Thursday, July 2, 2015

Missing: Leona Wright, 1 Year Old

1 year old Leona Wright is missing, last seen on June 8th, 2015.  This adorable little girl was in the hands of her mother, and her mother's boyfriend, and the story is not likely to have a positive ending. Here is why:

video is HERE

No statements for analysis at this point, but given the friend's view, the drug abuse, and the lack of cooperation...


Mother,  Kiara Sullivan, was arrested on separate charges on assault and battery, regarding a Wendy's employee, and the child's father.


Her 3 year old tested positive for cocaine, meth, and marijuana.  She and her boyfriend both tested positive for the same.

The police report that the family is not cooperating with police.

You will hear a friend defending her with the following:

"In my gut I think  that everyone involved, as far as from what I can see, is innocent because you are innocent until proven guilty. "

The friend has a strong suspicion but even defended the drug use.

from the news:

Baby Leaona went missing from the Edgewood Square apartment complex in Pendleton on June 8th.
Detective Garland Major says Sullivan and Jones gave them misinformation about the circumstances of the baby’s disappearance and hindered their investigation.
Anderson deputies say Sullivan and Leaona’s father, Richard Wright, have also been charged with assault and battery 3rd degree for a threatening to hurt a Wendy’s employee.
Deputies say the victim, an employee at the Wendy’s, was told by her manager, Wright, to do a floor sweep.  When the victim did not complete the sweep immediately, she overhead Wright talking about her with another employee.
She told police she confronted Wright and he became angry and began to yell at her.  He began shaking his finger in her face, removed his shirt, and told her “she could come get some.”
The victim says Wright told her “he was going to get his baby mama to come up there and beat her up.”
A short time later, Sullivan arrived outside the restaurant and began yelling for Reese to come outside.  Reese remained locked in the office because she was “afraid that they were going to assault her.”
Authorities are awaiting the video recording from the location.
During Wednesday’s bond hearing, Wright says that “other person involved in the argument, a girl and her father, should be charged too because they started the fight.”
Wright was given a $1,092.50 fine or 30 days in jail for his 3rd degree assault and battery charge.
Sullivan also received a $1,092.50 set bond for a 3rd degree assault and battery charge and a $5,000 bond for her unlawful child neglect charge. She faces a court fine or up to 10 years in jail or both if she misses here next bond hearing in August.
Travis Jones, Sullivan’s boyfriend, also had a bond hearing Wednesday.  He was charged with unlawful child neglect and has a bond set at $15,000.  His next bond hearing is in August and he will also be released from jail in August for a previous crime.

Kiara Sullivan
Kiara Sullivan
Travis Jones
Travis Jones
Richard Wright

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's a link to the mother's interview right after Leaona went missing:

http://www.wyff4.com/news/missing-childs-mother-makes-emotional-plea-full-interview/33462684

In the first minute the reporter asks "Can you just tell me some good things about your daughter?" Sullivan says:

"She was so pretty. She was so sweet. It was a sweet baby."

The entire interview is worth watching.

Anonymous said...

Awww.... such a pretty little girl with her beautiful eyes and bright pink lipstick. Such a sweetie. Makes you want to hold and hug her.

She "was", she "was", she "was"... poor little thing is past history. She's gone. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Listen to the 911 call...you can hear the mom in the background saying...she is dead..it wont do any good, she is already dead. It happens fairly early in the call when the 911 operator asks the neighbor to speak to the mom...sounds like the neighbor is trying to talk this so-called mother into talking to the operator.

Frank said...

Off Topic: I just saw on facebook the MA state police are looking for the public's help figuring out who the 4 year old toddler girl was whose remains were discovered this past week on Deer Island in MA. I am not sure how to share that here from facebook. Can anyone help? The MA state police have released a composite of what she may have looked like along with what she was wearing and a zebra blanket that was found with her. Can someone figure out how to get that up here from facebook?
I am posting about this here because they can't seem to figure out who she is. But we look at cases here so could it have been someone who went missing a year or two ago? They are saying the girl is white with brown hair and brown eyes. Could someone figure out how to post the link from facebook? I am sorry I am no good with computers. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Ah, thanks for that Anonymous @7:50 PM! For the life of me I couldn't make out what was being said. That fits with other statements the mother has made.

