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Through The Cracks

WAMU

When 8-year-old Relisha Rudd disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed. By the time authorities formally declared Relisha “missing,” 18 days had passed since she’d been spotted at school or the shelter where her family lived. Seven years later, Relisha has never been found. Through the Cracks investigates gaps in our society and the people who fall through them, and in this first season, host Jonquilyn Hill asks if Relisha’s disappearance was, as the city later claimed, unpreventable. From WAMU and PRX.

2020

When 8-year-old Relisha Rudd disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed. By the time authorities formally declared Relisha “missing,” 18 days had passed since she’d been spotted at school or the shelter where her family lived. Seven years later, Relisha has never been found. Through the Cracks investigates gaps in our society and the people who fall through them, and in this first season, host Jonquilyn Hill asks if Relisha’s disappearance was, as the city later claimed, unpreventable. From WAMU and PRX.

2020
5hr 16min
Thumbnail for "Trailer: Introducing Through The Cracks".
When Relisha Rudd went missing from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C., 18 days passed before anyone realized something was wrong. This season on Through The Cracks: Was Relisha’s disappearance preventable?
Thumbnail for "Episode 3: Kicked Out".
How did Relisha Rudd's family lose their home in the most 'tenant-friendly' city in America?
Thumbnail for "Through The Cracks Presents: Motive".
This week we’re bringing you a story from our friends over at the Motive podcast from WBEZ Chicago.
Thumbnail for "Through The Cracks Presents: Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez".
Through The Cracks is proud to present the English language version of the first episode of Ídolo: The Ballad of Chalino Sánchez from Sonoro and Futuro Studios.
Thumbnail for "Episode 1: Relisha Goes Missing".
When 8-year-old Relisha Rudd disappeared from a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. in 2014, nobody noticed. By the time police appeared at the homeless shelter where Relisha lived with her family, 18 days had passed since she’d been seen at school or in the shelter. On this episode: What happened in March 2014.
Thumbnail for "Episode 2: Ties That Bind".
Before Relisha Rudd vanished, each one of her family members had already fallen through the cracks in one way or another.
Thumbnail for "Episode 4: Almost Like Jail".
How did an ‘abandoned hospital’ become home for Relisha Rudd?
Thumbnail for "Episode 5: Janitor, Doctor, Godfather".
Who was Kahlil Tatum? Was he a loving husband and surrogate father? A cold killer?
Thumbnail for "Episode 6: The Search".
On the day the District went public with their search for Relisha Rudd, she had already been missing for over two weeks. What’s it like to search for a girl no one noticed was missing for 18 days?
Thumbnail for "Episode 7: "No Good Mother"".
Blaming Relisha Rudd's mother for her disappearance is easy. Too easy.
Thumbnail for "Episode 8: New Year, Old Wounds".
In the season finale of Through The Cracks: What’s changed since Relisha disappeared in 2014?

Episode 3: Kicked Out

Thumbnail for "Episode 3: Kicked Out".
February 11, 202127min 50sec

Before Relisha moved into a homeless shelter, her family lived together in an apartment near Congress Heights. But a chain of events led them to landlord-tenant court, and ultimately on the street. In this episode: Jonquilyn Hill explores how Relisha lost her home and wound up in a shelter in the most ‘tenant-friendly’ city in the country.

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Check out bonus material and subscribe to our newsletter at wamu.org/throughthecracks.

To support the investigative reporting that goes into Through The Cracks, donate at wamu.org/supportthroughthecracks.

Thumbnail for "Episode 3: Kicked Out".
Episode 3: Kicked Out
00:00
27:50