Relisha Rudd Search, Kidnapping, and Abduction: Suspected Abductor Kahlil Tantum Found Dead In Park
The body of a man found dead in a heavily wooded area of Kenilworth Park in Washington, D.C. has been identified as the suspected abductor of 8-year-old missing girl, Relisha Rudd.
The suspect is 51-year-old Kahlil Tatum, whose dead body came as a shock to law enforcement agencies. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Tatum died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In an afternoon press conference on Tuesday, Washington Police Chief, Cathy Larnier commented that Tantum's body appeared as though it had been in the park for at least 36 hours or more.
With the recent announcement of Tantum's death, the search for Relisha Rudd intensifies.
According to CBS DC, about 100 people marched along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Washington a few hours after police announced the discovery of Tantum's body. Rudd's great-grandmother was also present during a candlelight vigil for the missing 8-year-old girl.
Rudd has been missing since March 1. She was last seen with Tantum at the homeless shelter where she lived. Tantum worked as a janitor at the homeless shelter and spent a lot of time with Relisha while she lived there with her family.
Because Rudd often spent time with Tantum, her disappearance was only reported two weeks ago after school officials, who grew suspicious of Rudd's overwhelming absences, visited the shelter and were unable to find her.
During the time of her absence, Tantum is believed to have been posing as a doctor, and called in to Payne Elementary to report that Rudd was sick and could not make it to school. Thankfully, the school administrators did not accept the calls as fact and later found that she had been abducted.
Investigation for the missing girl escalated after police found the body of Tantum's wife, Andrea Denise Tantum, 51, at a Maryland motel. The shocking discovery prompted the issue of an Amber Alert for Relisha.
Relisha is described as a black female, 4 feet tall, and weight approximately 70 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes, and a medium complexion.
The possible discovery of Tatum's body will not end the search for Relisha, according to Lanier. "We're still here for the reason we came to be here, to find Relisha." (CNN)
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