I first became acquainted with Christian Ferguson’s story on the June 11 news in 2003.
My interest was piqued for several reasons, starting with the account given by his father, Dawan Ferguson. It was an illogical story that raised more questions than it answered.
Christian was a 9-year-old with a rare congenital medical condition that required life-saving medication. That meant it was a race against time to find the nonverbal child before his body shut down.
The alleged abduction happened near a business in the former 22nd Ward, an area I know well because it has long been home to the Organization for Black Struggle. My gut told me it was unlikely someone would leave a cellphone in a running car to make an emergency call at a phone booth. It was later learned that the account was all a big lie.
The Organization for Black Struggle committed to prominently displaying Christian’s missing poster until his case was resolved. His smiling face remained on that board until July 1, 2022, when his father was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Christian’s birthday is a few days before mine. Each year, it was a reminder that he was still missing. Even now, I still calculate how old he would be.
Theda Thomas is Christian’s mother. From the beginning, she suspected foul play by Dawan Ferguson. Her life became a living hell as she fought to uncover the truth and seek justice. She chose to be a warrior instead of a victim, a role that has carried her into years of advocacy.
She raised awareness about children with special needs, but her work on behalf of missing and murdered Black victims brought broader attention. A recent documentary, “Theda Roxanne,” by St. Louis filmmaker Alana Marie, explores part of her healing process.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, an estimated 416 children and juveniles are missing in the state. Children of color, particularly Black children, often receive less attention than their white counterparts. Cases involving working-class families can also receive fewer resources than those involving more affluent families.
The public knows names like Natalee Holloway, but far fewer know cases such as Hope Brown or Jennifer Blackmon.
Race and class play a role in who receives attention from law enforcement and the media. It is not only about missing persons; it is also about homicide victims. St. Louis has about 1,000 unsolved homicides, many involving Black victims.
Theda Thomas joins a growing number of mothers advocating for missing and murdered loved ones, often while navigating grief and limited institutional support.
She fought for years to hold Dawan Ferguson accountable, and he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Because he’s a despicable human being (also convicted of sexually assaulting two relatives), Ferguson refuses to disclose what happened to Christian or the location of his remains.
Theda continues her work through her foundation, Looking for an Angel, helping other families search for missing loved ones. She has come to terms with the fact that while justice was secured, the whereabouts of her son may never be known.
Jamala Rogers is an opinion writer and one of the founding members of the Organization for Black Struggle, based in St. Louis.