Relisha Rudd's family explains large amounts of cash

WASHINGTON, April 5 (UPI) -- The mother and grandmother of missing Washington, D.C., girl, Relisha Rudd, said stacks of cash posted on the girl's stepfather's Facebook page came from legitimate sources.

Stacks of bills that amounted to what appeared to be $1,000 were posted on Antonio Wheeler's Facebook page in February, shortly before the girl first went missing.

Relisha's mother, Shamika Young, also received about $4,000 about three weeks after the girl's disappearance.

Melissa Wheeler, Relisha's grandmother, said the money on Antonio Wheeler's Facebook page came from cashing two checks, one of which was a Social Security check.

Young said the other check was a tax refund and the $4,000 she received was from a car accident settlement.

On March 1, Relisha's mother left the the girl with Kahlil Tatum, 51, who was a janitor at the homeless shelter where Relisha's family lived. Police issued an Amber Alert and first started searching for the girl March 19 after a counselor at the girl's school noticed her mounting absences.

Police found Kahlil Tatum's wife, Denise Tatum, dead in a hotel room the day after the search for Relisha began.

Police found Kahlil Tatum's body Monday, saying he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. They said they haven't ruled out the possibility Kahlil Tatum killed Relisha.

[WUSA9]