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Father Frustrated Over Pace of Search for Missing Jackson State U. Student

JACKSON Miss.

The father of a missing 20-year-old Jackson State University student says he’s frustrated by what he describes as a slow-moving investigation.

Latasha Norman, an accounting major from Greenville, has been missing for nearly a week. Authorities have said little publicly about their investigation.

“I’m not leaving Jackson until I find out something about my child. If I don’t get something accomplished, I’m taking it to a higher level,” Danny Bolden of Greenville said Monday, adding that he would try to contact the FBI or district attorney’s office.

“They haven’t told me nothing yet and that’s why I’m frustrated. This is totally out of Tasha’s character. She wouldn’t have ever just left with a stranger,” Bolden said.

JSU’s campus police and the Jackson Police Department are handling the case. Norman, a junior honor student, was last seen on Nov. 13 in an afternoon marketing class, but never returned to her dorm room. Her car was left on campus.

Anthony Dean, Jackson State’s director of communications, said he understood how stressful the situation was for Bolden.

“Our Department of Public Safety is doing everything it possibly can, working with JPD and following up on every lead they possibly have to try to find Miss Norman’s whereabouts,” Dean said Monday.

Bolden criticized the university’s lack of surveillance cameras on campus. Dean said cameras are installed in the dormitories. Dean also said this is the first time JSU has ever had a missing student case.

The university held a prayer vigil for Norman on Friday. Fliers with Norman’s picture were posted around campus and passed out during JSU’s football game against Alcorn on Saturday, said Tommiea Jackson, a university spokeswoman.

The Jackson Police Department did not return several calls seeking information about the investigation on Monday.

Bolden said Norman’s tires were slashed on campus a few weeks before her disappearance. He said someone also stole her license plate from the car. He instructed his daughter to file a report with the campus police after the incidents.

Stanley Cole, Norman’s ex-boyfriend was arrested Thursday on charges stemming from an incident last month. Cole was charged with simple assault after being accused of striking Norman with his fist Oct. 9 as the two argued in a restaurant parking lot in Pearl, said Capt. Ronnie Conerly. Cole, 23, was released on $500 bond. He gave police a Greenville address, but he couldn’t be reached for comment.

Bolden said he had not heard from Cole since Norman’s disappearance. Bolden has said his daughter was trying to end her relationship with Cole.



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