[…] By now, the Google News hits on Latoyia Figueroa are at least noticeable, but in the wee hours last night, Matt synopsized some of the things that can be done to continue to help the situation. He includes running the ad you see on the right — anything to keep the face available to those who haven’t seen yet. He also mentions Richard’s drive to raise money for the reward fund. Just in case you were looking for some ways to pitch in… […]

Update: If you don’t have BlogAds, but want to use that advertisement, use this image and link it to this URL: http://allspinzone.com/blog/index.php?itemid=944

[…] Matt rightfully celebrates the Latoyia Figueroa campaign with Philly Blogosphere Makes Good, and summarizes the latest information and speculation concerning NYT’s Judith Miller. […]

[…] It’s almost patently irresponsible of me that I have not yet written about Latoyia Figueroa, the 25-year-old pregnant mother who has been missing from the Philadelphia area since July 18. Unfortunately she’s not white, blond, or about to get married, so until Richard Cranium of All Spin Zone picked up the drum beat, the mainstream media had completely ignored this woman. Almost immediately, bloggers all over the Philadelphia region began writing about Latoyia, ASZ established a reward fund, and finally the media began reporting on her a few days ago. […]

Hey Matt, I won’t be at Liberally Drinking for a long time because of work and all, so will use this space to thank you for your coverage of what Richard started at ASZ to publicize the Latoyia Figueroa case. Thanks very much.

This is interesting, especially given the conversation about missing persons and race that we’ve kind of been having here: The Washington Post chose not to publish today’s edition of the Boondocks comic strip “because of content issues.” However, if you go to www.ucomics.com/boondocks, you can see the strip in full. It refers to the Natalee Holloway case. The dialogue in the last panel goes as follows:

Huey: Whatever happened to that white girl in Aruba

Riley: I dunno. I stopped watching before the season finale.

The last time the Post pulled Boondocks was when Aaron McGruder ran a series of strips questioning Condoleeza Rice’s sexuality, so he’s all about pushing the envelope.

I would suggest that this has the makings of a fascinating conversation.

As i white male i am embaraased of our local and most notably our national media for not picking up and running with this story. On the other hand the national media doesn’t have the best record when they try to get involved, unfortunately. The more people that can help search PLEASE HELP OUT. Every child regardless of corol or wealth has parents and siblings who love and want them to return. My families heart goes out to every familiy in these situations.
Scott Y

Hats off to my fellow Philadelphians for keeping hope alive. This young woman’s disappearance is as news worthy as the “run away bride”, or any person who may suffer this particular misfortune.Hopefully, Latoya will return home to her daughter and father. You’re in our hearts and minds Toy.

How sad that our country is still practicing predjucism. and that it is against a young mother and mother to be of any race is totally unacceptable.

I am a caucasion female senior citizen, and I most likely would not get any coverage either, But lets hope they get off their duffs and find Latoya, as I have this horrible feeling that where ever she is, it is not because she wants to be there. My Prayers are with you dear child, and I do pray God will be able to reunite you with your family soon.
Kat

Thanks, Mike, for doing such a great job of demonstrating why the MSM’s concentration on Natalie Holloway, to the exclusion of other missing persons, is such a dangerous thing: it leads to, and reinforces, the belief that her life is worth more than the life of someone like Latoyia.

I just hope that the producers of CNN, MSNBC, and FOX see your comments, so that they will understand the ramifications of their coverage.

Kat: Thanks so much for visiting the site, and contributing that comment. Your statement that “I am a caucasion female senior citizen, and I most likely would not get any coverage either” is exactly why this story is so important.

I hope you come back to the blog again, and realize one of the great things about blogs is that they can help bring attention to the kinds of stories that the MSM has missed.

Hi Matt, Mike just posted over at the Daily Pepper - he said the same thing that he said on Tattered Coat. Looks like he’s on a one-man blogswarm mission to suggest that Latoyia’s life has no value. Anyway, I gave him a good tongue-lashing and just wanted to congratulate you and ASZ and everyone else for your hard work. If you’re getting responses like Mike’s, then you’re striking a nerve.

