Black and Missing

Relisha Rudd Update : Man’s body found in park is Kahlil Tatum

Investigators think a man found dead Monday in a D.C. park may be the janitor suspected of abducting 8-year-old Relisha Rudd, according to law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation.

Published

12 years ago

March 31, 2014

UVM Staff

Relisha Rudd

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Relisha Rudd Update : The body of a man who appeared to have died by suicide at a D.C. park has been tentatively identified as Kahlil Tatum.

Kahlil Tatum found

During an intensive search for the missing 8-year-old at two D.C. parks, police found the body of a man who matches the description of Khalil Tatum, the man accused of abducting Relisha Rudd.

During a Monday afternoon news conference, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the man appeared to have died by suicide.

She said she hoped to provide information on the man’s identity by the end of the day.

What happened to Relisha?

Relisha Rudd was last seen March 1 in the company of Khalil Tatum. The 51-year-old worked as a janitor for a D.C. homeless shelter where the young girl lived with her family, and Relisha’s mother has said she allowed the girl to go home with Tatum last month. It is unclear whether this discovery brings investigators closer to what happened to Relisha.

The discovery of the body came as police officers, firefighters and cadets continued a days-long search of the 700-acre park for signs of Relisha.

Source : Washington Post

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