Truer Crime – "Relisha Rudd & The Fight for Missing People of Color"
Host: Celisia Stanton
Guests: Derica Wilson & Natalie Wilson (Co-Founders, Black and Missing Foundation)
Date: February 23, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Truer Crime revisits the haunting case of Relisha Rudd, an eight-year-old girl who disappeared from a Washington, D.C. homeless shelter in 2014. Host Celisia Stanton engages in a powerful and nuanced conversation with Derica and Natalie Wilson, sisters-in-law and co-founders of the Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI). Together, they unpack Relisha’s case, explore systemic failures affecting missing children of color, discuss persistent media disparities, advocate for meaningful policy changes, and reflect on the self-care required to sustain difficult, emotionally charged activism.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Genesis of the Black and Missing Foundation
[03:12]
- Background: Natalie Wilson recounts BAMFI’s founding, sparked by the case of Tamika Huston—a Black woman whose disappearance received scant media attention—compared to Natalee Holloway’s case a year later.
- Insight:
"At the time, we found that 30% of all persons missing were men. And we said, why not do something about it, right? Derecka's background is law enforcement. Mine is public relations or media relations. And those are the two critical professions that needed to help find and bring our missing home."
- Current statistics: Today, 40% of missing people are people of color.
2. Relisha Rudd’s Case: Initial Reactions and Systemic Failures
[05:19 – 07:34]
- Systemic Breakdown:
- Delay: Relisha's disappearance was not reported for 18 days.
- Oversight: The shelter (later shut down) employed Khalil Tatum, a janitor with a questionable background.
- School Vigilance: The elementary school’s alert staff member intervened—possibly the only reason Relisha’s case was discovered at all.
- Memorable Reflection (Derica):
"One of the things that really stood out for me, especially being in law enforcement, is the amount of time. Relisha had been missing from the time that it was actually reported to law enforcement...someone or something or some entities had literally dropped the ball." [05:19]
- Family Inconsistencies:
"From interviewing them, there were so many inconsistencies in the responses. With grandma, her mother, her stepfather, no one really kept up with this child." – Natalie [07:34]
- Societal Neglect:
"Because they are homeless, they're poor, they're not seen or valued as a community..." – Natalie [08:35]
3. Balancing Support and Objectivity With Families
[11:24 – 12:38]
- Tension of Engagement: The show addresses public suspicion of Relisha’s family and discusses the approach to supporting families while acknowledging law enforcement must consider all possibilities.
- Community-Law Enforcement Trust Gap:
"There is a lack of trust when it comes to the black and brown community in law enforcement. There are times that we get information and tips, and we have to share that with law enforcement because the community chooses not to share that with law enforcement." – Derica [12:14]
- Mission Focus:
"We tend to tune out the noise and just focus on what we have to do, which is, again, bringing awareness, making sure that the resources are there to find this missing individual." – Natalie [12:38]
4. Media Coverage Gaps and Disparities
[13:35 – 15:41]
- Progress and Ongoing Challenges:
- Only 7% of missing persons of color received national coverage when BAMFI launched, but this is improving.
- Persistent issues with image selection and negative framing.
"...less is more, so less of the same individuals. And if you look at the impressions regarding Relisha and, let's say, JonBenet Ramsey, it's totally different." – Natalie [15:27]
- Efforts: BAMFI’s new media guide is meant to help newsrooms portray missing persons of color fairly and urgently.
5. Policy & Practice: Closing Systemic Gaps
[15:41 – 17:54]
- Alert Systems:
- Fragmented alert structures disadvantage families—many missing people fall outside the scope of Amber or Silver alerts.
- New policies like the EBONY Alert in California still struggle with low law enforcement utilization.
- Reporting Inconsistencies:
- States differ on immediate vs. delayed missing persons reporting (0–48 hours), which is critical to outcomes.
"We have to make sure that the holistic approach is there. For example, in some states, people can report their loved ones missing immediately, where in other states they must wait 24 to 48 hours when we all know the first 24 to 48 hours are the most critical moments." – Derica [17:08]
6. Sustaining the Work: Self-Care in Activism
[19:54 – 22:53]
- Burnout Risks and Support Strategies:
- Both Derica and Natalie emphasize boundary-setting and mutual support.
- The foundation has grown beyond just the founders to a capable, dedicated team.
- Personal Reflection:
"I am no good to anyone if I'm not good to myself, and it's okay to just pause for a second and just kind of reset and refresh." – Derica [19:54] "We are making sure that we put our mask on first... we cry it out... our family jumps in and helps... they know that they can count on us." – Natalie [20:55]
7. Calls to Action: How Listeners Can Help
[23:25 – 25:02]
- Be a “Digital Milk Carton”:
- Share missing persons posts from BAMFI’s website (bamfi.org).
- Support the foundation financially if able.
- Community engagement attracts media—boots on the ground matter.
- Use professional intuition—teachers, nurses, etc., should act on gut feelings to save at-risk children.
"We need our community to be our digital milk carton. So go to our website...and share that information with your network." – Natalie [23:25]
8. About the Docuseries and Upcoming Events
[25:12]
- BAMFI produced a two-part YouTube documentary The Vanishing of Relisha Rudd: A Cold Case Reexamined.
- Their 10th annual 'Hope Without Boundaries 5K' is scheduled for May 30, 2026. Participation supports their holistic work with missing persons’ families.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Relisha’s story and systemic failures:
"What if that vigilant staff member never reported it? You know, we may not have ever known about Relisha, and quite frankly, how many other Relishas are out there?" – Derica [06:44] -
On narratives and family suspicion:
"We don't prescribe to anyone bullying person, but we understand the frustration in not getting information about Alicia, what happened to her." – Natalie [12:38] -
On public responsibility:
"If someone is missing from your community, let's get all of these boots on the ground there. That's what attracts the media, when you see a large number of people turning out to help find a missing individual." – Natalie [23:45] -
On perseverance and calling:
"We know this is our calling, and we can't step away from it because it calls us back all the time... sometimes I'm like, I need a break. And as soon as I say that, our caseload increases tremendously." – Natalie [21:55]
Key Timestamps
- 03:12 – BAMFI’s origins and roots in the Tamika Huston case
- 05:19 – How Relisha’s case first came to BAMFI’s attention; importance of reporting delays
- 06:44 – Discussion of systemic failures (shelter, school, family, homelessness)
- 12:14 – Balancing sensitivity in working with families and community-law enforcement mistrust
- 13:56 – Media coverage patterns and BAMFI’s media guide
- 15:41 – Policy priorities: alert systems and reporting practices
- 19:54 – Self-care, boundaries, and community support in advocacy work
- 23:25 – Ways listeners can support and take action
Ways to Support and Get Involved
- Visit and share BAMFI’s resources: bamfi.org
- Participate or donate to Hope Without Boundaries 5K: hwb5k.org
- Watch the docuseries: The Vanishing of Relisha Rudd: A Cold Case Reexamined on YouTube
- **Follow Truer Crime and BAMFI on social media for updates and advocacy opportunities
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in how race, class, and systemic failures intersect in missing persons cases, and what listeners can do to make a difference.