BTW, the first comment was mine and "It was a sweet baby" is not a typo. I've been trying to figure out the change in the pronoun. Is it similar to Peter's gun example - the gun becomes a weapon when fired then goes back to being a gun when it's holstered? Did Leaona become an inanimate object (i.e. a dead body) in her mind at that moment? She then returns to using "she."

Frank said...

I am wondering if there is any way the girl found on Deer Island, although probably far fetched, that this could be Ayla Reynolds considering baby's eyes can change color after age 2 and hair can darken.

Wendy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wendy said...

Sorry, I had to delete my previous post, I typed in the wrong web address:

http://www.independentmail.com/news/local-news/search-continues-for-missing-1-year-old-pendleton-girl

JC said...

Search for missing baby moves 12+ miles from her home, sheriff says
1-year-old missing since Saturday

UPDATED 7:45 PM EDT Jun 10, 2015

PENDLETON, S.C. —The search for a missing Upstate baby was relocated Wednesday to an area nearly 13 miles from her home, Sheriff John Skipper said.

edar Grove Road, Skipper said.

Sheriff's Office officials said Cedar Grove Road is where Travis Jones, the live-in boyfriend of Wright's mother, has family.

Skipper said deputies brought K-9 units and four-wheelers to search the area in Townville, but by nightfall, the search had again turned up empty.

Investigators said Leaona went missing overnight or early Saturday morning from the Edgewood Square apartment complex where she lived with mother, Kiara Sullivan, and Jones.

In combination with an anonymous donor, Crime Stoppers of Anderson is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the baby.

The nonprofit organization Think2XTwice.org is also offering a $500 reward for information in the case.

A vigil was held Monday night outside the apartment where Leaona lived.

The crowd lit candles, prayed and handed out flyers.

Leaona's mother spoke to WYFF News 4's Mandy Gaither before the vigil.

"She was a sweet baby. I just want somebody to tell me anything, any little thing would help. I just want her back, back to me and my family. That's all that matters to me," Sullivan said.

Sullivan also said, "I never thought this is what it would come to.

"Going from seeing her and then she's not there. My heart, my heart is hurting," said grandmother Julia Sullivan.

Grandfather Walter Sullivan said Travis Jones, had been watching his grandchildren Friday night while their mother was out at her sister's bachelorette party.

JC said...

Cont,,

Walter Sullivan said his daughter went to check on her children when she got home early Saturday morning, but said Jones stopped her saying he had already taken care of them.

According to a police report, the couple said they woke up Saturday and noticed the front door open and the baby missing.

When Gaither asked Sullivan about waking up to the open door, she said: "I don’t want to talk about that. I just want them to bring her, that’s what I'm worried about. I want her with me. Don’t matter the condition. It would give me closure if I could see her."

Sullivan made a plea to the community for help. "Y’all could just drop her off anywhere. It doesn’t even matter. I just want her back. I miss her so much," she said.

Baby reported missing

On Monday, police released the 911 call by a woman who lives at the complex reporting Leaona missing.

The woman told the 911 dispatcher that a baby, who could not walk, was missing from an apartment.

The caller explained to the dispatcher that the child's mother told her she was sleeping and when she woke up the child was gone. The woman who called 911 told the dispatcher "it don't make sense."

According to Sullivan, she and Jones have been dating since November, and she called him a "nice guy."

"He (Jones) was good with my kids. He acted like he loved my children," Sullivan said.

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said Leaona was last seen wearing a white sleep shirt.

Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper said the baby's older sibling, a 3-year-old girl, was also at home.

Lt. Sheila Cole said investigators are unable to confirm how Leaona got out of the house.

Information from the public led investigators to expand their search to the waste transfer center in Pendleton until 10 p.m. Saturday.

WYFF News 4's Corey Davis said deputies blocked off the entrance to the Pendleton Transfer Center. The site is where trucks carrying garbage collected from throughout the community transfer the waste into other vehicles bound for the landfill.

JC said...

Cont.

Deputies were wearing full body suits as they went back and forth inside the main building at the facility.

Skipper said garbage from the apartment complex dumpster was likely brought to the site.

"From history throughout the county, you know that when people come up missing, sometimes they end up in a landfill," Skipper said. "We always try to put this first on our list. That way, we'll know that if it wasn't in the truck then we don't have to go someplace else and dig later."

When asked if he thought the baby was still alive, Skipper said, "You can always hope."

