Lauryn Dickens MISSING

It’s been nearly a month since 10-month-old Lauryn Dickens went missing in Memphis, Tennessee.  Police say Shakara Dickens reported her daughter missing one week after she claims that she gave the child to a stranger on Sept. 7. Dickens, 19, was arrested and charged with aggravated child neglect and endangerment and filing a false police report.  She appeared in court again on Friday with her attorney Murray Wells and a preliminary hearing is set for October 21, 2010.  On that date the state will have to show probable cause.  Investigators have executed search warrants and have searched her apartment numerous times looking for clues that would hopefully lead to answers, but sadly the child has not yet been found.  Everyone wants to keep the faith that the child is still alive, but investigators admit based on the information they have they are fearing the worst.

This case is disturbing because it reminds me of a couple of other cases involving mothers who have reported their child missing, and either the child has not been found or horrific endings have taken place. You may remember little Shaniya Davis, a beautiful girl who was reported missing by her mother Antoinette Davis in North Carolina. A search went on for days before Shaniya’s body was found last November on the side of the road. The investigation uncovered that Davis most likely sold her child as a prostitute to a man for money. Shaniya was found raped and murdered. Davis is charged with human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution and filing a false police report. Mario McNeill is charged with first degree rape and first degree murder. The court cases are currently on-going.

You may also remember baby Gabriel Johnson. His mother Elizabeth Johnson told authorities she gave the child to an unidentified couple in Texas, and then also allegedly told Gabriel’s father that she killed him. Baby Gabriel has never been found, and Johnson is currently behind bars. She will stand trial for child abuse, kidnapping, custodial interference and conspiracy to commit custodial interference.

In any event, we hold out hope that baby Lauryn is alive and well and hopefully investigators will find her soon. If you have any information on where baby Lauryn could be, please call the Memphis Police: (901) 545-2677.

If you know anything about baby Gabriel’s whereabouts, please contact the Tempe Police: (480) 350-8311 ]]> http://www.michellesigona.com/2010/10/mother-appears-in-court-10-month-old-still-missing/feed/ 0 http://www.michellesigona.com/2010/05/mother-and-baby-found-alive-in-texas/ http://www.michellesigona.com/2010/05/mother-and-baby-found-alive-in-texas/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 17:59:06 +0000 Michelle Sigona http://www.michellesigona.com/?p=4937

Erin Rodgers, and Baby Safina (photo courtsey of police)

UPDATE:  I received word this morning that Erin and her baby were found alive and well in Austin, Texas.  The lead investigator told me her Godfather originally reported her and her child missing, and that Erin is from Indiana.  No word yet on why she packed up and left.

Erin Rodgers and her daughter Safina lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. I spoke with Montgomery County Police today, and they say the mother and daughter have been missing for three weeks. On May 6, 2010, police say Erin and Safina vanished. Erin is only 19-years-old, and her daughter is 22-months.

Erin Rodgers, and Baby Safina (photo courtsey of police)

A three month old baby, who was allegedly thrown by her father off a parkway bridge, may have been found over the weekend.  New Jersey State Police say they are waiting to positively identify the remains, but the body appears to be that of Zara Malani-Lin Abdur-Raheem. This information is based on the clothing and wrappings found on the child.  

Investigators say Shamsid-Din Abdur-Raheem, the baby’s father, allegedly snatched the child from her grandmother’s home on February 16, 2010 and threw her off the bridge.  Reports indicate Abdur-Raheem tried to strike the grandmother with a minivan after choking her when she tried to stop the abduction.  The child’s mother was working on a temporary restraining order against Abdur-Raheem before the baby was killed.

Abdur-Raheem is currently being held on a $2 million bail, and pleaded not guilty last month.

Eddie Salazar MISSING

Elizabeth Johnson (mom) – Baby Gabriel Johnson

UPDATE:  A couple in Arizona who tried to adopt baby Gabriel are now persons of interest in his case.  Tempe Police say Jack and Terri Smith, a couple who met Elizabeth Johnson about seven months ago in an airport, may have more information about this baby’s disappearance then they have given to investigators.  Elizabeth Johnson, Gabriel’s mom, spoke out earlier this week and says she gave the child to a couple she met in a San Antonio park, even though she sent the baby’s father text messages saying she killed him.

Gabriel Johnson is only 8-months-old, and has been missing since December 18, 2009.  He was last seen with his mother Elizabeth Johnson.  Police say Johnson missed a custody hearing scheduled on December 28, 2009, and a felony warrant was issued for her arrest for custodial interference.  Johnsons custody rights were revoked, and the Gabriel’s father, Logan McQueary, was awarded full custody.  I spoke with Logan earlier this week, and his heart is breaking.  All he wants is to find his child alive, but it is hard for him to remain positive when he was told that his son was dead.  On December 27, 2009, Logan says Johnson sent him a text message saying she killed the baby, and in a phone conversation she allegedly told Logan, “I suffocated him (Gabriel) until he turned blue, put him in a diaper bag, and put him in a dumpster.”  Although this information is quite troubling, investigators have reason to believe Gabriel could still be alive, and the child may have been given to a couple.  Authorities do not want to say why they believe this to be true, but they are working off information that the child is somewhere and needs to be found. 

On January 5, 2010, the car belonging to Elizabeth Johnson, Gabriel’s mom, was found in Texas.  Although the vehicle was located, investigators say there was no sign of Gabriel.  The baby was last seen with his mother in San Antonio, Texas between the dates of December 22 – 26, 2009. 

Last week, Elizabeth Johnson was found in Miami, FL.  Investigators believe she purchased a bus ticket from Texas to Florida.  Johnson arrested and waived extradition back to Arizona, and is currently sitting in a jail cell.  We need to find this child, if you have any information, please help Logan find his son and call Tempe Police:  (480) 350-8311 or Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377 with any information

Remembering Jacqueline Reyes

Just when I say I covered one of the worst crimes I’ve seen in a while… here’s another one that took my breath away.  It all played out in Newark, New Jersey when investigators say Ivan Reyes came home for lunch and found his 27-year-old wife dead, and his 9-month-old son covered in stab wounds.  First Responders did their best to save this baby… and it’s something they can’t get out of their mind. Officials say four firefighters, who responded to the scene, had to be relieved of their duties later because of the emotional trauma they are suffering from this incident.  The infant went into surgery for his injuries, and is listed in critical condition – we hope and pray he will survive.  Authorities are reviewing surveillance tapes from the area, searching for clues in this case; they say they do not have a description of the suspect.

If you have ANY information on this case, please contact police , or the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office homicide squad at (201) 915-1345 right away to help bring justice to this family.  I will have more on this story tomorrow as calls are returned from fire officials and investigators…