Hi,
I have been following this story since I heard about(which was 7 days after Latoyia went missing). I think it is sad that this story is barely getting the medias attention. Last evening, Nancy Grace interviewed Latoyia’s aunt , and Philly authorities for about 10 mins. This was after 40 mins of Natalie Hollaway coverage…You be the judge! I am a 26 yr old African-American mother of two and I pray every night that Latoyia returns safe and unharmed to her family and most of all her 7 year old child.
Deepest prayers from the ATL.

OMG, it is happening again. I am sitting here in tears, not knowing who to feel more sorry for, the family, or myself. I grew up in Philadelphia with LaToya’s mother, who was murdered when we were teenagers. We grew up so close that when I got into trouble with my mother, it was more than likely that we were together, especially when we ran away. The greif I felt then, is the same greif I feel now. To the Taylor family, I am so sorry yet believing for her safe return and although I am far away, I feel as though I am right there with you. You know you all have my prayers. Knowing that Uncle Jr. might not be on line, If Joanne or Stephanie are able to get the message, please contact me @ wal-mart #5218. Know that our prayers are with you. Veda & Larjn Roberson

[…] And Tattered Coat offered some coherent ideas for those looking to get involved in raising awareness of Latoyia with this well-crafted post, in which he offered an easy to copy image option for those wanting to run Latoyia sidebar banners on their websites without Blogads. […]

I don’t have money to give, I don’t know how I could possibly help. However, I do know how to pray and this I will do with all my heart. I will pray that God will please help those who can give to give and those who can help to help, for God to please help everyone involved, and most of all that she will be found alive, in Jesus Name.

I am spanish and don’t know what I would do if my daughter was missing. I have very little family and we never seem to have enough money to pay for our necessities. Seems like everyone is always trying to charge more or just take more putting my family in binds, because they’re money hungry. Even though I have a decedent job it still seems hard, so needless to say I live by faith everyday that God will protect my children and provide for our daily needs. I suppose this is how the poor live, by faith, but I know sometimes faith is weak and then it makes it that much harder.

Thanks to people who can help and help without expecting something in return, because the poor don’t have anything to give, but love, hope, and faith.

Hi, I wanted to say that I heard of Layoyia’s disappearance on Fox News sometime in mid-July. Her family and friends have since been in my daily thoughts and prayers. I refuse to feed into the freenzy about race, because all missing persons are equally important and dearly loved by someone. I will say ‘Hat’s Off’ to those who worked to keep her name in the public eye no matter what her race. May God be with you, her family and friends, and bring her safely home. And “another prayer sent, another heart in hope”. Pattie from Baltimore, MD.

I’m not sure if what I’m about to write belongs on this site. I couldn’t find a guest book and this seemed to be the most appropriate site out of the few I’ve visited. My hope is that Latoyia’s family and/or friends will find these words.

Tightly Within His Palm

You went missing on a warm summer day;
For you to merely ‘walk out’, your family says; “No Way”.
Latoyia, young and pregnant, you vanished without a trace –
You’re just as important, regardless of your race?
You are a Child of God, the Almight above,
Your family, they are grieving, and send you their love.
Your little daughter longs to embrace you in her arms,
So you can once again enjoy her girly charms!
I pray you are alive, that you and baby are fine –
I ask God to hold you close within his ‘Mighty Divine’.
But if he has, dear one, called you from this earth,
Grant your family answers, as they reminisce your life since birth.
May your family be comforted by God’s Mighty Peace and Calm
As he holds all of you tighly; within his grasp, his palm.
May the truth come to be - my young and unknown friend
I ask this is Jesus Christ; as I pray each day, Amen!

