Comic-Book Creator Says Not To Forget Jahi Turner

Omega Man Creator Led Prayer Vigil Tuesday

POSTED: 5:21 p.m. PDT July 15, 2003
UPDATED: 5:40 p.m. PDT July 15, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- Helping find missing children is a cause one man has taken to a new level by featuring missing kids -- including San Diego's Jahi Turner, who has been missing for nearly 17 months -- in comic books and on trading cards.

JAHI TURNER

Reported missing April 25
Light-skinned African-American
30 inches tall
30 pounds
Last seen in blue, long-sleeve "Winnie the Pooh" T-shirt and dark nylon pants

MORE INFO
Watch the latest coverage
Jahi Web Page
Children's Search Center Of San Diego
Discuss The Case
New Slideshow

INVESTIGATION
Police:
(619) 531-2000
Crime Stoppers:
(619) 235-8477

Jahi's stepfather said he vanished from a playground near 20th and Cedar streets in April 2002.

On Tuesday, there was a prayer vigil for Jahi held at the playground. The event was led by cartoonist Alonzo Washington (pictured, right), who says that media coverage of missing African-American children has been minimal in comparison to the press given to missing white children.

"Jahi Turner, William Wilson, Precious Doe, Christian Ferguson, they should be just as famous as Samantha Runion," said Washington, referring to children who have all gone missing.

Washington has gotten a famous comic-book character of his, Omega Man, involved in his media quest in a comic book called America's Forgotten Children. In the comic, Washington takes aim at what he believes is a bias in news coverage of missing children, including Jahi.

"I care for all kids," said Washington. "I do things to protect kids of all races in my community, but it's like the poorer you get, the darker you get, the less media attention you get from the national , and that should be wrong in this day and age."

Washington, a Kansas city resident, has never met Jahi's parents and prefers it that way.

"As an advocate, I try to stay away from the parents unless they approach me, because in a lot of cases I work on -- Jahi's one of them -- you know, the parents are always suspected, and so they are very leery of people trying to help," said Washington.

Washington, the father of seven, will be comic convention in San Diego this week. He has also designed flyers that call attention to Jahi, which will be handed out to people who visit his booth.

As for the Jahi Turner case, San Diego Police have nothing new to report, a sentiment echoed by private investigator Bill Garcia, who told NBC 7/39 that he was continuing to work on the case.

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