Shamika Young: Is She Responsible for the Disappearance of Relisha Rudd?

Missing eight year-old Relisha Rudd

     For the pass two months communities in the DC Metropolitan Area have focused most of their attention towards missing eight year-old Relisha Rudd.  Rudd was last seen on March 1, 2014 with Khalil Tatum, a 51 year-old janitor at DC General Homeless Shelter where Rudd was living with her mother, step-father and other siblings.  Shamika Young refuses to answer and questions relating to Tatum, leaving society to question her moral ethics as a mother, and agreeing that someone needs be held accountable for her daughter disappearance, and Young being number one on everyone's list.

     Young allowed Tatum to have a relationship with her only daughter, where he would tend to Relisha more than Young's other children, give the girl gifts, and even take her off the premises.  For whatever reasoning to Young seem fit to allow an adult man to have this type of association with your child, the shelter's employment policy deemed it inappropriate and unacceptable; a policy Tatum was completely aware of.  An issue that questions Tatum true intention of catering to Relisha, and Young's exact involvement.  Why was Young accepting in allowing a complete stranger take her child out of arms reach for weeks without even reporting her missing, reporting that she last seen Relisha on February 26, 2014.  Young was not even the one who reported her daughter missing for almost a month.  School officials were the ones who contacted DC authorities once Relisha accumulated repeated unexcused absences.  The school social worker informed authorities that the girl was being treated by a "Dr. Tatum", Young helped Tatum pose as a doctor who would provide documentation for Relisha's absences.  At no point in between this time frame did Young alert authorities nor anyone else about Relisha's disappearance.  When questioned by police for the whereabouts of Relisha, Young  replied, "Oh, she's not missing.  She's with a person that we trust and know. And she's just fine".

Khalil Tatum

     Tatum's wife body was found shoot to death at Red Roof Inn in Oxon Hill, Maryland, after an Amber Alert was issued for Relisha, leading Prince George's County Police to the hotel on a door to door search of the premises.  Tatum had then became wanted by the FBI for the murder of his wife, Andrea Tatum.  DC authorities later responded to a tip that Tatum was last seen in Kenilworth Park in northeast DC after purchasing large trash bags and a shovel.  On the suspicion that he may have disposed of Relisha's body.  As respondents searched the park, Tatum's body was found March 31, 2014 with an apparent self inflicted gun shot wound.  Again, we question Young.  So, this is the man that you trusted your eight year-old daughter with?  Even though, all hope seems lost, many think Relisha is still alive; but, trapped in the gruesome world of human trafficking.  In a belief that Young sold her daughter, when pictures were posted on social media of materialistic items and large sums of cash.  Young's mother tried to defend that fact by stating Young and her boyfriend both get social security checks, and that they've just received a settlement from an automobile accident.  Yet, they still remain to live in a homeless shelter.  Young's unapologetic attitude and need to show no remorse, shows the truth behind the disappearance of Relisha Rudd.  We will continue to keep hope alive, and pray for your safe return home, Relisha, to warm and loving arms that would have never let this happen to you in the beginning.
   

Shamika Young

 A Grand Jury is currently considering charging Shamika Young with obstruction of justice, for hindering the investigation as authorities searched for Relisha.