Mike says:

The point I’m trying to make is that people attempted to use her as a martyr to make a statement about race and the media. The whole misplaced agenda, however, turned out to show this woman as an unsympathetic character, but more than that, she received favortism because her cousin is a member of City Council and her uncle is a city detective. There are over 50,000 missing people in the country, and how dare this woman receive favortism over others who are far more sympathetic people in their absence. This story should not have received any coverage other than a below the fold story in the local Philadelphia newspapers. The bigger story here is that if you lead an imprudent and dangerous lifestyle, as did LaToyia’s own mother, it usually doesn’t end well.

Furthermore, you people are being entirely hypocritical when you talk about Natalee going off with someone. I guarantee every woman on here has gone off with a man she met at a club, bar or on vacation. She hung out with the guy while on vacation and there was nothing unusual about what she did while in Aruba. If you women on here were killed everytime you hooked up with a guy you didn’t know very well, you all would have been dead at least 10 times. I know, many of you and your type went off with me, and all I did was long stroke you and sent you on your way.

Three blogs have now ended their coverage of this story, and it’s time to close the file on this matter. She’s not coming back.

My deepest prays our out to this family…I watch the news daily for any updates and leads to this story but what do I find Natalee’s mother on today getting a full interviews…Hello America THERE IS A MISSING BLACK PREGNANT WOMEN IN PHILLY TOOO….THATS BEEN MISSING!!!!I think it so sad how America is…Let alone the city of brotherly love…I wish I could personal save this woman…My prays our deep and sincere…

In response to Mike (Aug. 15. 2005. 11:53pm)

I think the issue of race is unfortunate in any situation/conversation. However the topic, whether good or bad exist. (Race is sort of like Politics; people love and or hate it - but the fact of the matter is they will never go away… even if one chooses to ignore them.)

To turn a blind eye to the issue of race in itself is hypocritical. Why? Ignoring what is blatent is hypocritical. (It’s like playing hide and seek in public.)

I would have respected your response greatly, if you would have noted that discrepancies (whether racial or not) exist in the media and these matter are unfortunate irrespective of race, gender, religion and dis/ability. However to bash a family’s attempt to raise awareness (whether race is “attached” to the attempt or not) is unwarranted.

The father of a little girl who was murdered by a sexual predator in Florida wasn’t mention/bashed by you (and from me purposely for that matter) for raising awareness about his daughter disappearance/death. Yes, that father could have (although the media bit his story thereby depleting the need to) argued or pulled the “age” card… like some famiy members and influential people did in the Figueroa case.

You failed to mention / bash a little girl’s father’s plea in Utah, whereas the “nation” seemed to stop to find to look for her and she was willingly “sleeping” with the man that “took” her.

It would do your great writing a service if you remain impartial in your reviews and bash ALL that attempt to “call out” in their time of need, rather than mindlessly bashing those of color………

correction: in paragragh 4

The father of a little girl who was murdered by a sexual predator in Florida wasn’t mention/bashed by you (and from me purposely for that matter) for raising awareness about his daughter disappearance/death. Yes, that father could have (although the media bit his story thereby depleting the need to) argued or pulled the “age” card… like some family members and influential people used the “black” card in the Figueroa case.

It is a sad story. My prayers are with the family. No matter how you want look at it. The situation that happened to both Natalee and Latoyia are unfortunate. Neither of these girls should be missing, bottom line. It is however questionable as to why Latoyia’s story got so little coverage. I live in New York and the first time I heard about this story was in the second week in August when a DJ from an urban radio station said something about it. That was already weeks after she had gone missing. I watch CNN and Fox News everyday and saw nothing about it. As for the ignorant comments by Mike on August 15, Natalee going off with strangers in Aruba is a risk in itself. I am an african american female and wouldn’t think in my wildest dreams to go to some other country in which I know nothing about and go off one or several guys by myself. However, she did not deserve to be harmed, just as Latoyia did not desrve to be killed. We all take risks everyday going to a party. driving a liitle too fast. Does that mean we deserve to be murdered. NO! Was Laci Peterson living a risky life when she was murdered, while her husband cheated on her. This is a very similar situation. Was the media coverage of her disappearance too much also. Should that have been swept under the rug too? Or was her life more valuable than Latoya’s. The point I am trying to make is no matter what race or color situations such as this should never be ignored not even for a few weeks. I quite sure if it were your wife, daughter, or mother missing you would want as much coverage as the next, so why not Latoya.