Authorities continued to search the center on Sunday.

Investigators said Jones was arrested on a bench warrant connected to a family court matter.

According to officials at the Anderson County Detention Center, Jones appeared before a magistrate Sunday morning.

According to the detention center website, Jones was arrested for failure to appear following a misdemeanor charge. Skipper said the charge was related to past-due payments.

The sheriff said Jones won't be released from jail until he is tried on that charge, but he has not been named a person of interest in Leaona's disappearance.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office at 864-260-4400 or Crime Stoppers at 888-CRIMESC (274-6372).

http://www.wyff4.com/news/deputies-search-for-underway-for-missing-1yearold-toddler/33436546

JC said...

Off Topic

Dylan Redwine’s mother files wrongful-death lawsuit

Two years and two days after her son’s partial remains were found on Middle Mountain, Elaine Hatfield Redwine filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her ex-husband, Mark Redwine.

Hatfield filed the complaint for wrongful death and loss of consortium on Monday in District Court in Durango.

The complaint said their son Dylan Redwine, was visiting his father on a court-ordered visit Nov. 18, 2012, when he disappeared. A massive search ensued, involving community members and local, state and federal investigators. On June 27, 2013, some of Dylan’s remains were found about three miles from Redwine’s home in Vallecito.

A parent in Colorado has the duty to provide proper parental care for a child, the lawsuit states. Mark Redwine breached that duty “when his conduct resulted in the death of their son Dylan Redwine,” the lawsuit stated.

It continues, “the death of Dylan Redwine was the proximated and direct result of the negligence of defendant.”

Hatfield also has suffered the loss of consortium with her son and suffered damages from that, the lawsuit stated.

In the lawsuit, Hatfield asks that she be compensated for damages, costs and fees, and she also requested a 12-member jury if the lawsuit should go to trial.

The criminal investigation into Redwine’s disappearance also is continuing, according to Lt. Dan Bender, a spokesman for the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.

“I have no new information to release at this time,” Bender wrote in an email response to a request for an update on the case. “However, there are several activities that have taken place recently, and investigators are putting a lot of effort forward and planning additional actions in the coming weeks.”

Dylan Redwine, who was 13 when he disappeared, was on a court-ordered visit with his father for Thanksgiving in 2012. No trace of him was ever found until some of his remains, reportedly bones from his foot, were discovered 18 months later by police and volunteers searching Middle Mountain. They were often on their hands and knees and using ropes to climb in the steep terrain.

Elaine Redwine, who now uses her maiden name, previously blamed her ex-husband for their son’s death.

In November 2013, before a memorial service for her son was held at Pine Valley Church, she said she thought Mark Redwine had killed Dylan.

“Yes, I always have from day one, when he was missing,” she said in an interview with The Pine River Times. “Those who know me, who knew Mark, who knew my boys, knew that, as well.”

The complaint was filed by Amber Harrison of Durango, who has been Hatfield’s attorney since 2008 and handled her divorce.

“I cannot comment on any other specific details, other than those in her complaint,” Harrison said. But if more information becomes available from investigators, “we will certainly be amending or modifying the complaint.”

Reached on his cellphone Wednesday afternoon, Mark Redwine said he had not heard about the lawsuit.

“Good luck with that,” he said. “We’ll all see how it turns out for her.”

Redwine said he was not in Vallecito but declined to give his location.

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150701/NEWS01/150709968&source=RSS

Sus said...

OT. More from Mark Redwine:

...he was still "trying to digest all this."

"The bottom line is there is still a lot of work that needs to be done." said Mark Redwine. "and the single most important work that needs to be done is continuing to find my son's remains."

He pointed out that only 2 percent if Dylan's remains have been found.
"Find my son's remains," he said again.

Oh, Mark. Wouldn't the person of interest be a source to where Dylan's remain's are? This frightens me thinking what Mark Redwine did to Dylan. He does not plan on them finding his remains.

Sus said...

I'm sorry, source for above.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/dylan-redwine-case-criminal-profiler-went-to-crime-scene-to-help-determine-person-of-interest

Anonymous said...

"and the single most important work that needs to be done is continuing to find my son's REMAINS."

"REMAINS."

Parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed.

?????

JC said...

