JOHN WALSH SHOW January 07, 2003 "TORN APART BY ABDUCTION" On today’s show, two families torn apart by a child abduction and brutal murder will speak out and share their emotional stories in a DAYTIME EXCLUSIVE that is making national headlines. Six years ago, 3-week-old Le-Zhan Williams was abducted from his California home after his 17-year-old mother, Daphne Boyden, was shot and murdered and her home set ablaze in a case that baffled police. Just a few weeks ago, an anonymous tip led to the discovery of Le-Zhan and the arrest of the woman police believe responsible for his kidnapping and the murder of his mother – 22-year-old Latasha Brown. With Le-Zhan now in protective custody, and a possible legal battle about to begin, family members of both the victim and accused break their silence in a gripping, heart-breaking hour. Jessica and Russell were Daphne’s closest family members – Jessica is Le-Zhan’s godmother and Russell grew up with Daphne in their grandmother’s home as brother and sister. The two say they hope their family gets custody of Le-Zhan. Alisia Brown, Latasha’s sister, says she had no idea that the child her sister was raising, who Latasha called Shey, was not her son. Latasha’s mother, Delores Brown, was charged with child concealment and also cooperated with police to help find Latasha and Le-Zhan after they recently fled. We also hear a statement from Lathan Williams, Le-Zhan’s biological father and an aspiring rap star, who is currently serving time in prison for an unrelated armed robbery. Lt. Richard Nichelman, a Vallejo, CA Police Detective assigned to the case, joins us to reveal more details, and Georgia Hilgeman-Hammond, Director and Founder of the Vanished Children’s Alliance talks about how reunions between kidnapped children and their families should be handled. Plus, from Tammy Horvath, Child Passenger Safety Instructor from The Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida gives us important, life-saving tips on seatbelt safety in this week’s Keeping Children Safe segment. MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS Jessica & Russell Jessica and Russell are murder victim Daphne Boyden’s closest cousins. Jessica is also the godmother of 6-year-old Le-Zhan Williams, who was abducted after his mother was murdered and her home set ablaze when he was only weeks old. Russell and Daphne were cousins who grew up together and were as close as siblings. Jessica and Russell have spent the past 6 years on a crusade to find their cousin’s son, and both talk about how they feel about this devastating situation. Le-Zhan is currently in protective custody after an anonymous tip led to his recovery and the arrest of the woman who was raising him, Latasha Brown. They meet Latasha’s sister, Alisia, for the first time today in the studio. Lt. Richard Nichelman Lt. Nichelman is a detective with the Vallejo, CA Police Department. He was the main investigator in both Daphne Boyden’s murder case and in the abduction case of Le-Zhan Williams, and says an anonymous tip led police to find the missing 6-year-old. Alisia Alisia, 19, is Latasha Brown’s sister and Delores Brown’s daughter. Latasha is charged with kidnapping, arson, and murder in connection with Daphne Boyden’s murder and Le-Zhan Williams’ kidnapping. Latasha had been raising 6-year-old Le-Zhan as her own son, calling him Shey. Alisia’s mother, Delores, is charged with child concealment; she cooperated with police to help arrest Latasha and retrieve Le-Zhan. Alisia says she never suspected that her sister may have kidnapped the boy she was raising and says her family is devastated. She comes face to face with Daphne’s family for the very first time in the studio. Georgia Hilgeman-Hammond Georgia is the Executive Director and Founder of the Vanished Children’s Alliance, a national private non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, location, and recovery of missing and abducted children. Georgia talks about the feelings Le-Zhan is likely to experience as a result of his kidnapping and the reunion with his biological mother’s family. Georgia says the best interest of the child is the most important thing to keep in mind, and that counseling and therapy for both the child and family is crucial. Tammy Horvath Tammy is a Child Passenger Safety Instructor from The Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida. She gives us valuable, life-saving information and tips on seat belt safety in this week’s Keeping Children Safe segment. MORE INFORMATION http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.vca.org/ Vanished Children’s Alliance, Toll-Free: 1.800.VANISHED – Georgia Hilgeman-Hammond http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA021210Missing_boy_mystery.html ABCNews.com: “Stolen Child Found Living Two Miles Away” http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.virtual-paper.com/whistler/coastviews.nsf/b0b9bc85949a8dd188256a9900543667/ae951b1a242d863688256a95004ec60a!OpenDocument Coast Views Magazine: “Finding Le-Zhan” Tammy Horvath, B.S.N., R.N.C., CPN – The Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida: SAFE KIDS of Orlando, FL, 407.521.4673, e-mail: Horvath@mpinet.net http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.safekids.org/ National SAFE KIDS Campaign http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.bucklebear.com/ BUCKLEBEAR: Child Safety Information http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm American Academy of Pediatrics – Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Child Passenger Safety http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.carseat.org/ SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. – Safe Ride Helpline for Child Passenger Safety http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheet http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.saferidenews.com/ Safe Ride News http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.ocso.com/ Orange Country Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), Orlando, FL http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.ezonpro.com/ E-Z-ON Products, Inc. http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.kidseat.org/ KidSeat.org http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.seatbelt.com/ Seatbelt.com http://web.archive.org/web/20030901024027/http://www.nsc.org/traf/sbc.htm National Safety Council’s National Safety Belt Coalition © 2002 National Broadcasting Company, Inc. 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