I am sorry, very sorry for the lost of LaToyia and her unborn child. Who would do such a thing is beyound the understanding of anyone. This person is a monster. How could someone take a life that is standing before them, and evenmore a developing human..

No big surprise as I’ve been saying all along. All of these people were trash. Baby Daddy No. 2 was a savage and LaToyia actually slept with this guy and made yet another illegitimate child, or at least tried, and then when they couldn’t even scrape together $35 for the prenatal insurance co-pay, this animal allegedly killed her. Darwinian Theory at it’s finest. Animals, pure animals. That’s why this didn’t deserve coverage–nobody cares about these evil people.

You know I respect peoples views and opinions but what mike says is clearly predjudice, insensitive, and ignorant. Yea, there may be some truth to some of the things he said but at the end of the day we’re all human who bleed and breath alike. No one is perfect and to say they’re pure animals and the story didn’t deserve coverage. What makes any story deserving of color, people are people who gives a shit what she was going through and what mistakes she made in her life. Such a judgemental society, shows how pathetic some people in the world can be.

I’m really sorry to hear about latoyia figureo my prays goes out to her family and her beautiful little girl. i don’t know why the boyfriend did what he did but it was very horrible i hope he get his just reward.

I want to send my condolensces to the family of LaToyia Figueroa. I’ve been following the case since I first heard it on the local Philadelphia news. I am sorry that her family and friends had to see it end this way, but I am glad that the murderer is in custodya nd justice will be served. My heart breaks for her little girl who will now grow up without her grandmother and her mother. And what was he thinking? Not only did he destroy LaToyia’s family, he destroyed his own family. If justice is served how it should be, he will never know his newborn child. I am a white female and this case would have touched me regardless of the victim’s race. Again, my condolensces to the Figueroa and Taylor families.

(in response to Mike…again)

MY APOLOGIES TO ANYONE OTHER THAN MIKE. (read the entries above)

In a way you’re right about two things: animals and trash.

It seems to me that Elizabeth Smart’s willingness to sneak away at night with the gardener was a trashy thing to do..in that it was difficult for her to hide her hot animal instict and willingly sleep with a grown man. Wasn’t much force in that situation if you remember to get your shoes before you get “kidnapped.”

Oh and cute jessica lunsford. Poor child. Literally. What type of animal would take advantage of a little girl from a trailer park in the back woods of Florida. Seems as if the animal comes in all colors shapes and sizes.

An even sadder case with susan smith 1996. This beast strapped her two children to their car seats for what was to be a normal ride and drove them into a lake because her future “baby daddy” didn’t want kids. How ironic. I guess she disposed of her trash. Funny though, she accussed a black male of stealing her car and her plot was quickly uncovered… my, how quiet “certain” people who “knew it all along” became.

I guess it’s called experimenting when you leave the club in the wee hours of the morning, in a foreign land, with three unknown men. That’s not a trashy thing to do. I mean does “buddy system” only work for children? or was she that much of an animal, she couldn’t wait.

The fact of the matter is humans wouldn’t drown all 5 of their children. Nor would they behead their pregnant wife, dye their hear, gather cash and head for the border. They especially wouldn’t point fingers at an entire culture because of an unfortunate event. Hint.

I am saddened that you may have an opportunity to bring children into this world to grow up and possilby be the animal you are. I am even more nervous of your hate spilling over into your relationship thereby having America watch your season finale. (that’ll be more “trash” to turn off)

Post Script

My sincere apologies to all readers other than mike and or mike-likes.
Yes, I should have ignored him as most of you have. I, as well as mike have disrespected the families mentioned above. However, in reviewing my response, please consider what was implied rather than what was mentioned. I pray for all who are, have been and are about to, go through such tragedies mentioned above.

