Link found on BlackFeminism.org
In March, Spartanburg Public Safety officials said that they had identified a “person of interest” in the case. At the time, investigators said the man, a former bank robber, was related to a Spartanburg apartment building where authorities found traces of Huston’s blood in January.
Investigators said a set of keys found in Huston’s car led them to the apartment building.
Friday afternoon, Public Safety Director Tony Fisher said that Christopher Lemont Hampton, 25, has been charged with murder. Fisher said recently uncovered forensic evidence indicated that Hampton was responsible for Huston’s death.
I still have to wonder whether they would have found Hampton quicker if she had been young, middle-class white and blonde and featured on Nancy Grace/CNN/MS-NBC.
Remember?
While the cases of Laci Peterson, Lori Hocking, Natalee Holloway and other young white women dominated cable news networks, Huston got almost no national attention for nearly a year after she went missing. When her case finally got significant coverage, the stories were mostly about the national media’s lack of interest, compared to cases involving young white women.
No, not just young white women. Upper/middle-class to rich young white women.
The arrest may also have led to the discovery of Huston’s body Friday. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported Saturday that at some point in the day Friday police were led by Hampton to some woods in the area where human remains were found. The newspaper said authorities hope to positively identify the remains, which may be Huston’s, by Monday.
I guess when it is black on black crime, people don’t pay much attention. But what if it was your child? Murder is murder, no matter what color the assailant or the victim. But it makes for better press for that woman in peril…
At least Tamika’s poor mother will find some release. But it is her–as with any mother’s–worst fears realized.
Huston’s aunt, Rebekah Howard, is spokeswoman for the missing woman’s family. She said Friday the family feels some relief after Hampton’s arrest but feels “as if we’re only halfway there. We still don’t know where Tamika is and we know it will be a lengthy process before he’s ever convicted.”
The last confirmed sighting of Huston was May 27, 2004 in Spartanburg. Family and friends became concerned several days later when they realized she hadn’t been to her apartment for some time. Huston’s dog, Macy, had given birth to puppies in the apartment and it was clear no one had been there for the births or to care for the animals.
Rebekah Howard, in passing, is the white in-law of Tamika Huston. A public relations professional, she knows what it means to wear out phones and trying to get people to tell your story.
Now, one might think that with a white or light-skinned spokesperson representing a concerned mostly black family, that doors might open more easily, and opportunities might be forthcoming.
Not on your life.
Howard related recently on NBC’s Sunday newsmagazine, Dateline, that most, if not all of the national and local news outlets–electronic and print–weren’t interested. Including Dateline. This interview, of course, had to include NBC News’ chief Neil Shapiro’s disclaimer:
“Our mission is to try to cover America,” Shapiro said. “And that means all facets of America … and when our coverage doesn’t reflect that, it distresses me. That said, I think it’s important that people in the industry talk about it. I think the fact that Dateline NBC is devoting airtime to it (Tamika Huston case) means we take it seriously.”
Yeah, right. It took that long for you to take it seriously. And frankly, Shapiro, America is NOT JUST WHITE. Until people started to talk about the media’s double standard of spotlighting middle-class young white girls in distress, you weren’t interested.
Do you know what the reality is regarding missing persons?
The stories also noted that young white women are by no means the “typical” missing persons: Slightly more than half of missing adults are men and nearly 30% are black, even though blacks account for just 13% of the U.S. population. The FBI has nearly 50,000 active cases involving missing adults.
Makes me wonder whether lynching has gone underground.
Now, where is LaToyia Figueroa?