New photos of missing 8-year-old, suspected abductor

WASHINGTON — New photos were released Monday afternoon in the case of a missing D.C. area girl.

An Amber Alert for Relisha Rudd, 8, was issued last Thursday after Prince George’s County police found a dead woman at a Red Roof motel in Oxon Hill, Md. on a tip related to the girl.

Police say Kahlil Tatum killed his wife last week and left her body in the motel room. A multi-state search is ongoing for Tatum and Rudd, who’s thought to be in his custody.

A reward of up to $25,000 is offered to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.

Tatum was known as the friendly, well-dressed janitor at the D.C. General family homeless shelter, according to The Washington Post.

Rudd’s parents live at the homeless shelter, where residents are in shock.

One, Sheron Woods tells the Washington Post, Tatum once gave her 11-year-old daughter $20 for no apparent reason.

“I said, ‘She’s 11. She’s too young to be taking that kind of money from a man,'” Woods told the Post. “He just looked at me and walked away.”

Tatum gave money and gifts to children, the Post reports.

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Kahlil Malik Tatum is believed to have Relisha. (Courtesy Prince George’s County)

Some families at the shelter no longer feel safe and are thinking about relocating, according to the Post.

Police issued an Amber Alert for Rudd Thursday afternoon — hours after Prince George’s County police found the remains of a woman at an Oxon Hill, Md., motel on a tip related to the search for the girl.

The woman, whose name has not yet been released, turned out to be the wife of Tatum. She sustained trauma to her body.

The Associated Press reports that Rudd was last seen Feb. 26 at a shelter in Southeast D.C. Police say she was picked up by someone her family knew, but wasn’t returned.

D.C. police describe the girl as black, 4 feet tall, 70 to 80 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion. She may be in need of medication.

Police says Tatum is about 5-foot, 9-inches tall and 200 pounds.

Anyone who finds or spots Rudd is asked to call 911 or the Command Information Center at 202-727-9099.

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WTOP’s Nick Iannelli and Michelle Basch contributed to this report.

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