Susquehanna Twp. Hollywood has used the white savior trope for a long time as a structure to tell stories of POC. Maurice McRae, although theatrical at times, brings heartbreak and despair to a very tough role. popupTrigger.click(function(){ And it closed with this statement: Im hoping that finding out more about this case will bring me peace and help with my healing, I hope that one day I could be reunited with the girl who was abducted with me, but that may never happen. For parts of her abduction, she seems to remember feelings more than specific details. Monique: When I got the article and the ages matched up, the location matched up, and then I had a name, it was this sense of relief like, Oh, my goodness, like, I'm not crazy. Ben: Do you think you'll ever try to patch up your relationship with your mom or is it pretty much up to her or what are your thoughts on that? Tho cops are a bit overblown but all of the evets portrayed ring true. But I'm hoping by sharing my story, that more people, no matter how long ago it was, will go and seek help. When she hastily ran out that night, Michelle ditched Monique and started over. | TCR, Mando S3E1: The Apostate Review Fun Without Meaning, Design Without Thought, Disney+s Peter Pan & Wendy Teaser Trailer Showcases Familiar Characters, Creed III Black Carpet Interviews with Cast and Guests, Kogonada Rumored To Direct Episodes Of Star Wars: The Acolyte | Barside Buzz, Both Blade And Deadpool 3 Set To Begin Filming May This Year | Barside Buzz, Mandalorian Exec Producers Discuss Moving On Without Cara Dune, DC Spotlight February 28, 2023: The Comic Source Podcast, Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars In Netflixs FUBAR, His First Television Project, Vlad Feier on Child Abduction Story for Still Here [Exclusive Interview]. AllRightsReserved. It wasn't until Dec. 15, 2008, when a McMullen family friend walked into the Knight's Inn in Martinsburg, W.Va., and spotted a familiar face working behind the counter. She told us that.". Most of them are men. You did a really good job. Not to mention, the timing of the films release relates to the current affairs in the United States today. Greg is more reluctant, and he feels guilty about possibly targeting someone who might be innocent. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772606EmbedPopup63fffe99d76c9'); Then one morning in January, police came and took her away. Bed. And he was like, Oh, your mom needs you. I don't really know. She was really depressed. My mom was really honest with me about her selling drugs, but I feel like this whole kidnapping thing, she felt like it was all her fault. Superb acting from a largely unknown (by me, anyway) cast. The routine of a college kid. The two subordinates whove been tasked with most of the investigation are black cop Anthony Evans (played by Danny Johnson) and white cop Greg Spaulding (played by Jeremy Holm), who have very different views on how they should handle the case. Vlad Feier understands hundreds of thousands of children are missing in the United States. But police were developing a different theory. You can try, Send us a direct message on Reddit. In Oakland, Calif., they knew her as Danielle Jones, the adopted daughter of abusive parents who left her Chicago home with no money or identification. The reason we don't talk anymore, it's not because I hate her or I don't love her. And through therapy Monique has realized that knowing the full story about what happened to her is an important part of moving past it. Even the initial storyline changed from Romania to New York and with a black family. } It was decision time. Monique: The other day we were talking to each other and I was like, "You remember when I would come over with my mom and then your mom and my mom would go into their room and lock the door and be in there for hours?" Theres a scene of him in a group meeting, where hes clearly agitated. We need more stories around resilience and family like this one. You know how it is: Poor black family in a poor black neighborhood Cops arent interested. This false and limited perspective is damaging and ego driven with the "intention" of supporting Black stories. Ben: But getting the full story has been impossible. function resize77260663fffe99d76c9(wrapper){ They started crying. Let's just say that. Menu. His case was originally treated as a kidnapping, but investigators found that, quote, the mother had omitted important information about her relationship with the defendant.. }, 50); And why should they? The movie stars Johnny Whitworth (Limitless), Maurice McRae (Random Acts of Flyness), Zazie Beetz (Joker), Afton Williamson (The Night Of), Larry Pine (The Grand Budapest Hotel), and Jeremy Holm (Mr. But I knew I didn't want to face what was happening in Pennsylvania. A look at the Still Here behind-the-scenes crew and production team. Still Here is currently playing in select theaters and on VOD. She made sure I ate. And black police officers and officials that continue to work in these institutions of oppression and inequality should be shamed! There was nothing there. She dated. Kat Ramzinski: This was one of those cases that definitely caught my eye. In STILL HERE, when twelve-year-old Monique Watson disappears from home, her father Michael Watson refuses to give up even as the media and police make little effort in solving the case. And so we decided to just try to find someone to help us. jQuery(wrapper).css('top', jQuery(window).height() * 0.4 + wrapper.width() + wrapper.css('padding').replace('px', '') * 2); I was just looking at a magazine. Latasha Monique Watson, 36. With the exception of a 30 second scene with the fantastic actress Zazie Beetz, and the actors that play the parents, the acting was hideous. Topka said. All rights reserved (About Us). Small forms of validation for vague memories from 15 years ago. textContent: 'var frmRef=""; try { frmRef=window.top.location.href; } catch(err) {}; var captainform_servicedomain="app.captainform.com";var cfJsHost = "https://";', You can find more of his work at hiswebsiteand onInstagram. "You never know how people react under sudden stress and pressure. They dont get medals for that., Christian eagerly takes the assignment. Such a shame as a real case could have been good. 