PA - LaToyia Figueroa, 24, pregnant, Philadelphia, 18 July 2005

[Marisa714]

Latoyia had cancer? I wonder what stage it was at?

 

[Mabel]

I wonder if the friend would have come forward if there'd been no reward offered.

 

[angelmom]

I wonder if the friend would have come forward if there'd been no reward offered.

Well it took him this long. :slap:

 

[lilpony]

Well it took him this long. :slap:

True, how long after Latoyia went missing was the reward posted? If the reward wasn't posted right away, he was probably waiting for a reward. How horrible, if this is what he waited for.

 

[angelmom]

True, how long after Latoyia went missing was the reward posted? If the reward wasn't posted right away, he was probably waiting for a reward. How horrible, if this is what he waited for.

Supposedly he didn't even know about the reward. Right. Where has he been? In that hole where they found Saddam? Like you could live there and know the people involved and not be aware of a reward!!! :doh:

I hope he's charged with accessory after the fact AND can't collect the reward as a result!

 

[dr dona]

True, how long after Latoyia went missing was the reward posted? If the reward wasn't posted right away, he was probably waiting for a reward. How horrible, if this is what he waited for.

Remember the interview his attorney gave- ?what show?= saying how cooperative his client was being and how he had nothing to do with LaToya's disappearance. Wonder if he'll represent this sleaze at trial? Dang, I don't think I could ever be a defense attorney. I want people to be straight with me.

 

[dmvpenn]

ya know, I have too say... that while a disgusting trategy, at least this case got solve. The objective of the reward is to make people talk. My cousin has been missing for six months, at the 100k reward did not unearh anyone.

I was so so proud of latoya's parents and that this case got solved. Perspective is everything.... I wish we found richard so quickly.

God bless.

 

[SewingDeb]

Bastards. I hope they are all charged.

Me,too.

 

[SewingDeb]

Latoyia had cancer? I wonder what stage it was at?

I missed that. Where did you hear it? ---Never mind, I see it now. So sad.

 

[Lauren]

Another tragic case. I hope they get the killer. How can people do such things?
:waitasec:

Thanks for reading my posts.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Hundreds attend memorial service for slain pregnant woman (phillyBurbs.com)

Slain LaToyia Figueroa was remembered at a memorial service Thursday as a "vivacious and forgiving spirit" who touched the hearts of those who knew her.

Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters packed a West Philadelphia church to remember Figueroa and her unborn daughter, whose murders attracted national attention...

The pink-hued program for the service shows a picture of 24-year-old LaToyia and an ultrasound image of her unborn daughter, Nyla Victoria. Inside is a collage of old family photographs, including a much-younger Figueroa in a white dress holding a single, red rose...

Figueroa was raised by maternal relatives after her own mother was slain in an apparent love triangle when she was 4, family members said...

At the service, Philadelphia's Freedom Theatre announced the gift of a scholarship to Figueroa's 7-year-old daughter from a former relationship.

Figueroa's funeral service is planned for Friday at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in North Philadelphia.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

ya know, I have too say... that while a disgusting trategy, at least this case got solve. The objective of the reward is to make people talk. My cousin has been missing for six months, at the 100k reward did not unearh anyone.

How odd that Latoyia was found the morning after Richard's vigil, huh? And Richard's dad was speaking about Latoyia on camera at the vigil. So much tragedy in our beloved city. Dmv, I hope that your family will get some answers soon. God bless all of you and certainly Latoyia's loved ones as well.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

KYW Newsradio 1060 - News

It was standing-room-only Thursday afternoon at the first of two viewings for a popular young woman murdered and dumped in a field in Chester, Pa.

Despite the summer heat, hundreds of people turned out at the Victory Christian Center to begin paying their last respects to 24-year-old LaToyia Figueroa, who was murdered...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

6abc.com: Another Figueroa Arrest Imminent

Investigators now say Latoyia Figueroa's ex-boyfriend killed her because she wouldn't end her pregnancy and another person will soon be arrested in connection with the crime.

Twenty-five-year-old Stephen Poaches was arrested over the weekend.

Sources say he has confessed to killing Figueroa and her unborn child. In the confession, Poaches allegedly says he strangled the 24-year-old woman in a rage when she told him she did not believe in abortion. Police say another man helped Poaches dispose of the body. Now, detectives say they're close to arresting that other man. Investigators also say Poaches told them he was thinking about murdering another man - a man he asked to help move the body over the weekend. Instead, that man tipped off police to the location of Figueroa's body...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/26/2005 | Hundreds turnout for La’Toyia’s funeral

(Melvin) Figueroa, who led relentless searches throughout the city for his daughter, said he planned to continue working to help people who have missing loved ones. "I'm not going to stop," he said. "I'm going to show there is love out here... . Let's get our community together and help our children."

