KYNANDE KALEHJE BENNETT |
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Alias/Nickname: |
Her name is pronounced "kee-NAHN-day". |
Date Missing: |
September 29, 2002 |
Age Missing: |
3 |
Date of Birth: |
August 24, 1998 |
Missing From: |
Whiteville, NC |
Height: |
3'10" |
Weight: |
90 lbs |
Hair Color: |
Brown |
Eye Color: |
Brown |
Gender: |
Female |
Race: |
Black |
Identifying Characteristics: |
Kynande has pierced ears and a birthmark on her right arm. |
Clothing/Jewelry: |
When she was last seen, Kynande had braids in her hair and was wearing a grey "FUBU" shirt and blue jeans. |
Circumstances of Disappearance: |
 Unknown. Kynande's photos are shown
age-progressed to six years and 11 years, respectively. She was reportedly last seen in the
company of her mother, Vartasha "Tasha" McCullough, at a K-Mart department store at 5:00 p.m. They resided in Conway, South Carolina and were visiting Kynande's uncle in Whiteville, North Carolina that day. At first McCullough claimed Kynande disappeared in an aisle of the store, but she later changed her story and said she walked into the store and thought Kynande was behind her, but turned around and she was gone.
Nobody remembered seeing the child with her mother in K-Mart that day. Investigators claim that there is no evidence that Kynande was even in the state at the time. No one other than Kynande's parents saw her in the two days before she was reported missing. Authorities later discovered biological evidence in McCullough's apartment that suggested a physical assault had taken place. The evidence was matched through DNA to Kynande. Kynande's parents (pictured above right) were both arrested in February 2003 and charged with homicide by child abuse in connection with their daughter's case. In 2005, the charges against Kevin Bennett were dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence. In 2006, Vartasha McCullough was convicted of homicide by child abuse. The judge sentenced her to 20 years in prison. Due to circumstances involved, foul play is expected. |
Investigating Agency/Contact: |
Whiteville, NC Police
Department: 1-910-640-1428 Or National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678 |
Case #: |
2002003189 |
NCIC #: |
M-552739886 |
NCMEC Case #: |
NCMC946349 |
Sources |
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