Off Topic

What Happened To Ember Graham? California Infant Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances

Authorities in Shasta County, California, are looking for Ember Graham. The six-month-old infant vanished before 5:00 a.m. this morning, when her father reportedly woke to find her missing. The Record Searchlight reports that police consider her disappearance suspicious, and that’s because of the circumstances surrounding her case. Just what happened to this little girl, and who is truly responsible for her disappearance?

Action News Now reports that the six-month-old baby girl was last seen by her father the night before he reported her missing. He reportedly saw her in her crib at around 11:00 p.m., Wednesday night. Matthew Graham also told authorities that the front door to his residence was found open as well. These are all very suspicious circumstances, and authorities in Shasta County have publicly acknowledged this. Ember Graham was presumably taken from her crib while her loved ones slept.

It’s also been reported that the missing baby’s father has been arrested, but on an unrelated issue. He was reportedly taken in on a violation of probation stemming from another incident pertaining to prescription medication use. Authorities have not declared whether or not they believe the father’s story, but they are publicly calling the child’s disappearance suspicious.

Shasta County Secret Witness has posted a reward in the amount of $10,000 for anybody who has information that leads to the resolution of this case. KRCR News 7 reports that authorities are still searching for the baby while her father sits in the Shasta County Jail. The same news report confirms that authorities have not cleared either the child’s mother or father as suspects in her disappearance. This is the first time police have confirmed that the suspicious circumstances in the case may or may not be pertaining to the stories told by the parents.

This case shares immediate similarities with two other missing children. Missing baby Lisa Irwin was reported missing by her parents, who claimed in 2011 that someone snatched the tot from her crib while the mother slept. However, Deborah Bradley became the immediate focus of scrutiny when she claimed to fail a polygraph, and when she admitted to lying about being “black-out” intoxicated the night baby Lisa vanished. A few months later a baby named Ayla Reynolds was reported missing by her father Justin DiPietro, who claimed that someone abducted her in the middle of the night while the family slept. Authorities in Maine have long acknowledged that DiPietro and his family have withheld information and have misled them. However, no arrests have ever been made. Furthermore, missing babies Lisa Irwin and Ayla Reynolds have never been found.

Both parents have been questioned in the disappearance of Ember Graham. Jamie Lee Graham has not been pictured or interviewed in the media, but a mugshot of her father Matthew Graham is being shared in the media amid reports that either or both parents could be suspects in her disappearance.

If you know anything about Ember Graham’s disappearance, or if you think you may have sighted her or anything of value to authorities, please do not hesitate to call the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 245-6135. You can also call 911 if the information is in relation to an emergency.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2221305/what-happened-to-ember-graham-california-infant-missing-under-suspicious-circumstances/

Anonymous said...

Finally there is a profiler who has a person of interest in Dylan Redwine;s case. The person is not named. But we know who he is. They are coming for you, Mark!!!!

Anonymous said...

I need you to do me a 'one time' favor. I promise you will never hear from me again. Let bygones, be bygones. I really need this to save someone's sanity. If you wish to call me first, you have my number. I'm begging you, please. Thanks In Advance.

Anonymous said...

ot

Missing baby Ember Graham's mom asks for public's help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTlrZIDvLf8

Wayne Graham stands by his son in missing baby case

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPXSdAKP23I

Lt. Dave Kent discusses change in search location for baby E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp2qwXYrQW4

Anonymous said...

mother of missing baby ember supports baby's dad and her husband-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cibJOWBol4
I think the mom and dad are in this together. The baby has had a lot of health issues. The fake crying from the mother...and the words she says in support of the dad...makes me wonder.

trustmeigetit said...

Mark Redwine say she thinks he's the person of interest

The profiler stated his thoughts match what LE already thought

The profiler mentions talking to Dyans mom, her husband and other son.

He states the family has been involved.

Doesn't mention Mark.

I think that's says it all.

If he was not the person of interest he would be included.


I just hope whatever they found was strong enough to get answers.


Statement Analysis Blog said...

Trustmeigetit

I don't want to be a wet blanket on this, and hope there is more to do, but...

a former FBI profiler studies the case for 5 months and says Mark Redwine did it.

This is news, why??

Analysis (in detail, with much more in private than public) showed this years ago, not that he is a "person of interest" but that he did it, how he did it, when he did it...

They cannot take this former profiler's report to a DA and say, "issue an arrest warrant."

Psychological pressure would have been useful years ago, as I do not know if it has much weight now.

Peter