Remembering Relisha Rudd: 10 Years Missing

It has been 10 years since Relisha Rudd was last seen on March 1, 2014, on surveillance footage in Washington, D.C. The 8-year-old’s mysterious disappearance has sparked a longing for answers within the community, as they refuse to forget her name. 

Relisha Rudd (left) and her NCMEC age progression image (right).   

At the time of Relisha’s disappearance, police say that she was living with her family at the now-closed D.C. General Family Shelter. Relisha had suddenly stopped showing up to school, which sparked concern and prompted law enforcement to intervene. Their investigation found that Relisha had been missing for weeks and no one knew where she was. Authorities say that the last known sighting of her was captured on surveillance footage at a Holiday Inn Express in Northeast D.C. with 51-year-old Kahlil Tatum. Tatum was a janitor at the shelter who befriended Relisha’s family during their stay and became particularly close with Relisha. Police launched an extensive search for Relisha but before they could question Tatum, he committed suicide. 

Relisha spotted on surveillance at a D.C. motel with Kahlil Tatum.

Washington, D.C. native Henderson Long has devoted his time to helping raise awareness with local missing cases. He established his non-profit organization, D.C.’s Missing Voice, to enhance his dedicated mission. Over the past decade, Henderson has served as an advocate for Relisha. “We will not rest until the case of Relisha Rudd is solved,” said Henderson. “If someone knows anything please call, it could be the key to the answers we have been searching for.” Henderson urges his fellow community members to join him and others on March 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. EST at New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road in Washington, D.C. to highlight her unresolved case. 

Each year, D.C.’s Missing Voice helps bring together the community and the Metropolitan Police Department to observe July 11 as Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day. The day is dedicated to honoring Relisha, distributing her missing posters and demonstrating the community’s continuous efforts in the search for answers. 

Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day in D.C. on July 11, 2023. Photo credit Sarah Baker.

The Metropolitan Police Department says Relisha’s case is important to remember and released this statement: 

Relisha Rudd's case remains open, and the officers and detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department will never give up the search for her. We continue to solicit information from the public regarding her disappearance.

Since Relisha went missing 10 years ago, MPD has received thousands of tips regarding her case, and we are encouraged by the public's commitment to finding her. We will continue to pursue every lead until our investigators, Relisha's family, and the community have answers about her disappearance. 

For more information on current missing persons, please visit missing.dc.gov. We would like to remind the community that there is no minimum time requirement that a person must be missing before a missing person report can be filed.

If you have any information on Relisha or her disappearance, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or the Washington Metropolitan Police Department at 1-202-265-9100 or their command info center at 1-202-727-9099.  

You can view Relisha’s missing poster here: https:/ /www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1229904/1.