Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
Dezi
Whittingham
17
16
Black / African American
Female
In the late spring of 2025, concern grew in the Bronx, New York, with the disappearance of 16-year-old Dezi Whittingham. She was last seen on May 31, 2025. At the time she went missing, Dezi was described as being 5'6" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Reports from the time indicate she was last seen wearing a purple shirt, blue jeans, and black sneakers. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued an alert for Dezi, suggesting that she might have remained in the local area. Dezi's disappearance was part of a troubling series of events involving a group home in the Castle Hill neighborhood. Between May 14 and June 7, 2025, a total of five teenage girls, including Dezi, were reported missing from the same facility on different dates. This pattern of disappearances raised significant alarm and prompted a police investigation into the circumstances at the foster home. The events brought attention to the vulnerability of youth in care and the challenges faced by the agencies responsible for their safety. Fortunately, this story has a hopeful conclusion. On July 28, 2025, it was reported that all five of the missing teenagers, including Dezi Whittingham, had been found safe and unharmed. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that Dezi was located on July 12, 2025. Police officials stated that no criminality was suspected in connection with the girls' disappearances. The overview of this case highlights a period of intense worry for a community and the families involved, which thankfully resolved with the safe return of all the missing teens.
May 31, 2025
BRONX
New York
09/28/2026
