Everybody always wanted to sit next to her.. LEFT: Ayanna Patterson reacts to a 2016 statement from police that an Ohio womans DNA does not match that of Alexis. Hoping those already incarcerated might know something, Milwaukee police included her image in a pack of cold case playing cards that were then sent to jails and prisons across Wisconsin. We all paid attention. Contact Gina Barton on Signal at 262-757-8640 or at gbarton@gannett.com. Norman would not say whether the earlier news report was accurate. "Believe me. MILWAUKEE It's been 20 years since Alexis Patterson, who was 7-years-old at the time, went missing on her way to school. "This is one of those cases, when you think Milwaukee, unfortunately, things like Jeffrey Dahmer and Alexis Patterson are names that come up," says . The Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office is currently offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Alexis return. Glen Mills Schools: Hub for Mind Control/ Social Experimentation on Teens and Young Adults? As of the end of last year, more than 1,000 missing children had been recovered as a result of the alerts. MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Tuesday, May 3 will mark a solemn anniversary in Milwaukee, reaching 20 years since Alexis Patterson went missing. In July 2016, investigators received information from a man named Joshua Miller of Bryan, Ohio, who believed his ex-wife to be Alexis. Im from the 'hood. She is too much like me, says Ayanna. VIDEO: At an event marking the 20th year of Alexis Patterson's disappearance, Ayanna Patterson shares her conviction that her daughter will come home. Four years later, in June 2009, he was also convicted of the manufacture and delivery of cocaine in Portage County, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison. In December 2013, Kenya was charged with beating his 8-month-old daughter. LEFT: Student volunteers from El Puente High School in Milwaukee gather to hand out flyers and help in the 2002 search for Alexis Patterson. There are currently no suspects, but its said that investigators have not ruled anyone out. 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. . All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. In addition to race, we will examine other factors that may explain the discrepancies, including families incomes, whether they live in urban or rural areas and whether they have had past contact with police. Alexis is alive, she said. For months, volunteers would search the city daily for the missing girl. The way police categorize a disappearance also plays an important role. Patterson said she wouldnt take a second test unless the FBI showed her the report of her first one, and they refused. 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. That same year, police subpoenaed four Milwaukee television stations, seeking tapes of past news coverage about the case. When Patterson tried to get the FBI involved in verifying the identity of the Ohio woman, she received a similar response. She had entered the living room after hearing crying, where shed found the infant bleeding from her mouth and with her left eye deviated, as if she were having a seizure. Past residents include Eleanora Elamin, Vickie Patterson, Mary Morrow, Robert Miller and Bonnie Urich. Alexis Patterson was the much loved daughter of Ayanna Patterson and Kenya Campbell; known affectionately as 'Lexi' or 'Pie.'. If alive, she would be 24 years old. Im not afraid of nothingnow that I know my babys safe, and I know my babys alive.. He told Colleen Henry of WISN 12 that Ayanna knows thats her child. He said Alexis and Lisa have a birth mark in the exact same spot.. If Patterson passed with flying colors, then nobody has a second thought about doing whatever we need to do, the agent told her. I told him the truth, and he says that?. The reporter showed Patterson a photo of a woman named Lisa who lived in Bryan, Ohio, nearly 300 miles from Milwaukee. Hey guys welcome back to another missing person case Monday. Smart, now an advocate for missing children, acknowledgedafterPetitos disappearance how problematic it is that the cases of missing white people get more attention than missing people of color. However, this call has never been proven, as Kenya had deleted the call history on his cellphone. Ayanna and LaRon were also brought in for questioning, with LaRon of specific interest due to his criminal past. 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. Ayanna says she doesn't believe the DNA test was conducted correctly, if at all. BOTTOM PHOTO: Proclamations recognizing May 3 as Alexis Patterson Forget Me Not Day on display at the event her mother called an awakening., VIDEO: At an event marking the 20th year of Alexis Patterson's disappearance, Ayanna Patterson shares her conviction that her daughter will come home. This led her to hire a private investigator. Joshua said Lisa had no memory of her childhood prior to the age of ten. Alexis was not in class on the day she went missing, but was reportedly seen by classmates on the playground that morning. Three days later, Milwaukee Police Chief Arthur Jones told reporters he believed Alexis had run away. Seven-year-old Alexis Patterson went missing in May of 2002. Her biological father, Kenya Campbell, left before Alexis was born and he was not involved in her life. Investigators also went door-to-door in the days after she went missing, asking people if theyd seen her, and billboards were set up across Milwaukee, asking those with information to come forward. Demetria Patterson Lisa Burke Martha Miller Del Jean Ross Mickie Brown Madelyn Miller Carole Phillipson Wanda Aponte Piper Zinn Jess Kostella Jennifer Hawkes Chase Miller Brian Giardina Looking for Alexis Patterson online? Although it was then called a Rachael Alert, Utah had already set up its system another key difference between Alexis case and Elizabeths. Is there more to the story? Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #alexispatterson . It also shares that Ayanna and Joshua know that his ex-wife is really Alexis, but both have been instructed to keep quiet. 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. MILWAUKEE Tuesday marks 20 years since 7-year-old Alexis Patterson disappeared in 2002. To have been abducted, someone had to be . That theory stemmed from an argument she had with her mother the morning she disappeared. Family and friends are staying supportive, saying gatherings like this are important to keep Alexis' name alive. Friday, Milwaukee police confirm that they. The previous day, Patterson had taken Alexis to the store, where she picked out some cupcakes to share with her classmates. It was also announced by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett that May 3 would be known as Alexis Patterson: Forget Me Not Day. Patterson believes having strangers collect the sample and ship it left open the possibility that someone could have tampered with it. I'm not giving up ever," Patterson said. But Norman confirmed that police still have not ruled out the possibility that Alexis mother and stepfathermay have had something to do with her disappearance. 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. Patterson checked with her grandmother, who lived nearby, but she hadnt seen the girl either. She rarely lets them out of her sight, choosing to drive them to and from school, instead of having them take the school bus. The results of genetic testing released Thursday exclude the possibility that an Ohio woman is Alexis Patterson, the Milwaukee girl who vanished on her way to school 14 years ago. Until told otherwise, we have to keep all those possibilities open.. Upon arriving at the Patterson home, police agreed with the potential scenario presented by Alexis parents. But Norman confirmed that police still have not ruled out the possibility that Alexis mother and stepfather may have had something to do with her disappearance. 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. Ayanna and LaRon separated shortly after Alexis went missing, with both having since moved away from the Milwaukee area. Alexis Patterson was born on April 4, 1995 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some investigators have continued to focus on Alexis family because they didnt trust her stepfather, who had driven the getaway car after a 1994 bank robbery in which a suburban police officer was killed, according to retired Milwaukee Police Detective Steve Spingola, who was in charge of Alexis'case in the beginning. Saturday, July 9, 2016 --- Fourteen years ago, seven-year-old Alexis Patterson was dropped off at a Milwaukee elementary school and never seen again. As a result, information about Elizabeths abduction was disseminated widely within hours. Joshua told reporters that there were things about Lisas past that did not add up. I always hope that we as a department be as professional and honest and forthright as possible, he said. 64 Shamrock Cir, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 5871 N Castlegate Dr, Atlanta, GA 30349 405 Fairfield Cir, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Each certificate was proudly displayed, alongside a poster-sized photos of Alexis, at an event Sunday in Milwaukee marking the 20th anniversary of her disappearance. This tip led to the search of a vacant house in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but nothing was found. On May 14, 2002, investigators announced that Alexis disappearance was the result of suspicious circumstances and had been reclassified as a criminal investigation. The post included pictures of missing children from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Milwaukee police told Patterson it didnt match but she doesnt believe them. Despite investigators belief that Alexis was so angry she skipped school, Milwaukee police acted with extreme urgency, said Chief Jeffrey Norman, who was a detective back then. 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. RIGHT: LaRon Bourgeois, stepfather of Alexis Patterson, stands in the intersection near her Milwaukee school, where Alexis was last seen, in 2002. Becky Patterson . Kenya has shared that he mourns the loss of his daughter. However, despite this, Alexis parents were not notified of her absence until after classes had been dismissed for the day. Alexis case has been featured on In Pursuit With John Walsh, The View, Find Our Missing, Maury Povich, Crime Watch Daily, Ricki Lake and Americas Most Wanted. BOTTOM: LaRon Bourgeois, stepfather of Alexis Patterson, stands in the intersection near her Milwaukee school, where Alexis was last seen, in 2002. They would tell you, in todays environment, she said, this is one of the things thats automatically done. "No matter if you have to go out of the state or out of the country, I will go with her to help her find her child," Quinones said. Why missing Black children are more likely to be considered runaways than white children. 31 year old male. I know that the department took it very seriously. From there, scientists at Wisconsins state crime lab sequenced it and compared it to Alexis DNA profile. If Alexis went missing today, Norman said, police would issue an Amber Alert because of her age. All Rights Reserved. What Really Happened to Alexis Patterson? 