IfRead more . However, very little has been elaborated about in regards to this. When Patterson tried to get the FBI involved in verifying the identity of the Ohio woman, she received a similar response. If I went to Ohio and swabbed Lisas mouth myself if I do that, if I bring it back here and its not a match will you tell me what really happened? he asked Patterson. Highlights includeinterviews with Alexis Patterson'smother and with the current chief of the Milwaukee Police Department who acknowledges that, trust is a continuous process.Catch all episodes of States of America on USA TODAY's free streaming channelshere. The woman, who denies she is Alexis Patterson, provided. She and Bourgeois split up. Despite investigators belief that Alexis was so angryshe skipped school, Milwaukee police acted with extreme urgency, said Chief Jeffrey Norman, who was a detective back then. In addition to celebrating those who have stood by her for two decades, Patterson also spoke her truth, loudly and sometimes through tears. Im not afraid of nothing now that I know my babys safe, and I know my babys alive.. It took them approximately an hour to respond. As Alexis had no history of running away, Ayanna and LaRon initially believed she had refused to attend her classes because of the argument she and her mother had had the previous night. they still deserve, just every bit as much, to be found. This tip led to the search of a vacant house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but nothing was found. This led her to hire a private investigator. Joshua and Lisa married in 2009 when Alexis would have been only 14 years old. Polygraphs.. "Alexis, Mama is coming for you, and you know it. At the time of her disappearance, she stood at 38 and weighed approximately 42 pounds. Despite having never met her older sister, Ayanna has ensured Eri-Onna and the rest of the family keep Alexis in their thoughts by taking them to places where she used to play. Alexis' mother . Upon speaking with some of Alexis classmates, it was learnt that a red truck had been spotted parked near the school for most of the week. The post included pictures of missing children from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Children like Alexis Patterson. Bourgeois received immunity to testify against the suspected shooter. The previous day, Pattersonhad taken Alexis to the store, where shepicked out some cupcakes to share with her classmates. As a result, information about Elizabeths abduction was disseminated widely within hours. Is there more to the story? The woman had strikingly similar features, including matching. Immediately, the surrounding areas were searched, with the case initially being treated as a potential runaway. She told reporters she has become increasingly frustrated with police's involvement on the case. Alexis Patterson went missing in 2002 while walking roughly one block from her home to school near 49th and Garfield. Alexis Patterson was born on April 4, 1995 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lets just say, she looks like Alexis Patterson. On a stage draped in lavender and purple Alexis favorite colors teachers shared their memories of a girl who as a preschooler called her drawings homework andlearned to read beforeshe started first grade. She has a bump on her left pinky finger, a scar under her right eye and a mole above her left eye. (as of December 31, 2017)The Second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children (NISMART-2), released by the Department of Justice in 2002 and spanning the years 1997 to 1999, reported that of the 797,500 children reported missing in a one-year period, 203,900 were abducted by family members and 58,200 were abducted by non-relatives. MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Tuesday, May 3 will mark a solemn anniversary in Milwaukee, reaching 20 years since Alexis Patterson went missing. His response, according to a recording Patterson made of the conversation, was to accuse her, again, of being involved in Alexis disappearance. Anyone with information about Alexis Patterson is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. The Disappearance of Alexis Patterson: A Routine Walk to School with Her Stepdad, Just to Never be Heard From Again | Case 3 | by Jadyn Harlow - The Missing Found Podcast | Medium 500. I'm not just saying that just to say it. Alexis Patterson | Source 7-year-old Alexis Patterson lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her mother, Ayanna Patterson, her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, and her 6-month-old sister, Dysoni. I know thats my child, Patterson told USA TODAY in April. The man that kidnapped her? Over 5,000 interviews have been conducted and the effort between the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office was one of the largest joint efforts in both organizations histories. "It's amazing how Alexis just dropped of the face of the earth and nobody knows where she is. I dont think theres anyone who is any less worthy than anybody else, myself included, to come home.. Law enforcement officials are trying to determine