's were not necessary and distracted from the behavior of the two leads. Its one of the movies many unrealistic moments, because the taxi driver isnt a suspect. Hes not even a person of interest, because theres no proof that this taxi driver had any contact with Monique. She made sure I took my medication. But they said once the case is reopened there's a possibility that I might get to talk to this other girl who was with me. Monique: My mom, she was abused by my grandma. I thought it was weird but I didn't know what was going on. Even if we knocked on the door being hungry, it was, Were busy right now. Its something shes changing. Still Here begins with distraught father Michael Watson (played by Maurice McRae) putting up missing-person flyers about his 10-year-old daughter Monique (played by Zariah Singletary) in the New York City neighborhood where they live. But that Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, when Michelle got an unexpected day off from work at McDonald's, she made a decision to pack up her boy and secretly drive 18 hours through the night to the midstate. And her mom suggested they move back to California, then and there. I think I left my car in Maryland. It was her own private jail cell. She always called me Mommy," Topka said. ", Michael McMullen said his daughter endured "pretty horrific" things while she was away. And I'm really grateful because my god-sisteractually moved from Las Vegas to live with me. She works odd jobs to make ends meet. In Still Here, when twelve-year-old Monique Watson disappears from home, her father, Michael Watson (McRae), refuses to give up even as the media and police make little effort in solving the. window.addEventListener('resize', function(){ Monique: On the police report I provided, you know, that didn't have the other girl's name. Monique: I've been living with this for 15 years and this is something he did in a matter of a day. Do you know what happened to you?" Michelle was outed and on her way back to Harrisburg. This movie should win an Emmy and an Oscar. But there's just so many things she's been through. jQuery(wrapper).find('a').removeAttr('href'); Christian thinks that the only way for the police to jumpstart the investigation into Moniques disappearance is if the police are shamed into it by a news report that says that the police overlooked a suspect. His irresponsible boss Jerry agrees. 5 min read. "Not a penny. } Christian gives $100 to Reggie, just so Reggie can point to the building where the Watson family lives. I didn't have a concept of what that was. if(typeof cfJsHost != 'undefined'){ Michelle McMullen of Harrisburg is charged with theft by deception, accused of stealing $20,000 from a Susquehanna Township church where she worked and using the money to pay for school, authorities said. Let's Partner Together To Build The Life And Career You Deserve! In January 2009, she booked an Amtrak ticket to Emeryville, Calif., and went west. Her father says Michelle has always admitted to cashing two "extra" paychecks, which came to her accidentally in 2008. When viewers first see Christian, he tells his editor boss Jerry Hoffman (played by Larry Pine) that he doesnt want to cover a charity event because its not hard news. Monique Watson, as Michelle called herself, scurried to a back room, told employees she had to deliver a message to a housekeeper and vanished as the family friend called the McMullen family.. It's really stressful. Its also because she knows much more about what happened to her. Amory: Ventura County PD did give Monique the original police report from the day she was abducted. The irony is that if she had just answered to this in 2008, she probably wouldve already served any time associated with these charges if convicted, Martin said. It turned out that the hard work Danielle put in at that salon ended up giving her away. Lived In Rosedale NY, Providence RI, Boston MA, New York NY. Susquehanna Twp. Click a location below to find Monique more easily. As for the corrupt and racist NYPD cops, theres a scene where the cases chief investigator Captain Hardwick (played by Steven Hauck) tells a white subordinate cop what he thinks about the media attention over the case: Im not losing my job because some black little bitch got lost on the way home. Captain Hardwick essentially tells his underlings to find and arrest a suspect, even if theres no real evidence against that person. She told me, "Yes, this could have been really dangerous, your mom owed him money. And if she didn't get the money, something bad was gonna happen to you." She endured and suffered and had to contend with difficulties in life that any penalty and incarceration would not near have matched.". "At the time, Hurricane Katrina was still a lot in the news.". We just got back from the beach. And it pulled up about 40 different newspaper articles. And they started asking Topka who Danielle was to her. ; 17.57% of Monique Watsons have university degree, while 12.16% have only high school diploma. She left her child with a friend and made the woman promise to say nothing until Tuesday morning. She goes to work one of her part time jobs at 6pm until about 11. Monique: It wasn't until after Reddit that I was able to actually go to my godmother. Amory: Im Amory Sivertson, and you're listening to Endless Thread. It's about the likelihood someone will show up for her next court hearing. She is active on social media. Shes a student. Out of options, Michael teams up with Christian Baker, the journalist assigned to Monique's story. I just have a lot of people to prove wrong. function resize77260563fffe99d7859(wrapper){ It should also be noted that Christian, who likes to wear scarves and designer coats, is always dressed as if hes about to have drinks at a trendy cocktail lounge, instead of going to some of the run-down seedy areas where he has to go during the course of his investigation.. Regardless, this was difficult for Monique to learn. Amory Sivertson: Monique is 20. Amory: Through all of this, Monique was finding her way. Or worse, she could have become a victim -- vulnerable