Archive for August, 2011

Murder Charges Dismissed

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Hello everyone,

Capital murder charges against Joacquas Haywood, suspect in our daughter Nadia’s disappearance, were dismissed today.  He has been released from the Birmingham, Alabama jail.

Two weeks ago the judge in Nadia’s case denied the assistant district attorney’s (DA’s) request for a continuance of Mr. Haywood’s murder trial scheduled to begin 19 September 2011.  As I understand, the DA’s request was based upon DNA analysis test reports not yet received from the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.  The DA considers these reports to be important to the case and did not want to proceed without the FBI lab findings. A second request for continuance was denied today.  The DA then requested charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed.  This request was granted.

We support the DA’s decision to request charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed as we wait for the DNA lab reports.  This move by no means indicates a final chapter in the case.  As we understand, once the results of the DNA tests are in the DA will revisit options and then make a determination of what course of action they will take.

During this time of waiting we ask people of the Homewood/Birmingham, Alabama community to come forward with information about the whereabouts of our daughter Nadia.  We have been searching for her for almost three years and desperately want to find her.  Please feel free to contact us at this website or call the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office and ask to speak with the assistant DA assigned to Nadia Kersh’s case if you have any information.

As her family we will continue to pursue leads in an attempt to find her.  A number of search crews will be out this Saturday and Sunday once again looking in several newly identified areas in hopes of locating her.  New equipment has been brought in to assist them.  Central Alabama Search and Rescue (formerly Walker County Search and Rescue) is the lead team in the search for Nadia.  They recently spoke about how they do what they do at a Victims of Crime and Leniency meeting in Jefferson County in Alabama (click on link). http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/aug/18/ker-ar-2293944/

Thank you all for your continued interest in Nadia’s case.  We appreciate your emails and words of encouragement.

His Blessings to you,

Nancy for all

August 2011 Update

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Hello everyone,

My apology for our absence.  We have been dealing with litigations and complications involving the Alabama legal system.  It’s been an educational process for us as we move forward to help our grandson (our daughter Nadia’s son whom she left behind when she went missing on 3 Nov 2008).  We ask for your patience as we continue on this journey.

There have been some questions/concerns about the amount of time it takes to receive DNA test results in Nadia’s case.  My understanding is that all lab testing was done at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.  The FBI lab deals not only in missing person/murder cases but cases of even higher priority as well…for example, issues/cases involving national security.  Lab testing in Nadia’s case is taken in turn of priority and so therefore a more lengthy wait for the results.

Search efforts continue in an effort to find Nadia.  (Alabama) Walker County Search and Rescue is the lead team in these efforts.  We’re pleased to announce they will be the guest speaker at this month’s Jefferson County Victims of Crime Against Leniency meeting on 18 August at 6pm.  The meeting will be held at 2200 8th Ave. N, Sheriff’s Department Training Room, 2nd floor, Birmingham, Alabama.  We encourage all who can to attend this meeting and learn more about this search and rescue team and how they do what they do. For more information please contact Wanda Jones Miller at (205) 731-2814 or cell (205) 438-0586.

Thank you all for standing beside us as we continue to diligently look for Nadia.  Search efforts have stepped up and expanded to include some interesting new areas.  We are very thankful for the leads that have come in to assist us in our search.

His Blessings to you all from Nadia’s family,

Kevin and Nancy, brother John and sister Charlize