if a woman living in Ohio is Alexis Patterson, the Milwaukee girl who vanished 14 years ago, a mystery that remains an open wound to those. If she were indeed the missing girl, it would have meant shed have given birth and married Joshua at an unusually young age, as she would have been 14 years old at the time. None of the teachers had seen Alexis that day, but no one had notified her parents of her absence even though the straight-A student prided herself on perfect attendance. She has brown eyes and shoulder-length black hair that was styled in two French braids, which were pulled back into a ponytail. Contact Gina Barton on Signal at 262-757-8640 or at gbarton@gannett.com. I feel like its because of me being African American. There were none focused onAlexis. If Alexis went missing today, Norman said, police would issue an Amber Alert because of her age. I told him everything. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Theafrolounge.com All rights reserved. Kenya plead not guilty to all four charges against him. A leading theory faults the lack of racial diversity in newsrooms and media ownership. Approximately a year after Alexis vanished, LaRon was subjected to a polygraph, which he reportedly failed. The theory is that Lisa Miller is Alexis Patterson and Ayanna and Joshua are aware of it, but for whatever reason they may have been instructed to keep quiet. Senator Lena Taylor caught wind of the theory during this time, as shed been helping the Patterson family in their search for Alexis. The June 5 disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth from her Utah home, apparently at gunpoint as her 9-year-old sister looked on, attracted almost immediate national attention. Their home is also filled in reminders of the missing girl, including photos, her homework assignments and a watercolour self-portrait. Theres no court case that youd be wrapped up in.. There are conspiracy theorists that say big brother is behind most of the missing children cases in the US. Both Alexis parents and Elizabethswere questioned by law enforcement in the early days of their daughtersdisappearances. In January 2003, sources familiar with the investigation shared that a John Doe investigation had been launched into her disappearance, but this has never been officially confirmed. Bourgeois failed a polygraph test, but the questions that were failed were not released to the public. I poured out my heart to this man, and thats what he says? she said. However, this call has never been proven, as Kenya had deleted the call history on his cellphone. He angrily denied the reports. As a result of Alexis disappearance, Ayanna has been a lot more protective of her children. In 1994, he had been involved in a bank robbery that resulted in the fatal shooting of a police officer in Glendale, Wisconsin. A song by Black gospel singer Yolanda Adams played on repeat: There is no pain Jesus cant feel, no hurt he cannot heal, for all things work according to his perfect will. Patterson said as much when she spoke with a new Milwaukee cold case detective recently only the second or third conversation she hashad with him since he took over the case more than a year ago. I know that can be a little disheartening or unnerving, said Norman, the current Milwaukee chief. In July 2016, Milwaukee Police received information from a man named Joshua Miller of Bryan, OH who believed his ex wife, Lisa Miller, was indeed Alexis Patterson. The centers Long-term Missing Guide for Law Enforcement discusses reviewing past polygraph resultsbut not administering new tests. At the end of the day, she didnt come home. TOP: Student volunteers from El Puente High School in Milwaukee gather to hand out flyers and help in the 2002 search for Alexis Patterson. President George W. Bush greets Elizabeth Smart and her. Joshua said Lisa had no memory of her childhood prior to the age of ten. Patterson said she wouldnt take a second test unless the FBI showed her the report of her first one, and they refused. The day after Elizabeth disappeared, police called in the FBI and offered a $250,000 reward. She hasn't been located since. It marked the first time the national mediapaid serious attentionto such disparities. Despite this, she kept doing interviews, speaking with politicians and raising awareness about her daughters disappearance. Her biological father, Kenya Campbell, left before Alexis was born and he was not involved in her life. Ifeel if I can put her into safety and reunite her with her mother and keep them kids away from that man then I will do anything in my power to do that, Joshua told Fox 6 Now. Norman would not say whether the earlier news report was accurate. Utilizing K-9 units, they walked down paths and through buildings, searched Miller Park, and looked around local bodies of water. Utilisez le bouton disponible sur cette page pour tlcharger ou lire un livre en ligne. If I went to Ohio and swabbed Lisas mouth myself if I do that, if I bring it back here and its not a match will you tell me what really happened? he asked Patterson. Ohio Woman Insists She Is Not Alexis Patterson Bryan, Ohio police