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. In Milwaukee, law enforcement sources leaked information to the media, saying Alexis mother had passed a polygraph, but her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, had failed. Police thoroughly examined this potential lead. Advertisement. I clearly do remember Alexiss story being out there. February 6, 2019 Queen 7 year old Alexis Patterson of Milwaukee, WI went missing in May 2002 after her Recent Comments Ian on Pimp C, Codeine or Conspiracy? They wouldnt have never treated me this way if I was white. Upon him leaving for work the next morning, she had been asleep on the couch. He also told police he had returned home with his daughter around 3:00pm on November 21, 2013, with no signs of injury, after which he was her sole caretaker until 5:00pm. After Ayanna reached out to her, she got in contact with the local sheriffs office, who sent officers to Ohio. I told him the truth, and he says that?. Joshua spent four years working to expose the case and does not trust the DNA results. I poured out my heart to this man, and thats what he says? she said. As a result, its never been identified and police have not been able to conclude if its connected to the case or not. 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. Senator Lena Taylor caught wind of the theory during this time, as shed been helping the Patterson family in their search for Alexis. She was found nine months after her abduction. 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. In 2002, Wisconsin had not yet adopted Amber Alerts. Includes summary of election income, expenditures and surplus campaign funds. MILWAUKEE May 3, 2021, will mark 19 years since then seven-year-old Alexis Patterson disappeared without a trace. 2) Theres a conspiracy theory that states the town of Bryan, Ohio is made up of missing children who dont know who they really are. ? There was a frenzied approach of, Theres someone missing in our community, a young one, and were going to put in all the effort, the work, hold no stops, he said in an interview last week. Summary information is updated to reflect amendments since the report was initially filed. The commemoration to mark the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of Alexis Patterson will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Hi-Mount Elementary School, 4921 W. Garfield Ave., with a prayer and . In themorning, Patterson realized Alexis hadnt finished her homework, so she wouldnt let her bring the treats. Bourgeois failed a polygraph test, but the questions that were failed were not released to the public. Norman, the police chief, acknowledged that probably wasnt the best way to gain Pattersons trust. Although it was then called a Rachael Alert, Utah had already set up its system another key difference between Alexis case and Elizabeths. As a result, she was told she wouldnt be allowed to bring in cupcakes for her classmates, which upset her, as May 3 was her day to bring in a snack for her class. An FBI spokesman declined to comment. Police records say otherwise. But Patterson's family and the ex-husband of the Ohio woman says, not so f fox6now.com Ex-husband of Ohio woman who provided DNA sample into Patterson case says test was faulty View the latest known address, phone number and possibly related persons. View Leah Patterson results in Pennsylvania (PA) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. The reporter showed Patterson a photo of a woman named Lisa who lived in Bryan, Ohio, nearly 300 miles from Milwaukee. They show an officer in Ohio swabbed Lisas cheek in front of witnesses, then sent the sample to Milwaukee police via FedEx. In July 2016, Milwaukee Police stated that DNA results indicated Lisa was not Alexis. When she hadnt arrived by 2:55 on that Friday in May 2002, her mother, Ayanna Patterson, began to worry. To report anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app. Examining the world of solved and unsolved cases. Last Person to See Alexis Patterson Before 2002 Disappearance Dies. Its a win-win for you. There is little empirical evidence that explains why. At the time, police determined the DNA wasn't a match. According to Joshua, there were aspects of his ex-wifes past that didnt add up, as she had no memory of her childhood prior to her being 10 years old. "It's been twenty years, and this is a hard fight. Norman would not say whether the earlier news report was accurate. Everybody always wanted to sit next to her.. The plot of land where the pair lived is now a vacant lot. As he began to dig into her past, he came across Alexis missing persons flyer, where he discovered she and his ex-wife had a similar birthmark in the same place. However, very little has been elaborated about in regards to this. Daniel Chong. Her stepfather walked her to school, but the school said she never made it to class. Local law officials, along with cousins of Alexis Patterson who was abducted while enroute to Hi Mount School 11 years ago was remembered on Friday, May 3, 2013. He said he wanted to get Lisa and her kids into safety, away from that man. What man? they still deserve, just every bit as much, to be found. In addition to celebrating those who have stood by her for two decades,Patterson also spoke her truth, loudly and sometimes through tears. He had then left for work, leaving his mother to care for the infant. While Sunday's event was private, there will be a public gathering at Hi-Mount Elementary School on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, the 