WASHINGTON 鈥� The figure is startling 鈥� more than a dozen black and Latina teens have been reported missing in D.C.聽since March 1.
The apparent jump in the number of missing young people in the District has raised concern in neighborhoods and on social media.
Teen Vogue鈥檚 headline: 鈥淢ost media outlets aren鈥檛 reporting on the disappearance of Black and Latinx D.C. teens.鈥� Vibe鈥檚 report:
Actually, what鈥檚 happening is D.C. police are now acknowledging a continuing problem.
There isn't a spike in missing people in DC, we're just using social media more to help locate them. Sorry to alarm you
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept)
In fact, D.C. police sources say there has actually been a decrease in missing persons reports over the last several years.
And, there is no evidence to suggest that the missing children are connected or part of a human trafficking group, police said.
Chanel Dickerson, the new commander of the D.C. police Youth and Family Services Division has made publicizing missing persons cases a priority, both to get the public鈥檚 health and to demonstrate the department鈥檚 commitment to service for all people.
Several of the young people who were reported missing in March have now returned home, unharmed.
Derrica Wilson, co-founder of the, says the effort is a strong first step.
鈥淕etting the information out there is great,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something clearly going on, and we really have to identify what the issues are.鈥�
鈥淚f they鈥檙e running away, we need to find out what the underlying issue is, for them leaving the home,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淎nd we need to find them, because the world is cold out there.鈥�
Teenage girls reported missing in March in the District (who have not already returned safely):
- 15
- , 15
- , 13
- , 15
- , 18
- , 12
- , 13
- , 15
- , 16
- , 15
The missing teenage boys are:
- , 19
- 15
- 14