confirm they interviewed Josh's ex-wife -- and took a DNA sample. Ayanna believes Lisa is in fact Alexis. Alexis Patterson left her house in tears on the morning of May 3, 2002. Ayanna questioned the results upon learning about them, saying that the sample theyd used from Alexis could have been corrupted or have come from another source. From there, scientists at Wisconsins state crime lab sequenced it and compared it to Alexis DNA profile. When Patterson tried to get the FBI involved in verifying the identity of the Ohio woman, she received a similar response. The residence was located just a half-block from Hi-Mount Boulevard School, where Alexis was in the first grade and said to have a perfect attendance record. Her mother, Ayanna Patterson, hosted a private memorial on Sunday, May 1, which she called an "awakening.". Ex-husband of Ohio woman who provided DNA sample into Patterson case says test was faulty MILWAUKEE -- The DNA test came back and Milwaukee police say an Ohio woman is not the missing Alexis. Remembering Alexis Patterson after 11 years. To have been abducted, someone had to be . Patterson spent the next few years angry. The area around Hi-Mount Boulevard School, as well as vacant residences, were also searched. Alexis always got home from school around2:50 p.m. Here's what's happened since, Schlesinger's Saturday Spotlight (3/4)String Art, 80s Prom Fun, Pop up Art, Shower chances on/off this weekend with winter weather late in the coming week, CBS 58's Feel Good Friday: Free zoo admission, inflatable animals and more. Until told otherwise, we have to keep all those possibilities open.. lisa miller Conspiracy Theories Missing Children What Really Happened to Alexis Patterson? On a stage draped in lavender and purple Alexis favorite colors teachers shared their memories of a girl who as a preschooler called her drawings homework and learned to read before she started first grade. I didntfinish high school. Schedule a showing for 884 NE 72nd St in Miami, FL. Bourgeois received immunity to testify against the suspected shooter. This was one of many instances of search warrants being executed in the case and investigators travelling across, and out of, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Police Track New Lead In Alexis Patterson Missing Person Case Her stepfather told. Polygraphs.. Two years later, Black journalist Gwen Ifill gave the phenomenon a name: missing white woman syndrome. She coined the term after the disappearance of Laci Peterson, a pregnant California woman whose husband was later convicted of killing her. The Deseret News ran a story the following day. "We're still searching for her, and we're going to search until there's no more. Someone belonging to a Facebook group called The Whole Milwaukee created a post back in July 2016 with this allegation. Nineteen days after she was last seen, the sheriffs office offered a $10,000 reward. She rarely lets them out of her sight, choosing to drive them to and from school, instead of having them take the school bus. Patterson spent the next few years angry. She has also went to the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin and to Washington, DC in support of Alexis. Seeing how injured she really was, Kenyas mother brought her to the Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, where a CT scan and physical examination were conducted. To report anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app. But we have a lot of work to do.. He feels that Alexis was never dropped off at school the morning she disappeared. Its a win-win for you. She and Bourgeois split up. At the time Joshuas theory came to light, the pair were in the midst of a custody battle over their son. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. When she hadnt arrived by 2:55 on that Friday in May 2002, her mother, Ayanna Patterson, began to worry. An FBI spokesman declined to comment. Nearly every conversation she had with police about Alexis case ended in a shouting match. Lisa Miller is proud to be supported, endorsed & trusted by the following people and organizations of Polk County. As a result, information about Elizabeths abduction was disseminated widely within hours. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app. From there, scientists at Wisconsins state crime lab sequenced it and compared it to Alexis DNA profile. She always had a beautiful smile for everyone, said former Head Start teacher Benedicta Graves. