Jackson Free Press

[Press release] Attend a Prayer Vigil of Hope, the second vigil for the missing Jackson State University student Latasha Norman, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 on the Gibbs-Green Plaza on the JSU campus. Norman, 20, a junior accounting major, has been missing since Tuesday, Nov. 13. The vigil is open to the public.

Sponsored by the JSU Student Government Association and Division of Student Life Campus Ministry, the vigil is to maintain hope that Latasha will return home safely.

"This is an opportunity for our student body to reflect on Latasha as a student, family member and friend and to pray for her family," said Marcus Chanay, dean of the Division of Student Life.

Religious Senator Germaine Tuckett said the prayer vigil is also an opportunity to increase awareness among other students.

"I believe there are other students who still may not fully be aware of what's going on," Tuckett said. "We want to make sure they are aware of Latasha's disappearance and remain prayerful for her family during this very hard time."

Scheduled to attend the vigil are representatives from Latasha's family, Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler, representatives from 100 Black Men of Jackson, a representative of Michael's arts and crafts store, where Latasha is employed, and students from Tougaloo and Millsaps colleges.

For more information, call the Division of Student Life Campus Ministry at 601-979-3679.
______

Dr. Hilliard Lackey of JSU sent out the following information about relief funds for the Norman family:

Fellow alumni and friends:

Our hearts go out to the family, friends and classmates of Miss Latasha Norman, the JSU student who has been missing for over 14 days.

Four of her family members form Greenville are being housed in Jackson while the search continues. Their subsistence bills are mounting with each passing day. They need and deserve our financial assistance.

Alumni and friends are asked to make donations on-line or send checks or money orders directly to Jackson State University. Dean Glenda Glover of the College of Business announces that the Accounting Society, in which Latasha is an officer and member, has created the Latasha Norman Family Relief Fund.

Checks should be made payable to:
JSU Accounting Society
Jackson State University
College of Business
P.O. Box 18660
Jackson, MS 39217

The Norman Family is also setting up the Latasha Norman Family Relief Fund. account at Trustmark Bank in Jackson for local residents to donate. That information will be available in a day or so.

The Jackson State University National Alumni Association, Inc. has placed a PayPal link on the JSUNAA website to accept donations. Please click on the attached link. http://www.jsunaa.com/

The memo section of the check should specify Latasha Norman Family Relief Fund.

Previous Comments

ID

97332

Comment

Also from JSU/verbatim: JSU Public Safety requesting more tips; Crime Stoppers assisting (JACKSON, Miss.) – Investigators with the Jackson State University Department of Public Safety are depending on the public to relay more information about missing student Latasha Norman. "They may have tips about where we should be looking," Chief Rebecca Coleman said. The 20-year-old junior accounting major from Greenville, Miss., was last seen Tuesday, Nov. 13 after leaving a class about 2:20 p.m. Her family reported her missing between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14. Information hit the media by the evening of Nov. 14. Coleman encouraged people who want to submit anonymous tips to call Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (601-355-8477) or 1-866-481-8477. They also can submit anonymous tips via a secure Web form by clicking on https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=116 Coleman said someone from Crime Stoppers is manning the lines and will funnel tips to Jackson State. "If there is any assistance offered that would aid in helping get information out, we will utilize it," Coleman said. "Anyone from the public can call information in knowing they don't have to give a name. Crime Stoppers is definitely a helpful resource." The public can also call in tips to the JSU Department of Public Safety at 601-979-2580 or 601-979-1659, or the Jackson Police Department at 601-960-1234 or 601-960-1210. Investigators have been working around the clock to search for Latasha. The FBI, Hinds County Sheriff's Department and the Jackson Police Department are assisting JSU with the investigation. For more information about Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers, visit www.cmtips.com . For daily updates from JSU about the Latasha Norman case, visit http://pr.jsums.edu/show.asp?durki=717

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-28T17:14:17-06:00

ID

97333

Comment

WAPT's webiste states the ex-boyfriend is being questioned.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-11-29T10:27:29-06:00

ID

97334

Comment

Several JSU students reported that the carpet was removed from the trunk of the ex-boyfriends car and another reported blood stains. America's Most Wanted listed Latasha's picture on their web but said that they would wait to see if there is going to be an arrest. Today just might be the day if is fact that there has been a DNA match. My heart goes out to that family and friends. JSU's student body deserves a special mention for the level and intensity of support they gave and continue to give during this painful period.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-11-29T10:37:20-06:00

ID

97335

Comment

I've thought more about this young lady now that the temperature has dropped and the holiday season has begun. I pray that this case is solved quickly and that whoever is responsible for her disappearance will be caught and punished. My heart also goes out to Norman's family and JSU.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T10:59:33-06:00

ID

97336

Comment

Breaking news from WAPT: Norman's ex has been detained by police for questioning. They say he has not been named a suspect.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T11:37:31-06:00

ID

97337

Comment

From WJTV: The body of Latasha Norman has been found.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T15:10:00-06:00

ID

97338

Comment

Someone at work said Ms. Norman's body was found near Tougaloo, but I haven't seen anything in the media about it. I bet it's another stupid rumor, like what was spread earlier this week about her body being found on the JSU campus.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-29T15:11:35-06:00

