WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- D.C. officials say the suspected abductor of a missing girl posed as a doctor, telling her school she was sick.
Khalil Tatum pretended he was a doctor, taking a call from the school, say officials. He told school staff that 8-year-old Relisha Rudd was sick.
Relisha Rudd's absence from school, however, stretched into weeks. One day, Relisha showed up at Payne Elementary School in early March to pick up her younger brothers and was spotted by staff members, we're told. When asked where she had been, Relisha said that she had been sick. School officials requested a note regarding her absence. Relisha's mother then sent a note to the school that was signed by a Doctor Tatum. School officials reportedly called the number on the note and reached Tatum, asking if he would fill out forms. Sources say Tatum told them to drop off the forms at a homeless shelter but when they found no one there by the name of Doctor Tatum it raised their suspicions.
Sources say her mother refused to sign papers reporting Relisha was missing. The Children and Family Services Agency became so concerned about the little girl that social workers went to court to take custody of the child so police could start searching for her. Her brothers were also placed into the custody of the agency.
Rudd's mother continued to insist the girl 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.
An Amber Alert was issued for Relisha Rudd in D.C.
Tatum has since been charged with murder in the death of his wife. He has also been charged by the United States Attorney's Office in Maryland for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
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.
Police and the FBI are asking for any tips and are offering a $70,000 reward for information.
CATCH UP ON THE CASE:The disappearance of Relisha Rudd
