Did LMPD do enough to find Tasha White? Everything we know
Tasha White's family reported her missing last week. This week, they learned that she had been killed.
The 49-year-old woman's disappearance has raised questions among both her family and the public regarding why Louisville Metro Police did not issue a missing persons alert.
Her family stated they reported her missing and believe more could have been done to locate her. They also expressed concerns about potential biases in handling such cases.
Then, police shared their missing persons policy and issued a statement regarding this specific investigation.
Here's a roundup of everything we know and everything we don't.
Timeline
Both police and White's family provided timelines of how events unfolded.
On Tuesday, April 29, White's sister and brother, Jewell Neil and Theodore Spencer, went to their sister's home upon learning she didn't go to work. They discovered she had left behind her phone, car, and purse.
They also noticed her Ring doorbell cameras had been removed. (LMPD later said White removed them herself.)
The next day, on Wednesday, April 30, Neil said she contacted the police for the first time.
According to LMPD, Tasha's employer had requested a welfare check that day, leading an officer to visit her home, though no one responded.
A missing person's report was filed on Thursday, May 1.
On Friday, May 2, police said a detective was assigned to reach out to the family and collect information. Tasha's sister recalls meeting an officer at the house that week but expressed confusion as to why he didn맥스카지노t search inside.
"I remember he said, 'Actually, it sounds like she just left, wanted to get some me time,' But, what? That is exactly what he said. But I told him no. She ain't gonna do that," Neil said.
Police stated they had "no legal authority to conduct a search of her home" at that time.
By Monday, May 5, with no sign of White, her family sought other avenues, such as contacting the newsroom and posting on social media.
Then, on Wednesday, May 7, her body was discovered in a wooded area near Buechel by someone who was passing through.
Missing persons protocol
This case raised questions about LMPD's protocol surrounding missing persons. What warrants LMPD to issue a public alert for a missing person?
They sent us their procedural guidelines, including criteria for different alerts.
In a written statement, LMPD said, "It is important to note that the information LMPD received did not meet the criteria for a public alert. Police did not see any indication of a struggle at her home. Her family did not provide any information that indicated she was in imminent danger, which would have elevated the alert status."
Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, who spoke about the case publicly on Friday, challenged that, saying that with the information about her belongings and the many days missing, "How much more significant evidence do you need to start an investigation?"
The family says they feel they did communicate that White was in danger.
More details about the case
White's body was found around 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday near Newport Road and GE.
Police said she had been shot, and they are investigating her death as a homicide.
LMPD said they are focusing their efforts on finding the person or persons responsible for her death, and ask anyone with information to call LMPD's tip line at 574-LMPD (5673).