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to TheAfroLounge.com, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Kenya has shared that he mourns the loss of his daughter. Hoping to drum up new leads, investigators looked through local sex offender registries, as well as probation and parole files, but were unable to come up with anything. And I aint giving up.. The daughter of parents Ayanna Patterson and Kenya Campbell, she was known for being bubbly and having a bossy personality. After Ayanna reached out to her, she got in contact with the local sheriffs office, who sent officers to Ohio. There have been claims circulated that LaRon worked as a pimp and managed prostitutes on the north side of Milwaukee. The daughter of parents Ayanna Patterson and Kenya Campbell, she was known for being bubbly and having a bossy personality. Numerous officers also spent many of their days off searching for Alexis and were given hep by both the FBI and other state law enforcement agencies. I know that the department took it very seriously. Theres no court case that youd be wrapped up in.. USA TODAYs States of AmericaEpisode 2explores how the media and police handle cases that involve missing children of color. Police divers searched the river, but nothing was found. Kenya Campbell, Alexis biological father was imprisoned during her disappearance. The agent added that supervisors at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children would confirm a polygraph is necessary. In May 2017, a Hear Their Voice celebration was held at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society on West Center Street in honour of Alexis and other missing children from around the world. Hey guys welcome back to another missing person case Monday. 7 year old Alexis Patterson of Milwaukee, WI went missing in May 2002 after her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, walked her to school. The agent told Patterson she hadfailed her first polygraph and implied they wouldnt help unless shetook another one, according to a recording Patterson made of that phone call. The previous day, Patterson had taken Alexis to the store, where she picked out some cupcakes to share with her classmates. She cant understand why Milwaukee police didnt travel to Ohio to collect Lisas DNA. Both Ayanna and LaRon maintain their innocence. Those who believe in this theory say that Big Brother is behind many of the child disappearances that have occurred in the United States. Whilst there, he gave a sample of his sons DNA to Ayanna, as the police department in Bryan had already collected a saliva sample from his ex-wife. Follow her on Twitter at @writerbarton. As of the end of last year, more than 1,000 missing children had been recovered as a result of the alerts. As of 2009, the case has been assigned to the Milwaukee Police Departments cold case unit. This story was eventually changed to say that Kenya had woken her up to report the fall. As a result, its never been identified and police have not been able to conclude if its connected to the case or not. Although the results aregenerally not admissible in court in either state, some members of law enforcement then and now consider polygraphsuseful tools in solving crimes. In July 2016, Milwaukee Police stated that DNA results indicated Lisa was not Alexis. BOTTOM: LaRon Bourgeois, stepfather of Alexis Patterson, stands in the intersection near her Milwaukee school, where Alexis was last seen, in 2002. RICK WOOD, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL; TOM LYNN, AP. His response, according to a recording Patterson made of the conversation, was to accuse her, again, of being involved in Alexis disappearance. MILWAUKEE Tuesday marks 20 years since 7-year-old Alexis Patterson disappeared in 2002. Following the May 2013 rescue of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight in Cleveland, Ohio and the January 2019 rescue of Jayme Closs in Douglas County, Wisconsin, the NCMEC said that the Patterson family shouldnt give up hope of her being found. I poured out my heart to this man, and thats what he says? she said. Alexis Patterson, 7, of Milwaukee, was last seen alive on May 3, 2002. Smart, who was unavailable for an interview with USA TODAY while taking time away with her family, made the comments last year on the Facebook Live series Red Table Talk. Satan and Show Business: What Happened to These Actresses? The agent told Patterson she had failed her first polygraph and implied they wouldnt help unless she took another one, according to a recording Patterson made of that phone call. His mother had tried to call him at 7:00am, but he didnt answer. Twenty years later, the disappearance of Alexis Patterson is a cold case. Investigators also used polygraph tests in both cases. The alerts, which are disseminated to the public and the press via cellphones, billboards, news organizations and social media, include childrens photos, descriptions and information about when and where they were last seen. That day, Alexis did not attend any of her classes. I told him the truth, and he says that?. She still does not believe them. 2011 2023 TheAfroLounge.com. Being an investigator and being objective, you look at all angles.. It was her snack day at Hi-Mount Community School, and the 7-year-old had promised her friends that she would bring cupcakes. Im not afraid of nothingnow that I know my babys safe, and I know my babys alive.. A subsection of this theory is that Alexis disappearance may be related to prostitution. In the morning, Patterson realized Alexis hadnt finished her homework, so she wouldnt let her bring the treats. Looking for Alexis Patterson online? This nasty individual has been linked to the cases of several missing Black children, and there is reason to believe that