WASHINGTON D.C. (Newspath/WUSA) — About 70 D.C. police cadets searched the grounds and interior of the homeless shelter, perhaps a sign of how little progress police have made in their hunt for eight-year-old Relisha Rudd.
She was last seen at her school in February. It’s been exactly seven days since police found the wife of the man suspected of having her beaten to death at the Red Roof Inn in Oxon Hill.
His name is Khalil Tatum and the FBI just released a chilling surveillance tape of Relisha and 51 -year-old Tatum walking down the interior hallway of the Holiday Inn Express.
It’s dated Feb. 26.
The search for Tatum and Rudd has gone multi-state.
Richmond Police said they spotted the pickup truck of the accused abductor of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd here in the Metro Thursday.
On Tuesday (March 25) the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to Relisha. And Prince George’s County Police have offered a $25,000 for information that leads to Tatum.
On Wednesday the FBI announced that they are offering a separate reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to Tatum’s arrest.
“I want my daughter home,” said her mother Shamika Young.
In early March, worried teachers had asked Relisha’s now tearful mother why she had never come back to school. Young insisted Relisha was simply home sick.
What was said to the school by the mother was that this person was a doctor, and that the doctor could verify the child was ill. But it turned out to be Khalil Tatum posing as a physician.
He assured the school that the child had been ill.
Social workers went to the shelter and figured out it was all a lie, and at that point, they panicked.
When Relisha’s mother still refused to report her to police as missing, Children and Family Services had to go to court to gain custody.
Sheron Wood, whose 11-year-old daughter reportedly received money and a pet turtle from Tatum, has asked him to call her.
“He has my number. So if he wants to text me or call me, and tell me where I can meet him with the little girl, I’ll come get her,” Wood said.
Police and the FBI say no tip is too small as they hunt for the girl and they hope the $70,000 reward will help them find her.
Police described Relisha as a black female, four feet tall and weighing 70 to 80 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion.
If you have information about Relisha Tenau Rudd’s whereabouts, call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or 911.
