New evidence has emerged suggesting foul play in the disappearance of Ronald Leslie Dumas Jr., a Huntsville real estate agent missing since mid-December. Authorities now believe Dumas, 37, was abducted, and five individuals are now wanted in connection with the case, marking a significant shift in the investigation.
Dumas was last seen on December 15, 2024. Initially, police reported that there was no indication he was in danger, but new findings have prompted the Huntsville Police Department (HPD) to reclassify the case. On Friday, officials upgraded Dumas’ status to a missing and endangered person alert, citing credible evidence of an abduction and concerns for his safety.
WHNT 19 spoke with members of Dumas’ family late last week who expressed frustration with the initial investigation and said they had suspected foul play from the beginning.
“This has rocked us,” said Talia Berryhill, the mother of Dumas’s children. “We really wish we were taken seriously the first time. We want him home. If you know something, please say something. We need him back. Our kids are crying, and we just want this to be over.”
Shakeria Samples, the mother of another of Dumas’ children, echoed those concerns, saying the family had been waiting for this acknowledgment for months.
According to HPD, Dumas was captured on surveillance footage entering a liquor store on University Drive around 10:30 p.m. on December 15 with two women. He was later seen leaving with them, and at the time, police said there were no signs of distress. However, further investigation linked the women to Dumas’ disappearance and uncovered additional evidence indicating multiple individuals were involved.
A credible lead, developed with the assistance of the FBI, identified a 450-acre area south of Memphis, Tennessee, extending into northern Mississippi, as a possible location connected to Dumas. On February 6, a search was conducted by 20 investigators, including personnel from HPD, Memphis Police Department, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, and Southeastern Search Dogs.
Dumas’ car was found abandoned on December 16 on I-40 near mile marker 133 in Camden, Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the scene after receiving a call about the vehicle early that morning.
Authorities have issued arrest warrants for the following individuals in connection with the abduction:
- Quintarius Shikelion White, 32, of Memphis, TN — First-degree kidnapping
- Toure Laron McLaurin, 33, of Memphis, TN — First-degree kidnapping
- Sabrina Rochelle Chambers, 27, of Huntsville, AL — First-degree kidnapping
- Kierra Symone Clark, 27, of Memphis, TN — Conspiracy to commit kidnapping
- Carissa Cash, 33, of Memphis, TN — First-degree receiving stolen property
HPD is collaborating with the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force to locate and arrest the suspects. Authorities urge the public to contact law enforcement with any information regarding their whereabouts.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Huntsville Police or their local authorities.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
