Missing children: How racial disparities impact the search for the missing | States of America

USA TODAY Investigative Reporter Gina Barton and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explore how the media and police handle cases that involve missing children of color. Gina examines two cases - the story of 7-year-old Alexis Patterson who went missing on May 3, 2002, in Milwaukee, and the widely publicized case of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart who went missing a month later in Salt Lake City. Alexis was Black and Elizabeth was white. Through an emotional interview with Alexis’ mother, we learn why she feels her daughter’s investigation was handled differently because of her race and socioeconomic level. We also interview the current chief of the Milwaukee Police Department who acknowledges that, “trust is a continuous process” with communities of color. Gina Barton has followed the story of Alexis Patterson for 20 years and on States of America she reveals what her research suggests are some of the flaws in the way that cases of missing children of color are handled by both the police and media.
Help USA TODAY investigate missing kids
If you believe you have experienced unfair treatment when reporting a child missing or if you know of a case you think we should look into, we want to hear from you. Please fill out this form: bit.ly/missing_kids or reach out to USA TODAY investigative reporter Gina Barton at [e-mail].
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#MissingChildren #Policing #Milwaukee

[@charlottejones8903]

7 years old is too young to let your child walk by herself.

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@lorriesantos340]

WHY DO THE POLICE ALWAYS THINK THEY RAN AWAY !!!!!!

[@Astyanaz]

Because most of the time something like that is what happened. Or the child did something and didn't tell their parents. It's terrible that isn't always what has happened.

[@pumpkinseeds8990]

Because most of the time it ends up as runaways

[@w..j..2605]

Working with at risk kids, it’s very common & have a prior history of running away. I worked with a 14 y/o who took a train & went to New Jersey to go see her dad.

[@jaleria489]

They always assume the worst of black children, it’s sad

[@dejproctor4801]

All these responses trash. Most cases they aren’t run aways and really is missing.

[@jovalove]

After attendance is taken, any child who isn't present, their parents should be called just to be sure. I can't believe this momma's been suffering all this time. Praying for her return and for her family 💜💜💜

[@originalunoriginal4055]

Yhh, especially when it's a pupil that has almost never missed school across most of their high school

[@felicema1936]

Most schools do… an automatic call is made after noon

[@w..j..2605]

@@felicema1936That’s at the end of the day & it’s only a recording. When people are missing & there’s foul play, the victim is killed within 2-3 hours. You gotta wait 24 hours just to file a missing person’s report. Unfortunately, 89% of victims are already murdered by then. Schools should immediately notify parents of their child’s absence within 30 minutes.

[@Dreamy_-kf4fo]

Her mother should have been notified immediately!!!

[@addie_is_me]

They do it when they are doing what they are supposed to and that is not some new law as people think. I'm going to be 58. When I was in kindergarten it was done and there had to be a list of who the child could be picked up by or not.

[@MegaGrownFolks]

I still think of Lexis. I remember helping on the search for her and was very sad but praying we find her. The media has always been horrible and racist

[@shannon6249]

Yes it’s crazy I STILL see stories about Natalie Holloway and Jonbenet…. What about all the other children missing ?

[@droberts8703]

I hope she is found safe.

[@ambermoon9592]

This is true. Unfortunately this is America.

[@pumpkinseeds8990]

When a race makes up a majority of the population obviously they are gonna get more treatment. That's literally how life has always been

[@felicema1936]

So sad we have to discuss matters like this…..

[@INDIGO.GODDESS_573]

​@@pumpkinseeds8990 You sound like a fool That AIN'T got shhht to do with searching 4 EVERY MISSING HUMAN. THEY SEARCH HARDER 4 Missing dogs, than they do black people.. That's FACTS!!! STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR WHY YTE PEOPLE ARE TREATED BETTER!! HOW DISGUSTING!

[@Alienwatcher]

​@@pumpkinseeds8990you're everywhere trying to defend your racism lol

[@droberts8703]

It's very difficult to even report a missing person.Take care everyone

[@beyourself2444]

She’s seven and you don’t drop her off to school, who the hell does that in this modern scary times?

[@ryoungblood6308]

Didn’t they say the step dad walked her to school and handed her off to the crossing guard

[@bryantstricklandsr.3446]

I can't even imagine!!! Prayers for this family and ALEXIS PATTERSON'S safe return soon/or some closure for this Beautiful Mother!!! ❣️🙏💯

[@biancaplus6262]

The step dad did it, that walking her to school story was a alibi, smh

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@brittxnyakawaii12]

This ❤

[@narcfreekeekee9168]

Yeah that handing her off to the crossing guard is sus

[@rashaunwilliams6121]

Girl please.

[@myopinion1705]

It could be someone in the neighborhood that seen her walk home every day

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@teemiller891]

@@benlotus2703he’s freaking dead stop saying that

[@ernestinamartinez6745]

Pls everyone share this for awareness of this poor lil girls family I just shared this mom needs justice 😢❤🌎🥰

[@noted_9743]

The mother is no better than the step dad. She allowed this drug addict around her child. Sad that this child had people like this in her life

[@karmag4244]

Shut da front door!😮😮

[@reneedennis2011]

Thank you for this video.