and weary from the treacherous trip. Ben: Kats ingenuity got the ball rolling for Monique. I know it's a movie but it's all to real day to day life for many black people living in America. And that works against Michelle. I think that's just the way my brain protects myself from remembering that horrible time. Let's look up the entire area in newspapers.com. 33 people named Monique Watson found in Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, San Diego and 4 other cities. "I really didn't have a plan. The thriller, which the filmmaker co-scribed with Peter Gutter, is now playing in select theaters, as well as on VOD, courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment. It was one of the best movies l have seen all year! She stayed with her other aunt in Las Vegas. Includes Address (11) Phone (1) Email (1) See Results. And mentioned the kidnapping. Join Facebook to connect with Monique Watson and others you may know. Michelle will tell her story in her own words eventually, he said. Maurice McRae on Emotional Drama of Still Here [Exclusive Interview], Johnny Whitworth on Playing An Investigative Journalist in Still Here [Exclusive Interview], Jeremy Holm on Playing a Conflicted Cop in Still Here [Exclusive Interview], The Mandalorian S3 Episode 1 Review: ROUGH START!!! Her attorney did not return repeated calls for comment. Michael and Lillie McMullen aren't hurt or disappointed. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). It was never brought up unless I brought it up. breaking 180 line). I would get picked up from school and not be talked to and not be asked about my day, and then as soon as my cousins were in the car, it was like, "Oh, how was your day? And, you know, I was so confused. Then came the summer of 1992. She told people that she wasn't a citizen and that her wallet had been stolen on a bus. 2022 The Oscars (TV Special) Dancer - Be Alive At first, he had plans for a documentary about missing and exploited children. "She didn't say, 'I'm just going to fall off the face of the earth for three years,'" he said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. She got so mad. This story of human trafficking will change everything you thought you knew about it: This movie is filled with raw emotion and symbolism that will have your eyes watering throughout. His unannounced visit is a disaster. In the real world, he would be considered grossly incompetent and lacking in basic common sense. On January 17, . It also made her moms refusal to talk make more sense. Well feed you later, we'll do something later.. The circumstances of this script are heavy, and the weight of the world is showcased. And they told me, we don't have these files about this this case because he got let go on a misdemeanor. Refine Your Search Results All Filters 1 Monique Yvonne Watson, 50 Resides in Downey, CA Lived In Hawthorne CA, Los Angeles CA, Lynwood CA, Gardena CA Christian eventually wins over the familys trust when he tells them that he doesnt like how the NYPD has been handling the case and he can do a better job than the police have been doing in investigating Moniques disappearance. Still Here repeatedly uses the Watson familys social class as a way to make these African Americans look as pitiful as possible, so that when the savior comes along, he can look even more like a noble do-gooder. While Michael is canvassing the neighborhood, looking for Monique and distributing the missing-person flyers, Michaels wife Tiffany (played by Afton Williamson) has had an opposite but equally distressed reaction: Shes become so depressed that she can barely leave the apartment where she and Michael live with their teenage son Andre (played by Jared Kemp), who has stopped going to school because Moniques disappearance has caused Andre to have panic attacks. By Monday, the woman watching Michelle's son was worried. And we were just talking about everything about our lives. Both times, her clever stories garnered sympathy from people in all walks of life. There are so many things wrong with how the movie shows Christian doing his investigating. For starters, Christian wants to go to the Watson family home unannounced to talk to Moniques parents, but he doesnt know where they live. Hes an African immigrant whos scared out of his mind, and he vehemently proclaims that hes innocent. Monique: I'm new to Reddit. }, true); Sign up for a chance to win prizes (such as free gift cards) and get priority alerts or invitations to the hottest lifestyle/culture news, discounts and promotions. Amory: The name of her abductor. 2023's Most Anticipated Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-offs. Police chief reveals how 6-year-old girl was found alive under staircase two years after she was reported missing By Mark Morales, Mirna Alsharif, Christina Maxouris and Ray Sanchez, CNN. A US Marshals fugitive team found the teen - who was in a distraught state - at about 5:30pm on Tuesday in Port Huron, Michigan, Deputy Marshal Robert Watson said. Monique: About two years ago, I had this mental breakdown. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772606EmbedPopup63fffe99d76c9'); var append_element = append_element || function(e){if(void 0==e)return!1;if(! In the meantime, she got her GED, several months before the rest of her classmates graduated. formId: '772605' She had been working at the hotel under the alias Monique Watson. Instead, she led others to believe that she was abandoned, abused and in desperate need of help. type: "text/javascript", But the stuff that she went through as a kid, the remaining questions about her abduction, it was all still there. Christian Baker, a young New York journalist from The Chronicle, gets assigned to a social story about the disappearance of Monique Watson, a 12 years old African-American girl from Brooklyn. if('' == 'floating') { The ending which might have saved the film instead was like letting the air out of a tire. Monique: When my mom told me she was selling drugs, I knew that I couldn't tell anyone. It just makes you feel not worthy of that love and affection and like you need to search for it elsewhere. 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