Although African Americans make up just 13 percent of the U.S. population, we account for 33 percent of the missing in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s database. Cases involving African Americans also tend to receive less media coverage than missing Whites, with missing men of color getting even less attention.
NewsOne has partnered with the Black and Missing Foundation to focus on the crisis of missing African Americans.
To be a part of the solution, NewsOne will profile a missing person weekly and provide tips about how to keep your loved ones safe and what to do if someone goes missing.
—————————————
Delano Wilson
Case Type: Endangered
Date of Birth: Jul 27, 2014
Missing Date: Aug 27, 2014
Age Now: 1 month
Missing City: Indianapolis
Missing State: Indiana
Case Number: NCMEC11633
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Complexion: Medium
Height: 1’4″
Weight: 12
Hair Color: Black
Hair Length: Short
Eye Color: Brown
Wear Glasses or Contacts: No
Location Last Seen: Around noon in the alley in the 1400 block of Henry Street.
Circumstances of Disappearance: Delano is believed to be in “extreme danger” after a White male and a Hispanic woman allegedly approached Delano’s father, robbing and pistol-whipping him. Delano’s father awoke to see his son being taken away in a older model blue Ford Taurus from 2000 to 2003.
An Amber Alert has been issued for Delano. Meanwhile, Fox 59 reported that the boy’s father, Willie Wilson, was arrested on a possession of marijuana charge but that police say it will have no bearing on the abduction case.
Delano’s mother, Taniasha Perkins, pleaded for her son’s return.
“Please, just please bring my baby back. He is just 1 month old. My family loves my child. I just gave birth to him. He’s my one and only son, my first-born. I just want to know why, why would you take my baby? Why can’t you just drop him off somewhere safe so I can see him healthy again?” said a distraught Perkins.
The family has criticized police for waiting several hours to issue the Amber Alert.
“We just want to know why,” relative Alisha Perkins told the Indianapolis Star,”why did it take so long?”
Police say they conducted an intensive search of the area as is standard practice before taking the final step of issuing the alert.
“There are strict guidelines in issuing an Amber Alert,” Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation told NewsOne in an interview. “It is imperative that parents work with law enforcement to insure that the alert is issued as time is of the essence.”
Relatives of the missing person must also be prepared “to contact the media and utilize social media to bring awareness” to increase the odds of finding their loved ones, said Wilson.
The suspects in the abduction are described as being a White man who is “25 to 30 years old, 5-feet-6-inches to 5-feet-9-inches tall, with brown hair and wearing a black do-rag, red T-shirt, blue jeans, and red, black and blue tennis shoes. The woman who was with him is described as Hispanic, also 24 to 30 years old, thin with long brown hair and wearing a green shirt and matching green hoop earrings,” the Star reported.
A neighbor described seeing the Taurus pull out from the alley around noon. Shortly after, a dazed Wilson stumbled out of the alley and collapsed.
“Then all the cop cars showed up,” Christine Richey told the paper.
Last Seen Wearing: Dark blue-colored onesie.
Identifying Marks or Characteristics: Unknown.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Delano Wilson or the circumstances of his disappearance may contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at (317) 327-6540 or the Black and Missing Foundation’s confidential Tip Line.
