Untold Stories: Black and Missing

Untold Stories: Black and Missing

BAMFI

Untold Stories: Black and Missing is a captivating and emotionally charged true-crime podcast series created by the Black and Missing Enterprises to shine a light on the cases of missing people of color that are often overlooked due to the lack of media coverage and law enforcement support. Our goal is to help find those who have gone missing, to bring them home and provide answers to their loved ones. Join us as we share the details of these cases and work together to generate new leads. This is a must-listen for anyone who believes that every missing person deserves...

The Dark Market: The Overlooked Crisis of Organ Trafficking in Communities of Color

The Dark Market: The Overlooked Crisis of Organ Trafficking in Communities of Color

Eyes $30,000, lungs $150,000, heart $168,000... the list continues with vital organs being sold illegally. It's a billion-dollar global industry. Human traffickers target the desperate and the ill. Is this occurring in the U.S.? For years, the Black and Missing Foundation has received reports of people of color going missing or being taken in the U.S. for organ harvesting. What does organ harvesting entail, and why isn't it being discussed? Discover more in this episode of Untold Stories: Black

Oct 24, 2024 • 36:22

The Chilling Case of Model Ryan Singleton: Was Organ Harvesting Behind His Disappearance and Death?

The Chilling Case of Model Ryan Singleton: Was Organ Harvesting Behind His Disappearance and Death?

Ryan Singleton was a vibrant 24-year-old model who vanished without a trace on a seemingly innocuous trip to California. When his body was discovered, it was missing Ryan’s eyes, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, leaving more questions than answers. Eleven years later, Ryan's mother, Iris Flowers, continues her quest for the truth, determined to uncover what truly happened to her son.

Oct 17, 2024 • 24:15

NBC’s 'Found' and the Black and Missing Foundation: Where Fiction and Real-Life Intersect

NBC’s 'Found' and the Black and Missing Foundation: Where Fiction and Real-Life Intersect

The intersection of fiction and real-life is on display as fans of the hit NBC series "Found" begins its second season.  The show has captured audiences with its compelling depiction of the search for missing persons. Host Joy Sutton and BAMFI Founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson had the chance to speak with the show's innovative creators Nkecki Carroll and Sonay Hoffman and talented cast member Gabrielle Walsh to explore the inspiration behind their storytelling that highlights the critical issu

Oct 3, 2024 • 57:53

When Seniors Go Missing: The Impact of Dementia

When Seniors Go Missing: The Impact of Dementia

Wandering is common with all types of dementia.  According to the Alzheimer's Association, 6 in 10 people suffering from any form of dementia will wander away from their caregivers, often putting them in dangerous situations.  In this Untold Stories: Black and Missing episode, our panel of experts explain why this happens and steps we can take to prevent wandering to keep our loved ones safe.

Sep 12, 2024 • 39:02

Lost Memories Lead to a Missing Mother: The Ruth Jenkins Mystery

Lost Memories Lead to a Missing Mother: The Ruth Jenkins Mystery

Ruth Jenkins is a retired teacher, a woman of faith, and a mother who always put her family first. At 76, she was also experiencing the early stags of dementia. One day, she walked away from her home and never returned. When seniors go missing dementia is often a factor. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander from their caregivers at least once, putting their lives in danger. Dementia may have been a factor in Ruth Jenkins' disappearance, but unanswered questions also point to the involvemen

Sep 5, 2024 • 20:09

Domestic Violence and the Missing Persons Crisis with Gabby Petito’s Parents and BAMFI

Domestic Violence and the Missing Persons Crisis with Gabby Petito’s Parents and BAMFI

In this episode, we delve into the often overlooked signs of domestic abuse and explore why domestic violence is a factor in numerous missing person cases, often leading to tragic outcomes. Sadly, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine revealed that Black and Latina women who experienced intimate partner or sexual violence were two to three times more likely to encounter dismissive responses or mistreatment from law enforcement when reporting such incidents. We have to change this

Aug 1, 2024 • 52:02

From Missing to Murdered: Akia Eggleston’s Heartbreaking Story of Love, Loss, and Abuse

From Missing to Murdered: Akia Eggleston’s Heartbreaking Story of Love, Loss, and Abuse

Akia Eggleston was excited to welcome her second child, a son.  She was eight months pregnant, and her family was waiting for her at her baby shower, only she never showed. Her family never stopped looking for her. And continued to pressure investigators and the media to find her.  What investigators uncovered was a story of deception, abuse and murder.