ID

97339

Comment

Apparently, L-Dub linked the story as I was typing my comment. So, it's not a stupid rumor. Damn.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-29T15:14:54-06:00

ID

97340

Comment

WLBT is saying that a body was found near Brown St, which is in the Tougaloo community. They say they don't know for sure if it is Norman. Info might not be flowing at the same rate to Channel 3.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T15:25:51-06:00

ID

97341

Comment

I mention info flow because WJTV's ticker says that JPD gave them the news directly. They'll have a live update at four.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T15:29:35-06:00

ID

97342

Comment

Police told Ch. 12 that the body of Missing Jackson State University student Latasha Norman was found this afternoon.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2007-11-29T15:35:25-06:00

ID

97343

Comment

According to the CL- the ex-boyfriend allegedly hit Latasha at a restaurant parking lot in Pearl back in October. He was picked up going to the court for that incident. Tragic that help didn't come sooner.

Author

urbangypsy

Date

2007-11-29T15:38:03-06:00

ID

97344

Comment

They need to bury this fool under the jail, assuming he's found guilty.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-11-29T15:41:45-06:00

ID

97345

Comment

Damn. I pray for some measure of peace and comfort for the family.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-11-29T15:45:59-06:00

ID

97346

Comment

You guys, i heard they have just found her body on Brown Street.

Author

MartyG

Date

2007-11-29T15:47:11-06:00

ID

97347

Comment

urbangypsy, WLBT showed footage of Stanley Cole being taken into custody. They were putting him into a van.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T15:50:30-06:00

ID

97348

Comment

Channel 12 just confirmed it.

Author

MartyG

Date

2007-11-29T15:59:34-06:00

ID

97349

Comment

L.W. thanks. I think they picked him up when he reported for court. Unfortunately, it took a month for him to go to court for the simple assult charge.

Author

urbangypsy

Date

2007-11-29T15:59:58-06:00

ID

97350

Comment

WJTV is live at the crime scene...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T16:02:02-06:00

ID

97351

Comment

I am so sad for that young woman, but I pretty much knew that this was probably what happened when I learned about the incident where he hit her in October. How many more times does this have to happen? Domestic violence is way out of hand in this state. May she rest in peace.

Author

andi

Date

2007-11-29T16:02:36-06:00

ID

97352

Comment

Her body was found about 90 minutes ago. She was found on vacant land near an abandoned house on Brown St. They said police was tipped off as to where the body was by someone detained for questioning earlier today. The reporter did not say whether that person was Norman's ex-boyfriend, but I believe it was.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T16:07:21-06:00

ID

97353

Comment

This is so terrible. It seems to me that it's not the old people in this world who are dying but the young people. My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends.

Author

MartyG

Date

2007-11-29T16:10:41-06:00

ID

97354

Comment

This just breaks my heart and makes me sick! My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones. Rest in peace, Latasha.

Author

ellen

Date

2007-11-29T16:20:16-06:00

ID

97355

Comment

WJTV just showed a press conference with Cmdr. Vance. He said the body was too badly decomposed to say for sure if it's Norman, and the family will have to identify it. I think he's just following some sort of procedure.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T16:42:27-06:00

ID

97356

Comment

JPD confirmed to WAPT that the body found is Latasha Norman.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-29T18:11:21-06:00

ID

97357

Comment

I don't understand why it took so long to arrest him. The initial charge in Pearl should have been Domestic Violence, and after they arrested him from Jackson States campus, why not let the first warrant be enough evidence to gather a search warrant for the exboyfriends property. Her family did not have to suffer this long. I can not believe he has walked around this long knowing where he placed her body and was not questioned sooner. This is a shame. Let's everyone pray for her family in this sorrowful time.

Author

classy

Date

2007-11-29T18:38:10-06:00

ID

97358

Comment

I am so sad to hear about Natasha. I heard about her when I was home in Jackson and everyday I had been checking the JFP website and the Clarion Ledger hoping for any type of clue that just maybe she had been found ALIVE. I will continue to pray for the family and hope God can give them comfort. What is even more upsetting, is that this little ____ ( I don't quite know how to feel in the blank) has been watching her family plead and cry everyday for her return, and he just sat and watched until today. Jackson State is just too close to home for me and it could have been anyone in my family. I am totally heart broken.

Author

samebutdifferent

Date

2007-11-29T20:41:29-06:00

ID

97359

Comment

I agree justjackie I attend Jackson State and I can't walk on campus without thinking about her.

Author

classy

Date

2007-11-29T20:47:46-06:00

ID

97360

Comment

I did not know her, but I just hate she was killed. She was trying to do something with her life, so young, so sad. I pray her family finds some closure.

Author

Maria

Date

2007-11-30T03:40:15-06:00

ID

97361

Comment

Bless her soul. And prayers to her family. I feel like we ought to do something.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-30T10:08:17-06:00

ID

97362

Comment

Pear Pd dropped the ball

Author

NewJackson

Date

2007-11-30T10:36:54-06:00

ID

97363

Comment

I feel like we ought to do something. How soon do you think the JFP will be able to host a domestic violence forum in Jackson?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-30T19:26:06-06:00