Tionda and Diamond Bradley - Tionda (10 years old) Diamond (3 years old), Chicago, IL, missing since July 2001
Tionda and Diamond were the youngest children of Tracey Bradley (single mother of four girls). Tracey lived in the Bronzeville area of Chicago's South Side. The Bradley children knew how to be safe in their neighborhood. Tracey taught the girls never to open the door for anyone unless they were told to by her. Tionda was young but very independent. She loved her little sister Diamond and took good care of her. Tracey fell on hard times. She asked her mother to take care of the two older girls and she would raise Tionda and Diamond. Her mother assisted her with her children very often because the four fathers involved did not have contact with their daugther's. Tracey was left to raise them on her own.
Tracey worked the breakfast shift at a local group home and normally got home before 1pm. On July 6, 2001, Tracey left for work around 6am and left Tionda and Diamond on the couch asleep. She knew that Tionda knew not to leave the house or open the door for anyone or anything. She figured that she would be home within a few hours and after all the girls were asleep. Tracey said that she got a ride from her on and off boyfriend, George Washington, to work that morning. She also said that George picked her up around 1pm that day and brought her home.
Tracey walked into the three bedroom apartment, and called out for the girls. But Tionda and Diamond were gone! Tracey panicked, and asked George to help her look for the girls in the neighborhood. But George was reluctant and got in his car and left. She found a letter from Tionda saying that she and Diamond were going to the store and to DoLittle School (were Tionda attended summer school). Tracey walked for over one mile, knocking on doors and asking if anyone saw Tionda and Diamond. But she had no luck. Within hours her family members were out looking for them. Tracey's mother left her job as soon as she heard that her granddaughters were missing. when she arrived, she asked if anyone had call the police. And the answer was NO! Tracey didn't want to call for fear that her older daugthers would be taken into foster care because Tionda and Diamond were home alone. Tracey waited five hours then called the police. Precious time was lost in the search for the girls.Within five hours the could be clear across the state!
When they arrived, she told several lies to cover up the fact that she left them home alone. She told police that she was taking a nap and the girls were outside playing.This was a lie of course. This misinformation hampered the search for the girls. The Chicago Police Department searched the entire city for the girls. They checked vacant apartments, alley ways and the Michigan River. But nothing. Not even a jacket or a shoe. 24 hours past and the Chicago Police were able to get a hold of a voicemail message that was left by Tionda to Tracey's cell phone. On the message, Tionda said that "George" was at the door and wanted her to go with him to pick up the cake for her older sister Victoria's birthday. Tionda was calling for permission to open the door. She knew not to open the door for anyone. George Washington was questioned by the police. But they found no clues. George had a criminal record for burglary and soliciting prostitution. George was at the Bradley home the night before. In fact he spent the night! He got to the apartment at 2am on July 5th. The police also found out that Tracey was in a legal battle with George regarding the paternity of Diamond Bradley. Tracey claimed that Diamond was Washington's child. Although this was happening, Tracey and George were sleeping together and planning a camping trip with Tionda and Diamond that weekend.
George Washington was never helpful in the search for the girls. He never even tried to assist the family or police. One year went by and still no clues. Tracey's aunt Sheila Bradley - Smith, has been working non stop to keep the case in the public eye. She believes that George Washington had something to do with the disappearance of Tionda and Diamond. As time time past, this case turned into a cold case and was sent to Chicago's cold case files division. No leads have been found.
It has been over 10 years since Tionda and Diamond went missing. There are countless scenarios of what could have happened to these children. Surprisingly enough, Tracey didn't feel that George had anything to do with this. She kept her ongoing relationship with Washington. In fact, she had a son for him. Washington has custody of the little boy. Tracey Bradley knows way more that what she's saying. She seemed to have a bit of a mental or drug problem. She wasn't a good parent and her other children testified to that fact. They said that they had to fend for themselves all the time. There was limited food, clothing and money. Tracey was not selective in who she chose to father her total six children. I feel deeply sorry for this little girls who didn't stand a chance with Tracey Bradley. George Washington was in a legal battle over the status of the paternity of Diamond Bradley. It's apparent that he had little or no concern for the children. So what would make her think that George had nothing to do with the disappearance of the girls?! She must be retarded! Thank God for Sheila Bradley-Smith for really digging deep into this case. She has been working for over ten years to find out what happened to Tionda and Diamond.
If you have any information or tips regarding this case, please contact the Chicago Police Department at: (312) 745-4290
21 comments:
I would think that when she came home with George to find the girls missing and dear old George, rather then helping to search for them, hops into his car and takes off! What kind of person does not stick around to help his girlfriend look for her (and mostly likely one of his own) young daughters???? A guilty person is the only answer! How big of a red flag does this woman need waved in her face?! His runaway actions, the voice mail with him at the door making up some birthday cake adventure story are enough for me!
And to think this woman believes he is innocent and still continued to be with him, having another child is just appalling! The girls should not have been left alone at all at that age! It is apparent that even at 10 years of age, Tionda was unable to handle all the different situations that can arise and Tracey was apparently unable to take important calls from her daughter when she left them alone!
My husband and I are unable to have our own children and it disgusts me when I see parents who do not realize how precious a child is and I am always flabbergasted when not only do they not protect them with their life but some actually harm them children in evil and vile ways! Very sad!
