Mother worried about runaway son
By Gary Popp
Published in News on April 13, 2011 1:46 PM
Lashonda Whitfield is searching for her 14-year-old son who left their home on April 4.
Her son, Montico Whitfield, is a seventh-grader at Dillard Middle School.
Ms. Whitfield said she has not seen or heard from Montico in the eight days since he walked out following an argument between the two around 6 p.m. that Monday.
Ms. Whitfield said this is not the first time Montico has left home for an extended period.
"He is known as a runway. He has run away several times. The longest he has been gone is probably about 24 to 36 hours," Ms. Whitfield said.
If she could talk to her son, Ms. Whitfield said she would tell him that she loves him and his 9-year-old sister is very worried about him and asks about him everyday.
Ms. Whitfield said her main concerns are, "That he is OK. That he is washing, he is eating. He didn't take any clothes with him. All he had when he left was the clothes he had on and his backpack and his coat. That is all he had."
Montico's backpack had only his school books, said Ms. Whitfield.
Ms. Whitfield said Montico was carrying a "good amount of cash" given to him from family and friends for his recent birthday.
Ms. Whitfield said a friend of hers said she saw Montico on April 6 at Piggly Wiggly in Mount Olive, nearly 20 miles from their home on Dupont Circle, with woman who has the same description as Montico's stepmother.
Montico's paternal grandparents and stepmother are some of the contacts he has in the area. Ms. Whitfield said she does not have good relations with that side of the family. Montico's father is incarcerated outside of the state.
Ms. Whitfield said she has not been able to view the recording from the Piggly Wiggly to identify the woman who was with her son.