Although African Americans make up just 12 percent of the U.S. population, we account for 33 percent of the missing in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s database. Cases involving African Americans also tend to receive less media coverage than missing Whites, with missing men of color getting even less attention.
NewsOne has partnered with the Black and Missing Foundation to focus on the crisis of missing African Americans.
To be a part of the solution, NewsOne will profile missing persons and provide tips about how to keep your loved ones safe and what to do if someone goes missing.
Lashaya Stine
Source: Family Photo / National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Case Type: Endangered
Date of Birth: Feb. 8, 2000
Missing Date: July 15, 2016
Age Now: 17
Missing City: Aurora
Missing State: Colorado
Case Number: NCMEC1272949
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Complexion: Medium
Height: 5-6
Weight: 150
Hair Color: Black
Hair Length: Long
Eye Color: Brown
Wear Glasses or Contacts: No
Location Last Seen: Lashaya was last seen near a bus stop at the 1600 block of N. Peoria St. in Aurora, Colorado, at 2:30 a.m. on July 15, 2016.
Circumstances of Disappearance: Police believe that Lashaya may have left home to meet up with someone. Her mother Sabrina Jones told Fox 31 that it is unlike her daughter to be out that time of the morning and to go for a long period without contacting family.
“Just to know that she’s out here walking these streets that time of the morning, I can’t see that,” Jones told the station. “Especially in the middle of the night on Colfax and Peoria and Montview, it’s just not like her to do such a thing.”
Jones told Denver 7 that her daughter was an honor student who was scheduled to start a much-desired hospital internship not long after she went missing. The teen left home without any additional pieces of clothing, her cell phone charger or even her wallet.
The station also reported that Lashaya’s family believes she’s being held against her will and that the Aurora police chief said they had received information about the case that was troubling.
When contacted by NewsOne, Aurora Police Officer Diana Cooley declined to expand on what troubling information the department may have received.
“Everything gets looked at,” Cooley said when asked about the possibility that Lashaya was being held against her will.
Cooley said the case is still active and the department investigates every lead they receive but there have not been any new tips in a while.
Identifying Marks or Characteristics: Lashaya has a quarter-sized scar on her chest.
SEE ALSO:
Jerome Easter Jr.’s Case Highlights Challenges Of Finding Missing With Mental Illness
Nicholas Alexander Lee McCray Goes Missing On Way Home To Detroit
Missing and Endangered Colorado Teen Lashaya Stine Last Seen Early Morning Near Bus Stop was originally published on newsone.com
