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| by kenn on 8/13/2005 12:59:00 AM |
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Beanie Sigel Helps In Search for Missing Philly Woman, Latoyia Figueroa
Source: jayzdefjam
Incarcerated rapper Beanie Sigel recently donated money to boost the reward for information leading to the discovery of a missing Philadelphia woman.
Philadelphia authorities recently revealed that the reward was upped from $10,000 to $100,000. Police are looking for Latoyia Figueroa, 25, a black woman who is five months pregnant and has been missing since July 18th. Reports say she vanished after a doctor's appointment. Figueroa also has a 7-year-old daughter. Close friends of Figueroa told the authorities the victim would not willingly leave her child. [For more information and photos of Latoyia Figuroa click here.]
Meanwhile, the little media coverage Figueroa has received prompted Internet columnists and bloggers to criticize major news outlets. The columnists and bloggers are supporting the theory that authorities are only concerned with pretty white women that are missing.
A web blog writer recently stated, "If Latoyia was white her face would be on TV screens, magazine covers, newspaper front pages and in post offices all over the U.S." Coverage on Figueroa recently increased after Richard Blair advised people to pressure media outlets to cover her story on his Allspinzone web site. Interestingly, Figueroa's mother, Ann Taylor was found killed on Philly streets when Latoyia was just a toddler. Taylor's death also didn't receive much media attention.
In addition to Sigel, local philanthropists and the employee staff of the restaurant where she worked also contributed money to increase the reward. The reward is managed by the Citizens Crime Commission of Delaware Valley. According to childhood friend Christine Lewes, Figueroa was reliable and never missed work until she disappeared last month.
"It's unusual for her to do something like this. She's not the type of person to just disappear," Joseph Taylor, Figueroa's uncle, told The Associated Press. "So far there's nothing that gives me hope from what I'm hearing."
Police recently said that Stephen Pouche, Figueroa's boyfriend of two years and the father of her second baby was the last person to see her. He has been cooperative with investigators thus far. Though he's not a suspect, Pouche has been questioned, his house has been searched and his car has been impounded. Pouche reportedly was dating another woman while in a relationship with Latoyia. Conflicting reports say the woman was either Pouche's current or ex-girlfriend. The other woman is also expecting a child from Pouche. People around Latoyia speculated that Pouche's other girlfriend was involved in an attack on Latoyia months before her disappearance. Latoyia was reportedly robbed and kicked in the stomach. According to Figueroa's family, Pouche has shown little interest in helping to search for his girlfriend.
Police still have no suspect or a motive in the disappearance.
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