Missing Relisha Rudd. Via MPD.The search for Relisha Rudd continued today in a Northeast D.C. park that spans over 700 acres of land and features many small bodies of water.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier said a “very technical search” is underway at Kenilworth Park that will last through the weekend. More than 100 officers and teams of divers are searching the area. By the beginning of next week, Lanier said they will ask community groups to assist with the search for the missing eight-year-old girl in certain areas of the park.
Lanier said they continue to receive “numerous” tips and leads, which police are following up on in other areas. Police and the FBI are searching for 51-year-old Kahlil Tatum, a janitor at the shelter where Relisha lived with her family. He is wanted by Prince George’s County police for the murder of his wife.
Addressing the last time Relisha was seen, Lanier said, “We are confident in the timeline that we produced yesterday.” Police say Relisha was last seen on March 1 with Tatum, while the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services said she was last seen at her school on March 5. “This is not uncommon in investigations,” Lanier said of the discrepancy. “It is not because anyone initially tried to deceive us or lead us in the wrong direction.”
Tatum was seen on March 2 at a store within D.C. purchasing large, contractor trash bags, as well as, sources say, lime and a shovel. Lanier would not confirm the latter two items, saying she will not release information that is not helpful to the investigation. At a press conference yesterday, Lanier said they cannot rule out the possibility that Tatum killed Relisha.
Lanier said “they’re positive” Tatum had contact with other girls at the D.C. General shelter, and police are in contact with three or four families. She could not comment on the nature of these interactions, as they’re being investigated.
Police have no reason to believe Tatum has left the metropolitan area “at this time,” Lanier said. “There is a very aggressive search for Mr. Tatum,” she said. “If Mr. Tatum is out there or someone speaks to him, this would be a lot easier for all of us if he would just turn himself in.”
