Untold Stories: Black and Missing

The intersection of fiction and real-life is on display as fans of the hit NBC series "Found" begins its second season.  The show has captured audiences with its compelling depiction of the search for missing persons. Host Joy Sutton and BAMFI Founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson had the chance to speak with the show's innovative creators Nkecki Carroll and Sonay Hoffman and talented cast member Gabrielle Walsh to explore the inspiration behind their storytelling that highlights the critical issue of missing persons cases, especially within communities of color.

This is a Black and Missing Foundation special, exploring the idea of how fiction can educate and impact real-life.  

Wandering is common with all types of dementia.  According to the Alzheimer's Association, 6 in 10 people suffering from any form of dementia will wander away from their caregivers, often putting them in dangerous situations.  In this Untold Stories: Black and Missing episode, our panel of experts explain why this happens and steps we can take to prevent wandering to keep our loved ones safe.

Ruth Jenkins is a retired teacher, a woman of faith, and a mother who always put her family first. At 76, she was also experiencing the early stags of dementia. One day, she walked away from her home and never returned. When seniors go missing dementia is often a factor. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander from their caregivers at least once, putting their lives in danger. Dementia may have been a factor in Ruth Jenkins' disappearance, but unanswered questions also point to the involvement of another individual. 

In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked signs of domestic abuse and explore why domestic violence is a factor in numerous missing person cases, often leading to tragic outcomes. Sadly, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine revealed that Black and Latina women who experienced intimate partner or sexual violence were two to three times more likely to encounter dismissive responses or mistreatment from law enforcement when reporting such incidents. We have to change this narrative. The parents of Gabby Petito, along with a domestic violence expert, are part of this much-needed conversation, shining light on a hidden crisis that’s claiming too many lives. u

Akia Eggleston was excited to welcome her second child, a son.  She was eight months pregnant, and her family was waiting for her at her baby shower, only she never showed. Her family never stopped looking for her. And continued to pressure investigators and the media to find her.  What investigators uncovered was a story of deception, abuse and murder.

The families of Tamika Houston and Pamela Butler have survived the unthinkable.  Tamika and Pamela went missing and would later be found murdered. Tamika’s family had to fight for media coverage while Pamela’s brother battled to bring his sister’s killer to justice. This special episode of Untold Stories: Black and Missing was recorded at Crime Con in Nashville.  Rebecca Howard and Derek Butler share how they turned their pain into purpose.

Jesse Len Foulks had four strikes against him. He’s black. He’s a man. He has a mental health disorder, and he is missing. His story, like many others, highlights a troubling intersection between mental illness and missing person cases. The Black and Missing Foundation has increasingly observed that mental health issues are a significant factor in why people go missing, and why these cases often fall through the cracks. In this episode, our panel of experts discusses the challenges, and how we can all play a role in helping bring these individuals home. 

Jesse Len Foulks was a dedicated son who never missed his daily phone call with his mother, Lori Nelson. Jesse was making significant strides in his life and diligently managing his bipolar disorder after struggling for years. His future seemed hopeful. However, on September 14, 2021, everything changed. Lori spoke to Jesse for the last time. His mother firmly believes he would never just walk away from his life and responsibilities. With each passing day, the urgency to find Jesse grows stronger. 

When Rashawn Williams went missing it took four days for his case to be investigated even though he was reported missing an hour after he wandered away from his caregivers.  The 31-year-old has down syndrome and is nonverbal.  Still no alert was ever issued.  Rashawn was lucky he survived six days without food and water and was reunited with his family. (Listen to Rashawn’s story here)  That miracle inspired his family to push the state of Maryland to create a law enacting purple alerts which protect people with cognitive impairments that often are not covered by other alerts. Our experts weigh-in on why there should be a national purple alert law.

On October 20, 2023, Rashawn Williams wandered away from his caregivers in Silver Spring, Maryland, and disappeared. For six days his family was in anguish.  Police were notified, but no alerts were ever released because Rashawn is a 31-year-old man with Down Syndrome and did not meet the criteria for any alert.  In this episode of “Untold Stories: Black and Missing,” we’ll hear Rashawn’s heartbreaking story and the actions his parents have taken to ensure this never happens to another family.