Home / Crime and Justice / Relisha Rudd's Decade-Long Disappearance: A Haunting Mystery Remains Unsolved
Relisha Rudd's Decade-Long Disappearance: A Haunting Mystery Remains Unsolved
30 Oct
Summary
- Relisha Rudd vanished in 2014 at age 8, last seen with a janitor
- Her stepfather still hopes she is alive and prays for her return
- Docuseries aims to uncover new leads and bring awareness to the case
In 2014, 8-year-old Relisha Rudd vanished from Washington, D.C., last seen on hotel surveillance video with a janitor named Khalil Tatum. Now, 11 years later, her disappearance remains a haunting mystery.
Relisha's stepfather, Antonio Wheeler, has endured sleepless nights and "a lot of unsettling thoughts" about what happened to the girl he remembers as joyful, loving, and protective of her younger brothers. Wheeler, now 38, says he has coped by praying to God, hoping to one day see Relisha again.
In a bid to revive the case, a two-part docuseries from the Black and Missing Foundation aims to put Relisha's story back in the spotlight, with the goal of shaking loose any clues that could help solve the mystery. As Relisha's 20th birthday approaches on October 29th, her family and the authorities remain committed to finding answers.
The case has been open for over a decade, and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department says they are "committed to never giving up on the search" for Relisha. With renewed efforts from law enforcement, the media, and the community, the hope is that this heartbreaking case can finally be resolved.
