🕯️ The Gutter Report: LaLa Clark Was Missing — And Still Treated Like “Just Another Runaway”
A missing child, a delayed response, and a system that never moved with urgency
🧸 La’Niyah “LaLa” Clark — remembered by family as patient, loving, and someone who taught others sign language.
🕊️ Remembering LaLa
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — Fourteen-year-old La’Niyah “LaLa” Clark was reported missing on January 17th.
Her family called for help.
They waited.
No Amber Alert was issued.
No public urgency reflected what many now believe was a child in danger.
🚨 When The Community Became The First Responders
While officials moved cautiously, civilians mobilized:
• Flyers circulated
• Searches organized
• Officials contacted
The public was told there were possible sightings.
Family advocates now say those were never confirmed.
Time passed.
LaLa did not return home.
❄️ The Discovery
LaLa was later found:
Face down.
In the snow.
Behind her father’s shop.
Naked.
This is not included for shock — but because it directly contradicts the early framing of a voluntary disappearance.
Children do not typically leave voluntarily and end up exposed to winter elements in that condition.
👨👩👧 A Family In Grief — And In Conflict
🎤 From left: Antoine Clark (adoptive father), Carmen Tinson (adoptive grandmother), Ameerah Woods (adoptive mother), and Sameerah Woods (adoptive aunt) speak publicly about failures in the handling of Lala’s disappearance.
In the aftermath, tensions between loved ones have surfaced publicly.
Her adoptive father has disputed claims made by her biological grandmother — accusing her of misrepresenting circumstances.
The grandmother has responded emotionally:
“That’s my biological granddaughter.”
Others intervened, urging unity.
This is not uncommon in tragedy.
Grief does not always move in harmony.
But beneath the conflict — the shared reality remains:
A child is gone.
⚠️ Custody Disputes Before The Disappearance
📱 Public post accusing Bobbiejo Etzel of refusing to return LaLa.
Months before LaLa was reported missing, public allegations circulated regarding custody disputes.
Whether framed as conflict or concern — they raised questions about vulnerability.
And whether instability was interpreted as family disagreement instead of potential risk.
📊 The Pattern That Cannot Be Ignored
Statistically:
Missing Black children receive less media exposure than missing white children.
Studies consistently show:
• More likely to be labeled runaways
• Less national coverage
• Reduced urgency
Exposure drives response.
Response drives outcomes.
LaLa’s case now sits inside that reality.
👨🏻💻 Officer Identified In Public Communications
👨🏻💻 Officer Matthew Godlewski — identified in reporting as helping manage department Facebook communications.
📱 Official Tone Draws Public Backlash
📱 Department response emphasizing jurisdiction limits.
📱 Community members pushed back, calling for accountability.
These exchanges emphasized procedure — while the public demanded urgency.
Tone matters.
Especially when a child is later found dead.
🏛️ City Hall — February 26, 2026
🏛️ Residents speak at Wilkes-Barre City Hall.
At a council meeting on February 26, 2026, residents entered concerns into public record regarding:
• Investigative urgency
• Case classification
• Communication failures
But according to witnesses and live viewers —
the meeting ended without the family being given a chance to speak.
Officials adjourned.
The room cleared.
The family remained unheard.
That moment has intensified public frustration.
📰 New Reporting Adds Context
According to WNEP reporting — — officials have continued examining the circumstances surrounding LaLa’s death.
This evolving coverage reinforces:
The investigation continues.
But public trust remains strained.
📣 What Happens Next
The family has made clear:
Their fight does not end with mourning.
They are calling for:
• Procedural reform
• Transparent communication
• Review of how missing children are classified
Their advocacy is not about blame alone.
It is about prevention.
🕊️ A Note Of Grace
This is a grieving family.
Emotions are raw.
Disagreements exist.
But pain sits underneath them all.
Any system response should be measured not only in procedure — but in compassion.
❓ The Question That Remains
The investigation into LaLa’s death continues.
But the public conversation has shifted.
From:
“What happened?”
To:
“What wasn’t done?”
Not for clicks — for clarity.
— Elliott Carterr, LFTG Radio
📱 TikTok: @elliott_carterr ↗
📺 YouTube: @lftgradio ↗
🌐 Website: LFTGRadio.com ↗
⚖️ The Gutter Justice Project ↗
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