Jul 25, 2024 • 24:22

Invisible Victims: Families Finding Strength in Tragedy and Turning Their Pain into Purpose

Invisible Victims: Families Finding Strength in Tragedy and Turning Their Pain into Purpose

The families of Tamika Houston and Pamela Butler have survived the unthinkable.  Tamika and Pamela went missing and would later be found murdered. Tamika’s family had to fight for media coverage while Pamela’s brother battled to bring his sister’s killer to justice. This special episode of Untold Stories: Black and Missing was recorded at Crime Con in Nashville.  Rebecca Howard and Derek Butler share how they turned their pain into purpose.

Jul 11, 2024 • 46:50

Mental Illness: A Barrier to Finding Our Missing

Mental Illness: A Barrier to Finding Our Missing

Jesse Len Foulks had four strikes against him. He’s black. He’s a man. He has a mental health disorder, and he is missing. His story, like many others, highlights a troubling intersection between mental illness and missing person cases. The Black and Missing Foundation has increasingly observed that mental health issues are a significant factor in why people go missing, and why these cases often fall through the cracks. In this episode, our panel of experts discusses the challenges, and how we c

Jun 20, 2024 • 29:53

Finding Jesse: The Intersection of Mental Health and the Urgency to Find Our Missing

Finding Jesse: The Intersection of Mental Health and the Urgency to Find Our Missing

Jesse Len Foulks was a dedicated son who never missed his daily phone call with his mother, Lori Nelson. Jesse was making significant strides in his life and diligently managing his bipolar disorder after struggling for years. His future seemed hopeful. However, on September 14, 2021, everything changed. Lori spoke to Jesse for the last time. His mother firmly believes he would never just walk away from his life and responsibilities. With each passing day, the urgency to find Jesse grows stronge

Jun 13, 2024 • 17:45

Exposing the Gaps in the Missing Person's Public Alert System: How One Family’s Story Inspired a New State Law That Could Go National

Exposing the Gaps in the Missing Person's Public Alert System: How One Family’s Story Inspired a New State Law That Could Go National

When Rashawn Williams went missing it took four days for his case to be investigated even though he was reported missing an hour after he wandered away from his caregivers.  The 31-year-old has down syndrome and is nonverbal.  Still no alert was ever issued.  Rashawn was lucky he survived six days without food and water and was reunited with his family. (Listen to Rashawn’s story here)  That miracle inspired his family to push the state of Maryland to create a law enacting purple alerts which pr

May 30, 2024 • 30:22

Missing and Overlooked: Family's Heartbreaking Search for Missing Son with Down Syndrome Exposes Flaws in Alert System

Missing and Overlooked: Family's Heartbreaking Search for Missing Son with Down Syndrome Exposes Flaws in Alert System

On October 20, 2023, Rashawn Williams wandered away from his caregivers in Silver Spring, Maryland, and disappeared. For six days his family was in anguish.  Police were notified, but no alerts were ever released because Rashawn is a 31-year-old man with Down Syndrome and did not meet the criteria for any alert.  In this episode of “Untold Stories: Black and Missing,” we’ll hear Rashawn’s heartbreaking story and the actions his parents have taken to ensure this never happens to another family.

May 23, 2024 • 17:53

Untold Stories: Black and Missing Season 2 — Unraveling Missing Person Mysteries and the Underlying Issues in These Cases

Untold Stories: Black and Missing Season 2 — Unraveling Missing Person Mysteries and the Underlying Issues in These Cases

“Untold Stories: Black and Missing" is a podcast that tells the stories of missing people of color—how our cases fell through the cracks, and how we can raise awareness to bring them back home or provide answers for families desperately searching for their missing loved ones. In Season 2, we delve into the issues that cause so many of our loved ones to go missing, including domestic violence, cognitive impairment, human trafficking and mental illness. We will also speak with experts about how we

May 9, 2024 • 4:05

Beyond the Headlines: Examining the Aftermath of Carlee Russell's Fake Disappearance

Beyond the Headlines: Examining the Aftermath of Carlee Russell's Fake Disappearance

Recorded live at CrimeCon 2023, the season finale of Untold Stories: Black and Missing, delves into Carlee Russell's fake disappearance; why the  initial news of her disappearance went viral and if it will have an impact on true missing person cases involving people of color. The panel discussion  includes Josh Mankiewicz of NBC Dateline. Russell made national headlines in July when she disappeared after calling 911 to report seeing a toddler walking alone on an Alabama highway. When officers ar

Nov 15, 2023 • 46:31

Stop Calling Her a Runaway: A Mother’s Fight to Find Her Child

Stop Calling Her a Runaway: A Mother’s Fight to Find Her Child

Tanesha Howard last spoke to her daughter, Joniah Walker, right before 11 am on June 23, 2022.  The 15-year-old was walking their dog while the two talked. The apartment complex cameras captured the moment on video.  A while later those same cameras caught Joniah rushing from the building.  That was the last anyone has seen of her. Where was she going in such a hurry?  Who was she meeting? Do you know where Joniah Walker is?

