Missing
October 26, 2021
The disappearance of Gabby Petito made headline news around the world. However, this also brought to light disparities in media coverage of missing persons of color. In 2020, according to the San Diego police department, 900 kids were reported missing, about 100 cases are still open. Many never receive the same attention as the Petito case. After discussing reasons why, the Cardinal staff decided to add a missing persons section to help spread the word on local missing people, especially teens, and those in California.
Annie Martinez Torres has been missing since March 24, 2021. She is 4’8, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in San Diego.
Kamrynn Danyelle Nelson has been missing since October 26, 2019. She is 12 years-old, 5’6 with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen with her 16 year-old sister Miracle Wallace, who is also missing. The Bakersfield Police Department considered them at-risk runaways, but according to their father, Mr. Tyrone Smith “they are good girls and this is not in their character.”
17-year-old Amaya Monae Brown has been missing since July 29, 2021. She is 5’6″ tall, has brown hair and brown eyes. She is African American. She was last seen in blue jeans and a black tube top. She was also wearing a “Dolla” necklace. If you have seen Amaya, please contact the Chula Vista Police Department, 619-691-5151.
16-year-old Tymeah James has been missing since Friday, Sept. 24, around 12:00 p.m. She was last seen wearing a crop-top sweatshirt and blue ripped jeans. Pictured on the sweatshirt is Angelica, a cartoon character from the Nickelodeon show, The Rugrats.
According to James’ mother, Yolanda Holmes, “This is not like my daughter. She is a straight-A student. She works, she goes to school, she’s on the cheer team, and she praises our church,”
Holmes also stated she contacted Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and filed a missing persons report, but was told ‘good luck’ after she said authorities searched for an hour.
“It seemed like they didn’t care, to me,” stated Holmes. “Because we’re African American, they don’t care, because ([if not]) she would have been on the news already.”
The Sacramento Police Department confirmed a report was filed on Sept. 24.
“This is an active missing persons case and it’s been an active missing persons case from the beginning and we’ve had patrol officers following up on leads all the way to our detectives,” said Sacramento Police Department public information officer, Carl Chen.