Milwaukee police say Alexis Patterson case is active

MILWAUKEE -- Ten years ago Thursday, May 3rd, a seven-year-old girl named Alexis Patterson disappeared from the streets of Milwaukee. Now, the Milwaukee Police Department wants to bring this cold case back to the forefront.

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, officials indicated they have re-interviewed more than 60 people connected to Alexis Patterson. They've scoured through more than 10,000 pages of notes and other evidence. Investigators say they've re-established a relationship with the family of Alexis and they're continuing their push to get the word out about her disappearance.

Alexis was only seven years old when the Milwaukee first grader went missing on her way to Hi-Mount Elementary School. The last time anyone saw Alexis was near 49th and Garfield in Milwaukee. She was roughly 3’8″ tall and weighed about 40 pounds.

Patterson's stepfather, Laron Bourgeois told police he watched Alexis cross the street toward the school, only about a half block from their house. Bourgeois was never connected with the disappearance.

People throughout Milwaukee volunteered to hand out flyers regarding Patterson's disappearance, and the Milwaukee Police Department set up a command post in Washington Park. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department issued a $10,000 reward for information. The FBI joined the investigation, but still, Alexis was never found.

In 2009, the case was transferred to MPD's cold case unit. Alexis' photo was included in packs of cold case playing cards that are distributed in corrections facilities throughout the state.

MPD investigators say since the cold case unit took over in 2009, they've received weekly tips on the case, the latest coming earlier this week.

If you have information about Alexis' whereabouts, you're urged to call the Milwaukee police cold case hotline at 414-935-1212.

You can also call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) with any information concerning the disappearance or current whereabouts of Alexis. Calls are kept confidential and may be made anonymously.

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