Sincerely,

Chuck

God bless and keep you LaToyia and your unborn child. You’re now blessed angels–watch over your family and friends.

My sincere condolesences to Melvin Figueroa and your family. I live on the west coast. I am deeply moved and felt I had to say something. May God give you the strength, the inner peace and take away the heavyness placeed on your heart.

My hats off to CNN, MSNBC, Anderson Cooper, Rita Cosby and all the rest of worthless jouranlistic waste of time people who prompt these so-called cable news “shows”. You have the nerve to prop these educated idiots with a smile and sell we the people bull 24 7. Placing someone behind a polished desk and even splashing a ticker-tapper with up-to-the-minutes news below them is not what reporting the news is all about. The media proves that if you stay in school long enough they’ll not only give you a degree in journalism but will allow you to ignore what is truly breaking news and worthy of the publics attention.

The Today’s Show Katie/Matt along with the rest of their so over paid constituents and competitors are a disgrace. This goes for you too Miss Oprah…why couldn’t you do a story on missing people. I guess as long as you have Tom Cruise jumping on a sofa, a bugged-eyed woman leaving the alter and Jen and Brad updates…..who really wants to report the news or enlighten the public?

IT HAS SADDENED ME TO HERE OF THE OUT COME OF LATOYIA FIGUEROA. I KNOW I WAS TAUGHT AS A CHILD THAT GOD DOES EVERYTHING FOR A REASON. I HATE THE FACT THAT LATOYIA’S DAUGHTER IS GOING TO ENDURE SOME OF THE SAME PAIN THAT LATOYIA DID, BY GROWING UP WITH OUT A MOTHER TO TALK TO AS A FRIEND TO LAUGH AND JOKE WITH, TO GET READY FOR HER 1ST PROM WITH. IT HURTS ME. I DIDN’T KNOW HER PERSONALLY, BUT I EMPATHIZE WITH THE FAMILY. I HAVE A LIVING MOTHER AND SHE DOESN’T SHOW ME THE LOVE THAT A MOTHER SHOWS A CHILD, LIKE SHE DOES MY SIBILINGS, SO I KNOW HOW IT HURTS NOT TO HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR CORNER.

TO THE FIGUEROA FAMILY, I WISH YOU MUCH PEACE AND BLESSINGS. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD AND KEEP HER CHILD IN THE CHURCH SO THAT SHE WILL KNOW THAT GOD DOESN’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES. GOD KNEW LATOYIA WAS ONE OF US FEW THAT WAS TRYING TO DO RIGHT AND HE NEEDED SOME MORE ANGELS AND HE DECIDED TO BORROW HER FROM YOU FOR JUST A LITTLE WHILE. DON’T WORRY STAYED PRAYED UP AND YOU WILL MOST DEFINITELY SEE HER AGAIN.

[…] with this racist drivel, which was written by “Mike” as a comment to this post: No big surprise as I’ve been saying all along. All of these people were trash. Baby Daddy No. 2 was a savage and LaToyia actually slept with this guy and made yet another illegitimate child, or at least tried, and then when they couldn’t even scrape together $35 for the prenatal insurance co-pay, this animal allegedly killed her. Darwinian Theory at it’s finest. Animals, pure animals. That’s why this didn’t deserve coverage–nobody cares about these evil people. […]

i really think toya is a pretty girl and i really feel bad for her.It’s crazy people out in the world u know and she really did not deserve to be killed like that.

I just heard about this whole situation on the day she died….but exactly 2 years after the entire incident, on july 18, ov 2007 i found out on a philly music station and golden girl was speaking on it. She also took us back to some interviews she has during the time they had been looking for Letoyia. I felt bad and i still continue to think about, its crazy how some peole can get. I just want to say that this goes to show that this world and the people in it are no joke at all, and that this truly is reality.

I love you Latoyia and RestInPeace…please