Oct 25, 2023 • 20:15

Hidden in Plain Sight: One Woman’s Story of Sex Trafficking Is a Wake-Up Call for Us All

Hidden in Plain Sight: One Woman’s Story of Sex Trafficking Is a Wake-Up Call for Us All

From captive to conqueror: Dr. Tonya Stafford’s journey from teen sex trafficking victim to working with homeland security to save others is a candid look at a growing epidemic in our own backyard. After spending a decade in captivity, she’s sharing her story as a wake-up call about what it’s like to be hidden in plain sight, and how to protect your family. This is the second in a 2-part series on sex trafficking.

Sep 6, 2023 • 24:32

The Chilling Reality of Online Predators & Gaming: Kyla’s story is a Warning for Families

The Chilling Reality of Online Predators & Gaming: Kyla’s story is a Warning for Families

Wayne and Stacy Flagg were doing everything they could think of to keep their 14-year-old daughter safe from online predators. Their daughter did not have a cell phone.  They monitored her online activity and limited her time on the computer.  Still, on May 15, 2021, Kyla told her dad she loved him then left the house to meet a man she met while gaming online. That started what Wayne and Stacy say was the worst 39 days of their lives.  What they did not know was the man had spent time grooming

Aug 16, 2023 • 19:51

The Last Ride: Tracing the Last Moments of Nakyla Williams' Mysterious Disappearance

The Last Ride: Tracing the Last Moments of Nakyla Williams' Mysterious Disappearance

Where is Nakyla Williams? Doorbell camera footage captured her getting into a light-colored pickup truck on November 8, 2021.  That image is the last her family and friends have seen of her. Investigators believe she may have gone to Flint, Michigan, with the man driving the truck. Since she disappeared, there has been no activity on her social media accounts or her bank accounts. The investigation has stalled, and the family is hoping someone listening will provide information that will help br

Jul 19, 2023 • 19:53

Double Tragedy: A Mother Murdered and a Child Vanished

Double Tragedy: A Mother Murdered and a Child Vanished

The murder of Nicole Fitts left a lot of unanswered questions.  The most important one for her family is, where is Nicole’s daughter, Arianna? Arianna was 2 and a half when her mother was killed, and she went missing without a trace. While tips continue to come in, none have led to bringing Arianna home or solving her mother’s murder.  Right before Nicole’s murder, things had started turning around for her.  She had been homeless for a while but had finally found permanent housing for herself an

Jun 28, 2023 • 26:25

Eodis Tre Harris: Small Town Secrets & The Search for a Missing Black Man

Eodis Tre Harris: Small Town Secrets & The Search for a Missing Black Man

Who abandons their truck at a stoplight, with the engine running and their wallet still inside the cab? Why would an openly gay black man do that in a small, conservative Texas town? Friends and family of Eodis Tre Harris say there is no way he would do that, but the Stonewall County Sheriff’s Department says a witness saw a black man leap from the truck and run with two dogs in tow to a field across the road. Investigators never found that man and no one has heard from Tre Harris either. Little

Jun 7, 2023 • 20:33

Relisha Rudd: Hotel Surveillance Last Sighting of 8-Year-Old with Janitor

Relisha Rudd: Hotel Surveillance Last Sighting of 8-Year-Old with Janitor

Relisha Rudd loved arts and crafts. The 8-year-old was a great big sister to her brothers before everyone in her world lost track of her. In 2014, she was living in the DC General homeless shelter with her mother, stepdad, and brothers. The former hospital in Washington, DC, has been described as a terrible place, infested with rodents and bugs, while housing up to 800 homeless people.   Families often sent their children to visit with friends or family just to get them out of the chaotic atmosp

May 24, 2023 • 29:31

Untold Stories: Black and Missing, The Unknown: Discovering the Truth Behind Unsolved Missing Person of Color Cases

Untold Stories: Black and Missing, The Unknown: Discovering the Truth Behind Unsolved Missing Person of Color Cases

Untold Stories: Black and Missing is a captivating and emotionally charged true-crime podcast series created by the Black and Missing Enterprises. We introduce you to the stories of missing people of color that need our help to bring them home. These cases are often overlooked due to the lack of media coverage and law enforcement support. Join our true-crime community as we search for answers in hopes of generating new leads. This is a must-listen for anyone who believes that every missing perso

May 10, 2023 • 2:39

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