[@robertafierro5592]

The disparities are HUGE!! Just for the record I'm considered white. How come the pretty white girls get all the attention?!?

[@WaynerTheGamer]

That Requires you to expand learning more of 🇺🇸 & not the ignorance of black lens bs excuses or trash idealogies. Go on try making a difference, learn the Truth the HardWay.

[@WaynerTheGamer]

All them black folks organized BLM but can't do same effort in finding these kids? Think about it. Blame the Representatives Democrats Responsible for its people. Oh wait, they too busy blaming white folks for everything.

[@lorriesantos340]

If 840,000 children go missing every year...HOW COME WE NEVER SEE ANYTHING ON THE MEDIA ABOUT IT HARDLY...MAYBE a VERY FEW CASES

[@originalunoriginal4055]

@@lorriesantos340 so in 10 years, over 5 million kids gone missing? 5 million less in human population?

[@malikaivillatte9065]

This is heartbreaking

[@MegaGrownFolks]

Come home Alexis. Dear Heavenly Father, please show her the way❤

[@mzbatonrougebeauty5267]

So did the crossing guard confirm he saw her

[@nicholewhite4067]

I hope this will be a happy ending

[@ericmuhammed2859]

Very sad I Always wish in My Heart that I could bring A missing child Home to Beautiful Mother's like Alexis Mother . My Heart ❤️ would Love to See the Joy in the Beautiful Mother's Faces to finally See their Babies Again ( Some may not Be babies any more when they finally see them again ) but I would Love to See the Joy in the Beautiful Mother's Faces to finally See them again .

[@ericmuhammed2859]

To Alexis Mom I really hope that your child is still Alive and I hope and Pray in My Heart to God that You See Your child again continue to Pray to God don't stop Praying on it .

[@peterpiper5098]

You cant let a little child her age so young like that walk to school by there self and walk home while you in the house just sitting there. Thats wild

[@ryoungblood6308]

They said the step dad walked her to school

[@hunna5849]

So many unanswered questions is she still alive? 😢 why did her stepfather hand her off to the crossing guard instead of dropping Alexis in the school that's so strange

[@abba4844]

This is sad.

[@user-dh5yp9ek6p]

I don't think Ayanna Patterson the Mother had nothing to do with Her Daughter being missing ❤ 🙏😇💯

[@malaysiabrown8827]

Y'all need a check the cameras and see what direction did she go so y'all could go that direction and try to find her cuz I know this girl is out here somewhere 😔

[@hurricanesexxy]

There were no camera's back then.

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@malaysiabrown8827]

@@benlotus2703 he died

[@karmag4244]

Trafficking and sold to another family

[@LisaDarabian]

I Swear I seen this Girl in the Nortend of Sarasota Yesterday evening at about 7pm

[@user-dh5yp9ek6p]

And I do believe that Lisa Miller is Alexis Patterson why She won't admit it, I don't know . No body has 8-body marks that Are Exactly the Same and that not being the Same Person, that just does not happen, So that has to Be Her ( Alexis Patterson ) .

[@ryoungblood6308]

Right

[@user-dh5yp9ek6p]

@@ryoungblood6308 ThAnk You

[@ajwriter5699]

Like MJ said, “They don’t really care about us.”

[@teeceeretro6383]

That school should've been lock down cuz if the father gave her to the crossing guard wtf happen to her after that

[@rsspriteharlot4959]

wow wow

[@marsheajohnnies4963]

I believe she knows she ain’t never gonna come home …crying with no tears just like she was doing when Alexis went missing 😢

[@SnowLeopardForever]

People DON’T behave in public the way you think they should when they lose a loved one. This is real life NOT a movie or show! Some people don’t cry or show grief in public. Some do it in private. Just because you don’t see some people’s grief in public doesn’t mean they’re aren’t going through it in private!!!!!😡 I say this as someone who’s mother recently died from cancer.

[@MaryjaneLove]

& she didn't walk to school alone ... The mom ex husband Who is white walked her to school that day ... The ex husband was the last person to see her alive . . The ex is Dead now so who knows what happen that morning . . . 💔💔

[@crushingcolours]

Just terrible! And the abuse of privilege and power continues to take away from our beautiful brown melanated people 💔😠

[@insanebabyskyinsane9642]

I thank the father had something to do with it

[@nicholewhite4067]

She's cute I definitely think she should have been given whole lot more attention

[@sadiasultana6280]

ooh

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

Interesting....

[@yuriram3064]

Never a tear from her mom, even in all of her interviews not a single tear. I may be wrong, but, mom knows she is not coming back.

[@myviewpoint2750]

I hold back tears under pressure - when the pressure is too great. You cannot say ‘no tears’ mean something negative.

