Efforts to find Bradley sisters renewed; New $20,000 reward offered for information on missing sisters

Nearly three years after Tionda and Diamond Bradley were reported missing by their mother from their Bronzeville residence, a reward of $20,000 has been offered for information regarding their whereabouts.

Ross Rice, a spokesperson with the Chicago office of the FBI, told the Chicago Defender on Monday he wasn't aware of the reward being as much as $20,000. He did say, however, the possibility exists that some civic organization may have anonymously increased the reward money.

"We (FBI) offered a reward of $10,000 when they were first reported missing," Ross said. "It's a local matter under jurisdiction of the Chicago Police Department," Rice said.

"I know part of it is from the FBI," said Pat Camden, a spokesperson with the Chicago Police Department.

"We're putting it (reward money) out as $20,000," he confirmed on Monday, though he declined to say where the additional money came from.

Rev. Paul Jakes, a Chicago activist who followed up on a lead that the girls were spotted at a Wal-Mart store in Indianapolis, Indiana last month, said he connected with over 20 churches and businesses in that area and conveyed the need for them to assist in the search for the girls.

"We were out on the streets, went to missions, veteran organizations, passed out flyers to Masonic groups and made connections with private investigators there," Rev. Jakes said. "There were significant leads that we followed up on.

"At least it has given us some hope that the children are still alive," Rev. Jakes continued.

Rev. Jakes, though thankful, said he had no knowledge of where the additional funds came from to increase the reward money. He did say that some of the travel he's done in association with the search for the girls would not have been possible without the help of certain philanthropists, including Spencer Leak Sr. of the A.R. Leak and Sons Funeral Chapels.

"I wouldn't have been able to get there without the help of Leak and Sons Funeral Homes. He (Leak) provided the funds for me to be able to get there."

Tionda, who was 11 at the time of her disappearance and listed at 4'2" and 70 pounds with a medium build, medium complexion, brown eyes, long black hair (worn in ponytails) and a quarter size scar on her left forearm, would be 14 if found alive today.

Diamond, who was four years at the time of her disappearance and described as approximately 3' tall and weighing 35 pounds, medium built, medium complexion, brown eyes, long black hair (worn in ponytails) and a scar on the left side of her head at the hairline, would be seven years if found alive today.

The sisters were last seen in the area of 35th and Lake Park Ave. Their mother told police she had to go to a part-time job and upon returning home, she learned that the girls were seen at the nearby Doolittle Elementary School, just two blocks away from their residence.

The Chicago police department is circulating photos showing Diamond to be aged progressed to five years old and Tionda to be aged progressed to 12-years old.

Anyone with information regarding the girls' whereabouts can do so in strict confidentiality by calling the Chicago Police Department's Cold Case Squad at (312) 746-9690; the 24-hour hotline at (312) 745-6007; or the Chicago office of the FBI at (312) 431-1333.

Rev. Jakes said there will be something of significance on July 6, the third anniversary of the girls' disappearance.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Photograph (Diamond and Tionda)