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Saturday, 14 March 2015 17:10

Sheriffs pledge support to families of missing persons Featured

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Burnette speaks to the audience. Burnette speaks to the audience.

The sheriffs of Halifax and Northampton counties today pledged their support to families of missing people both individually and collectively.

Northampton County Sheriff Jack Smith said following a prayer vigil sponsored by the Northampton County Branch of the NAACP, he and Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp would be meeting to discuss the cases and come up with ways to keep the names of the missing in the forefront as well as continue investigative efforts.

“We're going to go back and go over them again,” Smith said. “Sheriff Tripp and I will meet together and put together a think-tank and look at getting them on billboards to give their names.”

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The missing people — Shawn Alston, Shonda Stansbury, Robert Moore Sr., Amy Bridgeman, Daniel Moses and Jalesa Reynolds — represent both counties, said Smith. “We have investigators we've assigned. We're still working on these cases.”

One of the requests made by speakers at the vigil was to bring the FBI in to look at the cases. Tripp said he plans to do just that Monday.

Sheila Moses, whose brother Daniel has been missing since 2011, organized the vigil with Northampton NAACP President Tony Burnette.

Sheila Moses.

“We are asking to the District Attorney to do what is right. We are asking G.K. Butterfield to call the FBI and come and see our families. We ask you to do the right thing.”

Said Burnette: “The mission is to bring attention to the missing in Northampton and Halifax counties. There are mothers without daughters, kids without mothers. There are six people less than 30 miles away.”

Another constant message, as echoed by Burnette, was someone knows something. “They are out there and we want to let them we're not going anywhere. The NAACP is not going anywhere.”

Sheriff Smith.

The cases, Burnette said, cross racial lines. “All lives matter in the United States today. Our voices are going to be heard. We're going to stand by the victims.”

Halifax County NAACP Chapter President David Harvey said he shared the same sentiments as Burnette and that the state NAACP is also calling on the FBI to intervene in the cases. “We will fight together as one,” Harvey said. “Half of the missing are from Halifax County. This has nothing to do with color. This has to do with human life.”

Sheriff Smith told the audience, “We can't do but so much without the help of the public. We're looking at getting advertisements with their faces or names. We are following up on all leads.”

Tripp leads a prayer with the audience.

Some leads have turned out to be gags and jokes, he said. “My goal is to help bring closure to the family members. I have an aunt in Virginia who is missing. I want us to come together as citizens and children of God.”

Tripp, who offered a prayer for the family members, said, “I also welcome investigation by the FBI.”

Said Moses: “We are all victims. My question is where is the FBI? Last week when a train derailed there was CNN and the New York Times. Our train is off the track.”

Burnette said afterward, “I'm happy with the turnout. I hope there was something said today that will touch someone's heart to have them come forward with information that will help bring closure to the families of the missing people. The NAACP will continue to monitor the cases and support the families in any way they can.”

Read 4831 times Last modified on Saturday, 14 March 2015 17:27