A story gets old. A case gets cold. Another missing person goes forgotten. I hope and pray that won’t be the case for Stepha Henry.
The vivacious graduate student disappeared during this year’s Memorial Day festivities here in South Florida. The search continues, and her family and friends continue to pray for her safe return. They recently held a vigil at a church in Miramar, as an expression of their faith that she is still alive, and as a reminder that the search for Stepha continues.
The effects on the families of the missing can be devastating. This AP article by Marcus Franklin illustrates the stress Stepha Henry’s parents are currently enduring. In order to pay the bills, her father has had to return to work. Her mother, Sylvia has put her job on hold. “She lives more than 1,000 miles apart from her husband and their other daughter, 16. Her day consists of handing out fliers, praying and reading the Bible, talking to news media and police and desperately hoping Stepha will turn up.”
The end of the article really touched me: “When [Stepha’s father Steve] Henry thinks about his missing daughter, he said he misses the sisterly bickering over clothes between Shola and Stepha that once filled his Brooklyn home as he tried to watch television. Now, he said, the home is wrapped in an eerie quiet: Shola doesn’t say much or venture into her sister’s room, and her mother is in Florida looking for answers.” That silence must be unbearable.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Henry family. We all continue to hope for Stepha’s return.
The reward has increased, and the police are still searching for tips. Anyone with information should call Miami-Dade Det. Brigette Robert at 305-418-7200 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
thanks for keeping this story in our hearts and minds Bella.
on two fronts, this story is too painful to even think about. I would much rather talk about hair and beauty products. imagining the pain of parents whose child is missing and living the pain as an african american who watches a media that puts a higher premium on the lives of some rather than others. I’d rather argue about natural versus relaxed hair. But this I know. the “grace” that is given to Stepha’s parents in this time of trouble is supernatural.
I’ll post Afrobella of the Week by the end of today, bellas – I had to run off to work! This week’s bella is a true artist of beauty, much more fitting with the hair and beauty products I normally write about. But I had to get this up before I moved on to frivolous things. I agree that this story is too painful to contemplate. But I feel that I owe it to Stepha and her family (and all other African American men and women who go missing and are forgotten about by the media) to stand vigil.
Bella,
I know that someone out there knows where this young lady is and their just not talking. This is truly a sad story and one that makes me think..what if this were my daughter? When you did the first post, I sent it to all my family & friends and believe it or not…some of them had never heard about her.. I wish the media would give more coverage of this story and my heart goes out to her family. Thanks, for keeping the light burning for Stepha and her family………
Thanks so much for continuing to write about this story. I’m enraged by the media’s lack of continued coverage on her disappearance and what seems to be, at least in NYC a level of insensitivity to her family and their plight. As a John Jay student, a Jamerican, someone who frequently visits Miami– have been to that club and have friends who went to the concert and nearly attended as well—she is perpetually in our hearts and prayers.
I was on vacation when they started airing this.. I kept thinking of my daughter (Stephanie) and how this young woman reminded me so much of her.. I hope and pray that this story is kept alive until she is found..
Thanks for giving this case some attention. Our missing just don’t seem important to the media. Hmmmmmm, I wonder why???
On a related note, I can tell you that Natalie Hollowell (sp?) is thought to have died from a coke over dose. I know this because they are still talking about her ass. Guess what, I do not give a…. Let me stop here.
Bygbaby
Thanks for keeping this story going Bella. It just came to me, we (meaning black women) need our own “Amber Alert.” I dunno, maybe something like we dedicated part of our side panel to a black woman who is missing. If a lot of us did it, I wonder if that would help make a difference. Just an idea.
omg, I can’t even imagine how I would feel if this was my own sister. My heart goes out to this family. I pray for her safe return.
This makes me very sad because she could be me, I sent up a prayer for her yesterday and I’m going to keep on praying that she is found alive and well.
I pray and hope with every bone in my body this has a happy ending.
Hey! First time visiting your site! I love it! This story was on Nancy Grace on Sunday and it was the first I’d heard of it. As a matter of fact, I was so shocked they were doing a story on a missing black woman, I made sure to stick around to hear what Crazy Nancy had to say. She was FIRED UP!!! This is good news, because nobody can beat a dead horse like Nancy and when she gets upset about an injustice, she makes sure Noooooobody forgets.
Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Nancy Grace will let the world know if your dog is missing .She is always on point when someone is missing no matter what race you are.I will keep this family in my prayers.
I heard of this case when it first broke and as the weeks pasted I forgot. I’m glad to see this again because it allows me to keep my eyes open. You never know who you may run into on the streets. Keep watching and keep praying
Thank you, Bella for keeping Stepha’s story out there for all to see.
The way that I came to this website was thru Stepha Henry’s story. I happened to find an old People’s magazine behind the couch that had been lost there for some time. I had lost it the same day that I bought it and since I had never read it I sat down and scanned thru it. The first article that interested me was her story(Stepha’s). After reading the story it did not matter to me that she is black or white or Asian but only that she is a beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her and she deserves to get to live it. For the rest of the night I thought about her off and on so when I got to work tonight and had access to a computer I did a search for her story hoping to find out that she was found and was home safe and sound with her family but when I read all of your entries I was saddened by 2 things. One that Stepha is still missing and her family is still in turmoil and not probably not recieving any financial support while looking for thier daughter. The second thing that bothers me is that almost every entry here feels that because she is a black woman that her case has been put on the back burner with the media. I don’t know if this is true or not. I wouldn’t think so. I am a 45 yr. old caucasian female and I hope that it wouldn’t make any difference to anyone. Either way…I personally am very sorry that you all do feel this way. And I am hoping and praying that somehow there could be a miraculous end to this story and Stepha Henry could come home safe and sound.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your
point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?