Tomlinson is a cannibal who has murdered them and ground them up into pepperoni he formerly sold before residents caught onto his disgusting actions. DATE MEET NAME STATE VENUE; 2022 XCWEEK 27: Mar 1: GFU Indoor NCAA Final Qualifier: OR: George Fox-Indoor: WEEK 26: Feb 26-27 Over the years, theres been hope that Alexis will return home alive. In August 2002, an anonymous caller contacted a local television station to say that the missing girls remains had been disposed of in the Milwaukee River, near Estabrook Park. I always hope that we as a department be as professional and honest and forthright as possible, he said. Molly Miller & Colt Haynes went missing . However, given she hadnt yet returned home, they felt that something else may have caused her to disappear after she was seen on the playground. She maintains that Lisa Miller is really her daughter, but police still say it's not a match, and the case remains cold. The woman willingly submitted to a DNA test to prove that she wasn't Patterson. Toggle navigation. Anyone with information about Alexis Patterson is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. TOP: Ayanna Patterson reacts to a 2016 statement from police that an Ohio womans DNA does not match that of Alexis. Both Alexis parents and Elizabeths were questioned by law enforcement in the early days of their daughters disappearances. We have seen, unfortunately, (sometimes) those who are entrusted with the welfare of their own children have broken that trust. Among dozens of family and friends were three of Alexis' former teachers, one of which, Alexis' mother still calls "Miss Lisa." Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #alexispatterson . If you have any information regarding the case, you can contact the Milwaukee Police Department at either 414-935-7401, 414-935-7302 or 414-935-7360. Elizabeth is white. Recalling the phone call, she shook her head. Pay attention to the statement Joshua made after the DNA results were revealed. I don't depend on the police. Within a day, the Milwaukee Police Department set up a mobile command post, a trailer packed with communications equipment, at a park near Alexis home, according to news coverage at the time. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, The Disappearance of Nguyet Thu Wiki Phung, Case Update: Brittanee Drexels Remains Discovered After 13 Years, Suspect Charged, The Disappearances of Tina & Bethany Sinclair. Joshuas ex-wife has said she felt agitated and angry over the attention she received as a result of the DNA tests, as some who had read about the case online had gathered outside her home, but also shares that she feels sorry for the family. There are 127 results for persons named Alexis Patterson. The alerts, which are disseminated tothe public and the press via cellphones, billboards, news organizationsand social media, include childrensphotos, descriptions and information about when and where they were last seen. If alive, she would be 24 years old. We all paid attention. Alexis Patterson, missing 7-year-old girl (handout) On the morning of May 3, 2002, Alexis Patterson's stepfather walked her to the corner and a crossing guard guided the 7-year-old across. However, despite the intensive investigation, very little progress has been made in relation to the case and there has been no physical evidence uncovered to contradict what those interviewed have told police. We are being as professional and responsible as possible. RIGHT PHOTO: Proclamations recognizing May 3 as Alexis Patterson Forget Me Not Day on display at the event her mother called an awakening., VIDEO BY BILL SCHULZ/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL; PHOTOS BY ANGELA PETERSON/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, police called in the FBI and offered a $250,000 reward, How the missing child cases of Alexis Patterson and Elizabeth Smart differ, how problematic it is that the cases of missing white people get more attention, why these disparities in police response and news coverage. That same year, he was charged with an unrelated crime after hed had a domestic dispute with Ayanna, whod been trying to leave him. Side by side images of the missing children and some of the young adults linked to Lisa Millers Facebook page showed chilling resemblances. Described by Ayanna as abusive and threatening, he was ordered to stay away from her before the charges were dropped. He had then left for work, leaving his mother to care for the infant. For his testimony, he had been granted immunity in relation to this. Alexis mother Ayanna explains why she believes the police mishandled the case. Joshuas suspicions were also shared by his fianc and the pair were struck by his ex-wifes resemblance to the age-progressed images of Alexis. Both the disappearances of Elizabeth and Alexis are tragic and illustrate parents' worst nightmare. Tips can also be called into the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office at 414-278-4788, 414-223-5261 or 414-278-4921, the Milwaukee Field Office of the FBI at 414-276-4684 or the Milwaukee Police Department Cold Case Hotline at 414-935-1212.