Posted on 05/14/2002 7:45:39 AM PDT by Dixie Mom
DNA Of Foster Child In Pasco Being Compared With Rilya's
By LISA A. DAVIS ldavis@tampatrib.com
Published: May 14, 2002
PORT RICHEY - Investigators searching for Rilya Wilson, the girl who disappeared from state supervision 16 months ago, looked toward the Tampa Bay area during the weekend.
Foster parents in west Pasco County called authorities Saturday night when they suspected a young girl in their care could be the Miami-Dade child who vanished in January 2001. The child is 5, the same age Rilya would be, and has similar features, including a scar near her abdomen, Port Richey police Lt. Bill Sager said Monday.
City police were notified about 11 p.m. Saturday by Miami-Dade police detectives, Sager said, after the family called a hot line set up by a nationally syndicated TV program that featured Rilya's story. Fox's ``America's Most Wanted'' aired a segment about her case Saturday night.
Port Richey officers interviewed the foster parents and the girl and took her fingerprints and DNA swabs for testing.
``There were enough similarities with this girl that it could've been the Miami girl,'' Sager said.
The fingerprints and DNA samples were sent to the Miami-Dade Police Department, but the prints reportedly did not match Rilya's. DNA testing had not been completed by Monday evening.
A Miami-Dade detective on the case could not be reached for comment.
``It may not be a match,'' Sager said.
State Department of Children and Families caseworkers told Port Richey authorities they do not believe the Pasco child is Rilya because they have known the other girl since she was born.
In April 2000, Rilya was sent to live with Geralyn Graham, who claims to be her paternal grandmother, and Graham's sister Pamela. The girl stayed with the women until January 2001. That's when a woman claiming to be a state child- welfare worker picked up the round-cheeked girl for an evaluation, Geralyn Graham has told authorities.
Rilya was supposed to have monthly visits by caseworkers, but she wasn't reported missing until April 25.
There's no trace of her still being in state care.
``I wish it was the little girl so we could bring her home safely,'' Sager said.
On Friday, DNA samples ruled out that a body found in Missouri was Rilya.
Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.
Mine as well. When I first saw this story, it offered a glimmer of hope. She is such a beautiful child, a baby really. This is so, so sad.
The mother's in Chicago, strung out on drugs. She's been interviewed on TV. To put it delicately, there are two men claiming to be the father; one the son of the woman who claims to be her "grandmother," and another, unrelated to this woman, who is currently in jail. This "grandmother," who had custody of Rilya and another younger child by the same mother, has subsequently failed a lie-detector test in her story about the caseworker who supposedly took the child. She also collected foster-care payments for Rilya the entire time she was "missing."
The caseworker filled out fraudulent visitation reports for over a year, and "resigned" (along with a supervisor) due to fraud on another case. When a new caseworker took over her assignments, they discovered Rilya was missing.
At least the state had enough smarts to take the younger child away from the "grandmother" as a result.
The "grandmother" also reported that Rilya had "mental problems," and the caseworker was supposed to take her for "evaluation." I think the police should be looking for a shallow grave...near the "grandmother's" house...
Maybe they should check the Reno friend where Ilian Gonzales was taken to talk with his grandmothers. Just a thought.
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