[@zadiemgregory4540]

Stepdad

[@gwendalyn1]

all children should be treated the same always no matter what

[@ajwriter5699]

Not in the Good Old Boy-governed USA

[@AmbTVonline]

Her step most likely killed her. His friend mentioned that he helped him “clean” their house that same morning, her step dad failed the lie detector test, and truth be told, if he would’ve walked her to school, she would’ve been there. No one is going to kidnap a kid in the middle of the street as they are walking to school.

[@ryoungblood6308]

I missed that part of the video. What’s weird to me is how this other woman in Ohio has all the same distinctive markings that Alexis had? If it’s not Alexis.

[@rawfunusa9529]

wow

[@tineshabooker6968]

Nothing new.

[@myopinion1705]

Wheres her dad???

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@vlz30177]

❤Black & Missing Our family truly miss us Fore them it’s to much to truly bare We just need your help It will show you really care Fore It’s so many of us missing It seems some don’t really care To them we’re not important For others to see or be aware Please 🙏🏾 open up your mind To this mess that’s all around It more people of color missing then you think We all just want to be found. May God be with all those that our still missing. May they be found and brought home safely…..🙏🏾🥰🙏🏾

[@apostleharrietlocklear8138]

Is very sad it shouldn’t be any difference because of the nationality or the color of any child skin. All children are important and you cannot assume because the child is black Spanish, Mexican, Cuban Indian or whatever nationality they may be a race that they ran away from home we do have wonderful, caring, loving mothers, and fathers that do love their children and their children are happy at home.. we must not tolerate this any longer All lives Matter. Where is the people and a community should all get involved even the clergies should get involved no matter what religion you are.

[@lurleenkerr1541]

The lady in Ohio is not her daughter

[@benlotus2703]

Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@theaveragejosie2638]

Good ole America

[@Maui_Gyrl_]

Why would the lady in Ohio not want to give a DNA test?? First she said she would then she not speak to authorities...yet she have the same markings at Alexis

[@lurleenkerr1541]

She did give her dna 🧬

[@debbiecarter2]

Parents of all missing children are suspects at first. Every single time, no matter the race. The police will investigste them but that doesn't nean they don't have people looking.

[@lajosjuhasz4523]

in so situation need if cant anything to do or say how waite 24 hours experted dog searchers to call and not so much trumple on scent. more dog searcher but experts professionals. yet with hawks falces can to search thoses breath likewise. rqdio sender on they...

[@yaasiinaburas8110]

Yaasin aburaas

[@debbiecarter2]

ASHA DEGREE is still on the news now and then and she's black. Been missing since the early 80's. Probably taken.

[@benlotus2703]

Raycist!

[@jbwb_12369]

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE REPORTING?!? This wasnt about racial disparity and this police department PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL into this case. The stepfather NEVER walked Alexis to school and he did that morning?? He DID NOT hand her off to the crossing guard, the crossing guard said she never saw them. He was a drug dealer and this mom pretends like it was a happy family. She "whooped" her that morning according to the little brother because Alexis didn't put her socks on right! There was no story of a little spat, that is bs. Just listen to the word choices when the mother talks. Even from the beginning it was all about her. Why is the teacher still crying but not the mother?? This video ENRAGES me. How irresponsible of you to publish this pack of lies!!

[@coreythomas3633]

YA LAME

[@mekaj.4492]

Sex trafficking or organ harvesting ??

[@Queenalika85]

It's something fishy about this story and I think that girl Lisa is Alexis

[@debbiecarter2]

Until POC wake up, really listen and wake up, nobody can help you. Look up Walnut sauce for beginners. We have begged you to listen, but you won't. We have literally begged you.

[@debbiecarter2]

Trash the young woman that won't let you do a DNA test on her. She could be the one to give this mother closure but chooses not to.

[@ShannonRishforth-nd6pn]

God bless you 🙏 please see what you can do to find him and kids in cages He is a cannibal too for Church of Satan

[@user-yg6fo7nb7e]

What does color have to do with anything this video just threw me off !!

[@mzbatonrougebeauty5267]

Elizabeth Smart went missing the FBI got involved and offered a 250k reward for her... It took 3 days for them to get involved in this case. A week later they offered 10k for her

[@benlotus2703]

@@mzbatonrougebeauty5267 Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@tamaiajohnson5140]

7yrs old ‼️‼️‼️wtf aren’t u walking your child‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@latyshal.2286]

As usual, you're loud and wrong. 🙄 It was stated in this video that the stepfather walked 7-year-old Alexis to school the day she went missing.

[@tamaiajohnson5140]

@@latyshal.2286 as usual being negative under a sensitive video just no home training idc what u say clown 🤡 I said what I said ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️now loud that

[@sns76]

Why is the whole world silent?! Ukrainian troops seek to undermine the nuclear power plant!!! This is a deadly accident.

[@CapricornSunSagRisingLibraMoon]

This video is about Alexis.

[@benlotus2703]

@@CapricornSunSagRisingLibraMoon Ask the $tep-Daddy.

[@FireRescue884]

400k go missing every year like fart in the wind, that’s of all races. How about you get out there, let’s us know when you have them solved👍

[@masterben4533]

JuZZtice

[@masterben4533]

Hahahahaaha