20th anniversary of Alexis' disappearance. At the end of the day, she didnt come home. 7 year old Alexis Patterson of Milwaukee, WI went missing in May 2002 after her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeois, walked her to school. Two weeks before Alexis went missing, parents at Hi-Mount Boulevard School had received letters warning them of man who had tried to abduct a little boy near the school. At 3:00pm, shortly after learning of her daughters absence, Ayanna contacted local police. And I aint giving up.. In Milwaukee, the first story about Alexis was published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday, two daysafter she disappeared. It played out again in 2005, when Natalee Holloway vanished on a class trip to Aruba. In the coming months, USA TODAY Network reporters will embark on a national project to compile data and public records that expose why these disparities in police response and news coverage of missing children occur and how they can be addressed. As a result of Alexis disappearance, Ayanna has been a lot more protective of her children. According to the FBIs National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File, there are 88,089 active missing person records, of which juveniles under the age of 18 account for 32,121 (36.5%) of the records. News reports from the time say several of Elizabeths relatives took polygraphs, but there was no mention of the results. Recalling the phone call, she shook her head. She couldnt sleep. For the rest of us, some last-minute help might be in order. Police gave an Ohio woman a DNA test to see if she is Alexis Patterson, who was 7-years-old when she disappeared while walking to her Milwaukee, Wisconsin elementary school 14 years ago,. On May 6, 2002, he was released from prison and questioned by police, who say he has been fully cooperative with the investigation. I poured out my heart to this man, and thats what he says? she said. On the morning of May 3, 2002, Alexis Pattersons stepfather walked her to the corner and a crossing guard guided the 7-year-old across the street toward Hi-Mount Community School in Milwaukee. Pay attention to the statement Joshua made after the DNA results were revealed. supports HTML5 video. She always had a beautiful smile for everyone, said former Head Start teacher Benedicta Graves. Alexis Patterson was 7 when she vanished near her school in Milwaukee 20 years ago. She too was certain Joshuas ex-wife was the missing girl after seeing the pairs wedding photo. Alexis Patterson, 7, of Milwaukee, was last seen alive on May 3, 2002. I don't depend on the police. She knows. There are 127 results for persons named Alexis Patterson. She still does not believe them. I told him everything. If he was involved, Patterson says, he never told her. If you would like to know more about that theory, you would need to do your own research and see what you find. 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. Kenya plead not guilty to all four charges against him. He still feels she is indeed Alexis, but says she wont admit it because shes afraid of the people she knows to be her current family. If I would not have passed, then I wouldnt be standing here, he told a local reporter at the time. Recalling the phone call, she shook her head. 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. 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She has fully cooperated with the investigation. Some of those who had been re-interviewed shared that they may not have remembered correctly and that they may not have seen her that particular Friday morning. Bourgeois, who denied having anything to do with Alexis' disappearance, died of a probable drug overdose in 2021. 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. Milwaukee police told Patterson it didnt match but she doesnt believe them. She told reporters she has become increasingly frustrated with police's involvement on the case. BOTTOM: A Milwaukee Police officer climbs out of a boarded up home on the 2100 block N. 33rd St. in Milwaukee during the search for Alexis. His response, according to a recording Patterson made of the conversation, was to accuse her, again, of being involved in Alexis disappearance. Over the past eightmonths, the case of Gabby Petito, who disappeared on a road trip with her fiance and was later found dead, has once again brought the issue to the forefront of the public consciousness. Patterson spent the next few years angry. Im from the 'hood. Patterson believes having strangers collect the sample and ship it left open the possibility that someone could have tampered with it. Alexis is alive, she said. We see this . At 3, Patterson ran to the school in a panic. Despite this, she kept doing interviews, speaking with politicians and raising awareness about her daughters disappearance. Milwaukee Police Department set up a mobile command post, Milwaukee Police Chief Arthur Jones told reporters he believed Alexis had run away, law enforcement sources leaked information to the media, The reporter showed Patterson a photo of a woman, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. President George W. Bush greets Elizabeth Smart and her. The law enforcement response also differed. Alexis is Black and still missing. Getentrepreneurial.com: Resources for Small Business Entrepreneurs in 2022. Patterson said as much when she spoke with a new Milwaukee cold case detective recently only the second or third conversation she has had with him since he took over the case more than a year ago.
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