My blog amigo Yobachi asked me if I knew anyone here on the west coast who could spearhead an effort to get the word out about Chioma Gray, a beautiful, smart, kind and ambitious young girl now missing for almost a year. I don't know anyone like that, but I can lend my voice to the effort to find Chioma Gray and to bring her home to her family. Here is some background according to Kevin Myles at the Wichita NAACP blog:
From September 2008 - We are now approaching the 9 month mark since the disappearance of Chioma Gray, the 16 year old high school student who was kidnapped by Andrew Tafoya from her school in Oxnard California. 9 Months have passed... 9 months... and during that time we've heard countless cries and pleas for Stacy Peterson, Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, Madeline McCann, and now, little Caylee Anthony.
I grieve for the families in each of these tragic situations; no family should ever have to endure the grinding despair or enervating uncertainty of a missing loved one. But I have a special place in my heart for Chioma... I am pained by her disappearance and disheartened by the apparent limits of our compassion. Can we all not grieve for her as well? Can we all not share her mother's burden? ...
Kevin Myles spoke with Chioma Gray's mother and here is what she has asked of us:
I spoke with Chioma's mom yesterday... She told me that she hasn't received any word, NOTHING, from the FBI since February. She told me that the Ventura Police Department has already stopped looking. There were leads in the case that Chioma may have been spotted in Mexico, but they were never followed up on, reports of various sightings, and she still has no information and no real assistance.
Over these past 9 months, I have come to know Mrs. Black, and I consider her a friend. And it is truly painful to hear the hurt and the pain in her voice as she asks the very simple questions, "why won't anybody help me find my Chioma?" and to know that there is no good answer...
I ask you to help. Please forward this post to as many people as possible. It doesn't matter if you think no one you know can help - you never know. Let us do for each other what the mainstream media will not help us do for our children.
READ MORE - Where's the news on Chioma Gray - Black and Missing
READ MORE - Letter from Chioma Gray's Mother - Electronic Village
Comments: (61)
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By: Danna on 11/25/2008 3:22PM
My prayers go out to Chioma and her family. Have they found the guy that took her? AMW did a report on her didnt they?
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By: angel on 11/25/2008 3:37PM
I know alot of black people think that people dont look as hard for missing blacks as whites. I dont know if that is true, but I do KNOW that alot of black families will not stay on the phone with the authorities. NEVER wait for them to call you. "chioma's mom hasnt heard anything since February." I would be damned if I would WAIT for a phone call about my missing child. I would be on the phone every single day. EVERY DAY. Chioma is absolutely gorgeous... I pray she comes home safely SOON.
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By: debbie on 11/25/2008 3:39PM
If Chioma is a minor have her mother check with kid finders like Caylee Anthony's grandparents did. Fair is fair!
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By: bryan peters on 11/25/2008 4:08PM
I have granddaughters and nices her age when it comes to us blacks the police in any state all they know to do is lock somebody
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By: Will on 11/25/2008 5:24PM
What you're missing here is that Tafoya is Chioma's BOYFRIEND. Yes he's over 18 and yes he comitted a crime but the fact is that SHE RAN OFF WITH HIM. This is not a case of kidnapping of an innocent black girl igonored by authorities. Its a case of a young girl running off with her overaged perv boyfriend
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By: Connie on 11/25/2008 5:09PM
Does her family have a MySpace page? Have they considered posting her picture on pages such as MySpace, Facebook, even YouTube? I know that you have to worry about fakes and phonies, but with all of the people on these pages from around the globe, all miracles are possible.
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By: Not So Fast on 11/25/2008 5:26PM
Will you are ABSOLUTELY WRONG. The original information about this case was butchered. He was NOT her boyfriend. You erroneous repeating a now debunked rumor is part of the PROBLEM!
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By: katie on 11/25/2008 5:33PM
I can’t imagine how this family must feel, I would suggest they go to there local churches etc.. do a fund raiser and use that money to higher a Private Investigator, A PI has more legal leeway than the police. They might help you out a lot.
I also hope that the Mother has hired an attorney. An Attorney can put the pressure on the Local Police were it is needed. Prayer moves mountains, I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE and NOTHING IS SECRET THAT SHALL NOT MANIFEST ITSELF, and scandals move the press
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By: JK on 11/25/2008 5:56PM
Sorry folks a 16 year-old taking off with a 20-year-old boyfriend isn't as 911 as a baby missing or a possibly murdered wife:
Andrew Joshua Tafoya is wanted for allegedly taking a minor female, with whom he had an illegal relationship, across state lines in a stolen vehicle. It is believed that Tafoya took 15-year-old Chioma Gray from her high school in Ventura, California, and across the border into Mexico on December 13, 2007. The two may be travelling in a stolen, white 2008 Acura TSX with California license plate 6AXX928.
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By: JK on 11/25/2008 6:09PM
So in other words, this fast heffa isn't missing, her axx RAN away with a grown axx man at age 15.
My 15-year-old wouldn't think of doing something like this, and I didn't either because I knew my mama and daddy would beat my 15-year-old axx to death. The difference folks is that we want the world to get in a uproar over a runaway? I'm more concerned about black missing children.
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