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Philadelphia Daily News | 08/26/2005 | Elmer Smith | KILLING LATOYIA WITH WORDS

... The talk-show blather is enough to make you barf. One local host opened his gabfest Tuesday night with the provocative point that this victim didn't deserve the public attention that Laci Peterson and Natalee Holloway got because she wasn't a "good girl" like them.

That was this genius's response to what is now known as missing white woman syndrome and that cases involving attractive blondes attract more attention than those of other missing women or of missing men of any shape of color.

Whether it's race or class or the like-me factor, we in the media need to do some serious soul searching about the way those stories play out. But whatever the reason is, it doesn't justify this moralistic post-mortem...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/26/2005 | Ramos: Figueroa informant reward must be conditional

City Councilman Juan F. Ramos said yesterday that the reward money in the case of La'Toyia Figueroa, who was remembered last evening at the first of two memorial services, should go to a police informant only if he is not implicated in her murder...

"But as long as he's not criminally responsible in any way, he will get his money," said Ramos, a relative of Figueroa's, in a telephone interview...

John C. Apeldorn, president of the crime commission, stressed that there was a long way to go before a decision had to be made on paying the bulk of the reward, which is conditioned on Poaches' conviction.

Earlier in the week, Apeldorn said that the informant soon would receive $10,000 from the reward fund for having led police to Figueroa's body. The commission pays rewards to anonymous tipsters several times a year.

Yesterday, at the Victory Christian Center in West Philadelphia, La'Toyia Figueroa's friends and relatives gathered to mark her death.

About 1,000 people, many wearing white T-shirts bearing a photograph of Figueroa, attended the service, which echoed with gospel music. Those who could not fit into the main sanctuary of the converted warehouse watched in side rooms on closed-circuit television.

Dr. Wesley Proctor, a church elder, conducted the service from an altar featuring a bronze-colored casket, several dozen floral displays, and a large photograph of Figueroa.

A second memorial observance is scheduled for today. A viewing is set for 9 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Fifth Street and Girard Avenue, with the service at 10 a.m. Burial will follow.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Philadelphia Daily News | 08/26/2005 | Hope for LaToyia's surviving child

SHE LOOKS JUST like her. Same smile. Same eyes. And Izhanae Williams was the closest living reminder of LaToyia Figueroa last night in a room packed with people.

Izhanae joined more than 1,000 mourners inside Victory Christian Center for her mother's homegoing services...

And now, the cinnamon-toned 7-year-old girl will have to grow up without a mother, following the fate of her own mom...

She was seated two rows behind her mother's casket, covered with bouquets of yellow, pink and white flowers.

One woman, Joyce Allen, told mourners she had followed Figueroa's case since "day one." She said that because her husband is the late John Allen, founder of the Freedom Theatre, she is giving Izhanae a "full scholarship" to attend performing classes.

Radio personality Golden Girl took the microphone, stood in front of the crowd, looked at Izhanae and invited her into her family as a "godchild."

"I know how she feels," said Golden Girl, explaining that she too lost her mother at a young age.

Golden Girl, otherwise known as Lisa Natson and broadcasts on WUSL-FM (98.9-FM), said she was giving $1,000 to Izhanae's trust fund.

Izhanae's half-smiles seemed like the only interruption of pain during the solemn service. Melvin Figueroa hung his head most of the time, sometimes leaving his seat to whisper in church workers' ears.

Fighting back tears, Melvin Figueroa's sister, Mirna Medina, read portions of letters LaToyia had written to her years earlier.

"My mom is not here now. But she is thinking of you from heaven," LaToyia wrote to her aunt.

The aunt tried to read more but her sobs quickly took control of her voice...

 

[mysteriew]

Over the last month, Melvin Figueroa of Southwest Philadelphia has become a familiar face on prime time. His is a fame to be dreaded: As father of the missing La'Toyia Figueroa, he led what became a high-profile search through parks, abandoned lots, and vacant buildings. The task ended grimly Aug. 20 with the discovery of his daughter's body, five months pregnant, and the arrest of her boyfriend on murder charges.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/12493856.htm

 

[mysteriew]

A man charged with strangling his pregnant girlfriend was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on first-degree murder charges.

On Wednesday, a judge ruled prosecutors had enough evidence to try Poaches on two counts of first-degree murder _ one for Figueroa and one for her fetus.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/31/AR2005083101126.html