Family, loved ones, co-workers and community members in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are mourning the loss of 41-year-old Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart. The mother of 10’s tragic story is a heartbreaking chapter in the long, brutal book about missing and murdered Black women and girls—and all the inaction and silence from those charged to protect and speak out.
But Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart was found dead in the trunk of her car on April 17th. She’d been reported missing by her son, Lawrence Lejon-Jurnett, two days earlier on April 15th, reported USA Today. But the alert asking for the public’s help in finding Jurnett-Stewart wasn’t sent out immediately. The reason for that is unknown. Instead, it was issued on April 17th, at 10:30. Roughly 90 minutes later, Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart lifeless body was found , according to local radio station, WTMJ.
Black women and girls are seven percent of the total U.S. population but 36 percent of all missing females
Investigators and family members believe that Jurnett-Stewart’s death was domestic violence related. Indeed, the alert about her had labeled the mother as critically missing. A 41-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection to the incident.
“You’re never supposed to hurt a woman,” Lawrence told WBLT 3 during a tearful vigil held for his mother outside of her home on April 18th.
“If I could say something to my momma right now, I would say that, ‘I love you and I care about you, mom, and I want you back. I don’t want you to be gone and away from us.’”
Source: The Tragic Death Of Missing Mother Tomitka Jurnett-Stewart Must Finally Call Us To National Action
