Who is Allisha Watts? Desperate search for missing NC woman after boyfriend found unresponsive in her car
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Missing Person Unit is seeking the public's assistance in the ongoing search for 39-year-old Allisha Dene Watts, who went missing from her Charlotte home.
Who is Allisha Watts?
Allisha Dene Watts was last seen on July 16, driving her black 2023 Mercedes Benz GLC 300, possibly heading towards her residence in Moore County, according to the police department's news release on Tuesday, July 25. The investigation took a concerning turn on July 18 when Watts' car was discovered in Anson County, approximately 60 miles away from her home. Inside the vehicle, authorities found her boyfriend, James Dunmore, unresponsive. Detectives are actively pursuing leads and using all available resources to locate Watts, as they remain in communication with her immediate family members.
Watts' loved ones expressed deep worry and disbelief at her disappearance. "She is not the type of person that would just disappear and leave and not have contact with her family or friends," said Watts' sister, Stephanie Johnson, in an emotional plea. "She's loved, and we want her home. That’s why we are looking for her, taking matters into our own hands." Johnson hailed Watts - the CEO of Inspired Visions Support Services Inc. - as a resilient individual, having transformed a challenging childhood into a life devoted to making a positive impact. She further described Watts as a passionate advocate for individuals dealing with mental health challenges and the elderly.
Disturbing discovery intensifies search
Gwendolyn Utley, Watts' cousin, grew concerned when Watts failed to show up at a comedy club they had planned to attend together on July 16. When Utley returned to Watts' boyfriend's house, she found her car parked in the same spot, but Watts was nowhere to be seen. Two days later, the Anson County Sheriff's Office reported finding Watts' car at the Anson County DMV with James Dunmore unresponsive inside. The case was officially reported to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a missing persons case on July 19. It was not until July 20 that the Anson County Sheriff's Office connected the vehicle found at the DMV to Watts' disappearance. "My main concern right now is to get Allisha back home," said Utley, as quoted by ABC 11.
Watts' friends and family gathered at a press conference held by the National Racial Justice Network to speak about her disappearance. Learen Blue, one of Watts' close friends, expressed frustration with the lack of information from the police regarding her friend's case. "We now know where they found her car and the unresponsive man in the car but where is he? Where is Allisha?" Blue said tearfully. "We want everybody to know that Allisha, she's not just some missing person. She's an important person to all of us. She's a daughter. She's a sister. She's an aunt. She's a best friend." Dearest Price, the regional manager for the justice network in Charlotte, requested a meeting with police and Dunmore to gather more information about the disappearance, USA Today reported.
Spotlight on missing people of color
Allisha Dene Watts' case highlights a troubling issue: Black people account for nearly 40% of reported missing person cases in the country despite making up only 13% of the US population. Derrica Wilson, co-founder of the national non-profit Black and Missing Foundation, expressed concern over the disparity and the lack of national attention for cases involving people of color. "We can all name the Natalie Holloway, the Lacey Peterson, the Chandra Levy, the Elizabeth Smart, Gabby Petito those names just roll off your tongue, but no one knew like the Tiffany Foster, the Ariana Fitts, the Relisha Rudd, the Tiffany Blacksmith. And the list goes on and on," she said. "And so what we are trying to do is make sure that our missing are household names."
Wilson founded the foundation in 2008 to raise awareness about missing individuals from minority communities. The Black and Missing Foundation's online database currently holds 6,000 cases, with Watts' case added recently. "To help end this nightmare for their family, we want to keep a positive note that she's going to be found," said Gwendolyn Utley. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is urging anyone with information about Allisha Dene Watts' whereabouts to call 911.