ALONZO WILLIAMS - Teen (2011) - Rochester NY

Rochester, NY - The family of a Rochester teenager now missing for more than two months is getting help from a nationwide organization.

Alonzo Williams' family says "just disappearing" is not something he would do, so they reached out to the Cue Center for Missing Persons to see if the group can aid in the search to find him.

Williams was last seen at his home on Arnett Boulevard in Rochester on November 21st.
He left his house while his family slept, wearing a black leather coat and a grey hooded sweatshirt.
Since then, there's been no sign of Williams.
The families of other missing people from Rochester suggested Williams' family ask the Cue Center to step in and aid in the search.
News 8 spoke with Executive Director Monica Caison today via FaceTime from North Carolina.
She says the center's goal is to expose Williams' story on social networking sites, and touch base with area media outlets and police departments to reach as many people as possible.

Caison said "He is young. We're very concerned for his whereabouts and you know, the family. We listen to the families and we believe that they know the victim best and the biggest problem here is that he's really had no exposure."

Leslie Gordon is a spokesperson for the Williams family. She added "We're excited to work with them to see if they can help us find some type of closure. We're just in the beginning part working with them, and they're helping us, and hopefully we can take a trip down there soon and see what type of assistance they can offer for us."

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=295192

To my knowledge this is he first report of this case. Is there anybody who can fill us in on the original disappearance?

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=309002

Family Grieves After Police Identify Body as Alonzo Williams

By: Cierra Putman
Updated: March 26, 2012

After nearly four months missing, the search for Alonzo Williams has ended. Police identified Williams as the body found in the Genesee River Friday night.

"We have closure, it's not the type of closure we were expecting but now we can, we can move on," his aunt Lisa Alexander said.

His aunt Leslie Gordon got the call early Monday morning while at work. Immediately after receiving it she rounded up the family and broke the news to Williams' parents.

"We'll never fill the void, but we just have to grieve," Gordon said. "We have to be supportive of his mother and of his father."

"It's just heart wrenching, you know," Alexander said. "You search and you just know. You know your family and you know your nephew. Know he wouldn't just leave and stay gone."

Williams' body was found not far from his mother's home where he was last seen in November. Rochester Police do not believe foul play was to blame but have not determined the exact cause of death. Family and loved ones surrounded his parents Monday afternoon. They describe Williams as a quiet, popular young man who was crowned prom king. They say he loved music and was socially conscious.

"He was just the average kid," Gordon said. "He was really nice, respectful."

Williams' family started searching and making fliers immediately after he went missing four months ago. Just this weekend, Alexander was in North Carolina at the CUE Center's National Missing Persons conference. While their search ended sadly, the family plans to continue supporting other families.

"Of course we would still be in contact with the other families whose loved ones who's still missing," Gordon said. "And do as much as we possibly could to help them find their loved ones, or bring some type of closure to their families also."

By remembering their nephew these aunts hope to bring comfort to others in the future.

"Missing the Missing" started in November 2011 after
Alonzo Williams disappeared, now months later, the organization
continues to support other local families.


Ray Bradley's son, Johnny, went missing in May 2005. "Missing the Missing" has helped him and his family cope.


"With this group, it has helped me heal a little bit more and made me
aware of how to go about things, and we became like a close-knit family
all of us suffering and working together," said Bradley.


In addition to the Bradley family, "Missing the Missing" also
supports the Sullivan's, Drexel's and Grisham's. All are Rochester area
families with missing children. The 16 active members in the group meet
once a week to talk and share their feelings about their missing loved
ones. The support group also spreads awareness.


"We wanted to remind the community that our children are still
missing, we still have loved ones that are missing, and we are trying to
prevent anyone from becoming missing as well," said Nicole Coleman,
President and Founder.


At Saturday's event at Skate Luver in Rochester, the group offered
safety advice for parents and children. The Rochester Police
Department, Operation Safe Child, and the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children all helped support the cause.


"Missing children or missing persons is a really big problem in our
Rochester area. When it hits home is when it becomes a concern, but it
should be a concern before it hits home," said Coleman.


Mozell Jones Grisham's son, Domonique, went missing in 2009. She says "Missing the Missing" awareness events give her hope.


"Get the word out there to let our loved ones know we aren't going to stop until they return home," said Grisham.


"Have faith and believe and cry as much as you have to because it's
going to hurt, that's your baby, it's going to hurt," said Bradley.


"Missing the Missing" holds an awareness event once a month. In May, the organization plans to host a community-based picnic.

http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext?nxd_id=315342