Police are trying ( information is not even up on the police site) to locate the pregnant 12-year-old girl who has been missing since Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Tekenya Wooten ran away from a group home in Durham North Carolina the address is 3529 Manford Drive. Apparently, this 12-year old child who also happens to be eights months pregnant does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, according to a news release issued this afternoon, the Durham Police Department "is very concerned about her welfare and we are actively looking for her. This is a crime and of itself. She is a ward of the State of North Carolina. She is in double jeopardy. She appears to have no family. And she may have been a victim of crime and the baby is a result of a rape. If so, who is the father of the child? Was a DNA sample taken? Is the father of the child is custody? Or was Tekenya's pregnancy a result of a rape.
Why isn't the Durham children and family services involved in finding her? It is there responsibiliy. They basically, lost her in allowing the child to go to an unsecured facility.
Tekenya, is eight months pregnant, is described by Durham police as a 5-foot-1-inch black female who weighs about 100 pounds. She was last seen with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and she was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and silver-colored shoes. It would appear the police are making their own rules up as they go along. This child deserves our attention. Perhaps if she was white and pregnant, living at home more would be done to locate the child. She did not select her circumstances. And it's not our place to judge the situation.
Two people are missing, a child and an almost full term baby. Usually, one does not run away if something is wrong in the first place.
I am asking for everyone who reads this to please send an email outrage of action. Below in blue has been created so you can paste and send out to the media and other email and fax numbers.
Durham Police Department has classified Tekenya Wooten in her high risk condition as a “run a way”. Because of your refusal to place information on your police site about the child and her baby and issue the all points bulletin. You greatly reduce the chances Tekenya will be found, safe. Something went terribly wrong at the group home. Have you investigated the home? Spoken with other residents and staff? A group home is not a warehouse for troubled youth. It is suppose to be a safe place for chilldren who have no family and or have been in danger. A child, pregnant can not be very far. Is this a new way to "profile the less fortunate? Do you even know the circumstances of her pregnancy? This is a life. Treating a child like yesterday's garbage waiting for a truck to pick it up and haul it away is a crime. Please take the time and work to properly ensure media coverage by issuing an Amber Alert in this situation.
Here are some more places to write and call for attention to this case:
News Director Ellen Reinhardt: ereinhardt@ncnn.com
Morning News David Horn : dhorn@ncnn.com
The News & Observer Main Phone #: (919) 829-4500
WRAL:Newsroom: (919) 821-8600 or (800) 245-WRAL
Newsroom Fax: (919) 821-8541
Durham Child Protective Services (919) 560-8424
