WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- The FBI placed Kahlil Malik Tatum on its Most Wanted list for murder on Wednesday. He is believed to be traveling with missing 8-year-old Relisha Rudd of Washington, D.C. An Amber Alert was issued for the girl on March 20.
Law enforcement officials said that Tatum may be in the Atlanta, Ga. area. He is believed to have ties to the area. Digital signs along Atlanta freeways are flashing a description of Tatum, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Andrea. He has also been charged by the United States Attorney's Office in Maryland for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
The reward for the safe return of Relisha Rudd and Kahlil Tatum has been increased to $70,000. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the location and return of Relisha Rudd. The FBI is offering a separate reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to Tatum's arrest. The Prince George's County, Md., Police Department is also offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Tatum's arrest and indictment.
Reports Thursday say Rudd was absent from school for a period of weeks. D.C. officials say Tatum posed as a doctor, telling her school she was sick.
Rudd's mother deflected attempts by social workers to locate the girl, repeatedly insisting she was okay. Relisha Rudd, her mother and her stepfather lived in a homeless shelter where Tatum worked as a janitor.
Police believe Tatum has had Relisha since the end of February. When police went searching for Tatum and Relisha, they instead found Tatum's wife beaten to death in Prince George's County. There was no sign of Tatum or Relisha.
On Tuesday, the FBI released surveillance video from a Holiday Inn Express located at 1917 Bladensburg Road N.E. In the video from Feb. 26, you can see Tatum and Relisha Rudd walking in the hallway. Rudd is wearing a pair of pink boots and a purple Helly Hansen brand jacket with white stripes.
VIDEO: FBI AMBER Alert Surveillance
