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SOURCE: D.C. girl’s alleged abductor’s phone pinged to Gilpin Court

Posted at 12:26 AM, Mar 29, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-29 09:16:36-04

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTVR) - The search continues for missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd.

The case has been anything but ordinary since an amber alert was issued for the girl on March 20.

According to recent reports, Rudd's mother refused to file a missing person's report.

Rudd was last seen on March 1 with her accused abductor Kahlil Tatum, who authorities said is now wanted for the murder of his wife.

On Friday, D.C. police spent the day searching through weeds and wetlands at Kenilworth Park in D.C.

Officials searched more than 700 acres of ground after receiving a tip that Tatum was seen there after buying trash bags, a shovel, and lime.

Prior to Friday's search, authorities have had lookouts in the Richmond area.

Richmond police said they spotted Tatum's pick up truck in the Metro area last Thursday.

Now, according to FBI sources, CBS 6 has learned that calls were made from Tatum's cell phone in the Gilpin Court area of the city.

It's the kind of discovery that leaves an unsettling feeling for those living there.

"It makes you want to keep your kids close in the house to you," said Michael Macklin, who lives in Gilpin Court. "I really don't want to let them outside or out of your eyesight."

Police sources also told CBS 6 the FBI was in the Gilpin Court area a few days last week.

Residents of the area told CBS 6's Chelsea Rarrick off camera that they remember seeing officers questioning people in their neighborhood.

However, now the D.C. police chief is saying there is no evidence suggesting that Tatum is anywhere other than the D.C. metro area.

Police plan to continue their search at Kenilworth Park in the D.C. area Saturday morning.

CBS 6 has also learned Tatum had contact with several other girls at the homeless shelter where the accused abductor worked.

The shelter is also where Relisha and her mother lived.

To see all the stories about Relisha Rudd and Khalil Tatum, click here :  http://wtvr.com/tag/relisha-rudd/