doctor note

M. YOUNG: I didn`t know anything about a doctor`s note that Mr. Tatum was giving -- giving to the school. I knew nothing of the notes. I know the school had asked me could I get a note from her doctor. When I told the school that her doctor never called me back, to see what I needed, I gave them Mr. Tatum`s number. But it never said Dr. Tatum on it. It said Mr. Tatum, because I didn`t know how to spell his name.
 

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