Great blog by the way! I just found it tonight and am going through every post. Love it! Keep up the wonderful work you are doing! I really find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with your opinions as well! :)
Stacy
Sorry, I posted the same comment twice by accident, hence the deleted post! :)
@Smartian... Thanks for the feedback!
There are rumors in that area that the mother sold the children. There are lots of unanswered questions in this case. The fact that they waited so long to call the police says it all. The only person on the this episode who even half way seemed truly concerned was the great aunt. And in all honesty, I think even she knows what really happened.
The one question I have is why had the other 2 kids spent the night at grandma's but not Tionda and Diamond? And ok if they couldn't spend the night why couldn't she at least take them over there to be watched for a couple of hours?!
The one question I have is why had the other 2 kids spent the night at grandma's but not Tionda and Diamond? And ok if they couldn't spend the night why couldn't she at least take them over there to be watched for a couple of hours?!
That's a question that I think ran through everyone's head. That didn't sound right that the other kids got to spend the night out and the 2 youngest ones didn't. If she was working surely the Grandma wouldn't have objected to having all the kids "safely" at her house. But remember rumor has it she sold the children for money. People in the area said that over and over again. It's sad to think she would do that, but her appearance on the TV One show said it all. She was behaving strangely and acting very matter of fact. It wasn't noted on the episode but I think she has or had a drug problem. And to make matters worse she had another child for the George Washington (the man who was accused of the kidnapping) after they were having a nasty court battle about the paternity of the youngest girl, Diamond Bradley. I think the mother is the only person who knows what really happened. Very sad indeed.
Did you all not read the part where it said that the grandmother was taking care of the two older girls? I took this to mean that they lived with the grandmother.
If as much attention was paid to this case nationally as is paid to blond haired/blue eyed little girls that go missing, there might have been better leads and more of a committment to find them.
Any questions that can be answered within reason that will not compromise the investigation can be directed to me. Also, the vicious rumors from the community may have hindered this investigation by wasting resources and misleading people to now search for them. No matter what, these are children and no one had a right to kidnap them. Find our missing and any other show can only put out what I allow and if I exposed all I do know would tell the kidnapper(s) just how close I am to getting justice. This comment is written by Shelia Bradley-Smith, Aunt of kidnapped Diamond and Tionda Bradley.
This is so sad.I heard this on this show and i almost cryed.I'm like why did she even leave them without telling them im about to go to work thats what my mom always do. Then i will tell her mom i dont think i can stay here by myself and i will ask her if i can go over my grandma house.She said she would take me over there when shes about to go to work.Maybe them kids wandered off but i dont think they did i think that george was planning this.Ok the kids left a note saying im going to the store and to the schools playground.Maybe george was on his way to their house to kidnapp them and he saw them on their way to wherever they was going so he mustve said i have my chance right here so he just took them.But tionda looks like shes a good person but i dont think she woulda said come on lets leave a note and lie and just run away.Well this is my opinion but i really do think george did it i really do.God knows who took them kids im just hoping they will find the kids but right now those kids are older so you know when you get older you start to look different so it's is gonna be even harder to find them.Good luck i hope those kids are still living and hoping they will find their parents.
@ Shelia Bradley-Smith..I am the writer of this blog and I do have a few questions regarding the case.
Since this happened in 2001, is this still and open and active investigation? Do you feel that George Washington had something to do with the kidnapping? Do you feel that Tracy Bradley had something to do with the kidnapping or knows something about what happened? I understand her not wanting CPS to take her other children because she left the two girls home alone, but was don't youl think that the lapse in time for calling the police was critcal in finding the girls? I think alot of people have questions about this case. It seems like there is so much more information that is not being mentioned. I personally want to assist in anyway that I can. If you want to talk about this in more detail, please send me an e-mail. jadeywadey5@gmail.com
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This blog entry was very poorly written.
I'm curious if George Washington is still involved with Mom? And I do express my sorrow for the girls. Keep up your fight for answers. I'm praying for you and yours.
I don't believe their hair or eye color had anything to do with this! As a relative of the mothers I think you have trouble seeing where she dropped the ball! There was tons of media attention on this case, I lived in NWI at the time and this was constantly in the news. She made a series of poor choices AND it had nothing to do with race! Who leaves a 10 y.o. to watch a 3y.o.? Who waits to checks vm's when they know they have 4 kids who may have called them? Who waits 6 hrs to call leo to report two kids that young missing? Who refuses to cooperate in the disappearance of their children? Who has been arrested for drugs and domestic violence? As far as the horrendous rumors on the street...I know it is hard to hear when they are family, but ma'am, they are true. She sued all these men telling them Diamond was theirs and one who was determined not to be the father yet had been paying child support may have an axe to grind. That would be George Washington. Tracey has blood all over her hands. Scary to think she had another baby.
I always have & still do think that the George Washington had something to do with the babies disappearce. Even as a friend, why wouldn't you help search for them when they first went missing?. Especially when one of them could be your daughter. Who, with the right kind of Heart would NOT do that??? The guilty flee when no one is pursuing them. And that's what he did. He ran!!! Please dont ever stop looking at him!!
I can't understand how law enforcement can't see George is guilty as sin. The clues are clear as day. If it walks like a duck sounds like a duck, it's a duck. He will sit in jail as a suspect until we resolve the case Period. He killed them. Intuition doesn't lie. THATS WHY GOD INSTILLED IT IN US.
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