What About Our Daughters

According to wral, Tekenya has been found safe by Durham police officers. - Lisa

Thank god....

I just read this on another blog. I am glad.

I still wonder what the circumstances are of her pregnancy, I wonder if she became pregnant inside the group home, it does happen.

Thank God for this huge miracle! I am a NJ resident and I was so incensed when I read this this story on Wednesday that I sent an email to all of the people you listed on the website (the mayor, chief of police, etc.).

I only hope that there were many others who did the same and/or called them. I hope our outrage mobilized these people to do the right thing!

I am just so relieved to hear this, I have tears in my ears as I type. TeKenya has been on my mind nonstop for the past 48 hours! I hope this will be the beginning of better things for her life.

This young lady deserves to be in a loving home of her own with adults that truly care about her well-being.

I received the following reply from the chief of police of Durham, NC in response to my email.

The Durham Police Department has been actively trying to locate Tekenya Wooten since she was last reported missing from the group home where she resides. It is clear that she left on her own accord. The investigation of this runaway is continuing with any and all leads being fully followed. We have enlisted the help of our community partners in an effort to locate Ms. Wooten, to include the Bus System and Mall/Shopping Centers security. Available information and photograph has been forwarded to all media outlets in the area. Although this case does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert (http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm), the Durham Police Department is very concerned about her welfare.

Due to Juvenile privacy laws I am limited in the information that I can release but I can say that:

· Since September, 2008 the Durham Police Department has investigated three separate incidents of Ms. Wooten walking away from this same group home.

· The circumstances surrounding her pregnancy has been addressed in the jurisdiction that the incident occurred.

· Ms. Wooten’s information has been entered in NCIC, each time that she has been reported missing.

All runaways place themselves in harm’s way and as such the Durham Police Department puts every effort forward to locate them and return them to their residences.

During this writing, I have been informed that moments ago Tekenya Wooten has been located and taken into custody by a Durham Police Officer on Patrol who recognized her as she walked down the street.

Thank you for your interest and concern in this matter.

Jose L. Lopez, Sr.

Chief of Police

Durham Police Department

505 W. Chapel Hill Street

Durham, North Carolina 27701

Office: 919-560-4322