Reward offered in search for girl
Teenager has been missing since April 30
LAFAYETTE — The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the safe return of 15-year-old Keiosha Marie Felix, who has been missing since April 30.
Felix was in the state’s custody and was last seen leaving her aunt’s home in the Duson area while on a weekend pass from the state, authorities have said.
Felix’s aunt, Patricia Andrus, has since been arrested on counts of improper supervision of a minor and accessory after the fact to simple rape. Andrus was one of four people arrested in the girl’s disappearance.
News of the FBI’s reward came as public comments on the Find Keiosha Felix Facebook page turned ever more critical toward law enforcement authorities’ efforts to find the girl.
Tammy Charles, a member of the volunteer search effort, criticized Duson Police Chief Frank Andrew for his recent decision to remove lead investigator Lt. Gerald Credeur from the case.
Charles said family members have been supportive of Credeur’s work.
“He’s the only one who has been working closely with us and making any progress on the case,” Charles said Friday.
Charles also said Andrew is related to Andrus, a point that was raised repeatedly Thursday by administrators of the Facebook page.
Andrew did not return calls for comment to his cellphone Friday.
To date, Duson police have released very little information on the girl’s disappearance.
A police affidavit filed in Andrus’ arrest also laid out few details about the case other than to allege that Andrus’ boyfriend, Leon Wilkerson, raped the girl.
Police accused Andrus of not reporting the rape to authorities. Police also accused Andrus’ daughter, Portia Felix, of lying to police about having had contact with the missing girl after April 30.
In addition to Andrus’ arrest, police arrested Wilkerson on counts of simple rape and second-degree kidnapping, Portia Felix on one count of obstruction of justice and Wilkerson’s brother, Ronald Wilkerson, on one count of simple kidnapping. All but Leon Wilkerson have bonded out of jail.
Andrew has said police got a late start on the case because some of the Keiosha Marie Felix’s family members had lied about having had contact with her. Police did not consider the girl missing until July 23.
The case is now being investigated by the FBI, New Orleans Division, Lafayette Resident Agency, State Police, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Duson Police Department, according to a news release about the reward.
The Advocate normally does not identify victims of alleged sex crimes but is doing so in this case because police are asking the public for helping in finding Felix.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the FBI New Orleans Division, Lafayette Resident Agency during normal business hours at (337) 233-2164 or after hours at (504) 816-3000.