Name: Alexis Patterson
Nicknames: Lexi & Pie
Age: 7 years old
Last Seen: May 3, 2002
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Status: Still missing
Case Information
7 year old Alexis Patterson was last seen on May 3, 2002 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She disappeared after being walked to school by her stepfather that morning.
Background
Alexis Patterson was born to mother Ayanna Patterson and father Kenya Campbell on April 4, 1995.
At the time of her disappearance, Alexis was living with her mother, Ayanna Patterson, and her stepfather, LaRon Bourgeouis, in Milwaukee Wisconsin. LaRon’s 5 year old son from a previous relationship lived with them, and the couple had a baby together six months before Alexis disappeared.
Alexis did not have a history of running away, and had perfect attendance at her school prior to vanishing, although she had been late to school 20 times during her first grade year.
Disappearance
At approximately 8:00 am on May 3, 2002, Alexis Patterson was last seen at Hi-Mount Boulevard School, located at 4921 West Garfield Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Her stepfather walked her to school that morning from their home, which is located less than two blocks away. He says he last saw her walking toward the playground at the school before he headed back home.
Alexis never attended school that day, though some students say they saw her crying on the playground before and after school.
She had gotten into an argument with her mother the day prior after failing to do her homework, which resulted in her not being allowed to bring cupcakes to school. Whether that had anything to do with her crying on the playground remains unknown.
Her parent’s weren’t notified of Alexis’ absence until after school dismissed that afternoon. Upon realizing this her parents called the Milwaukee police to report her missing.
Investigation
Police searched the surrounding areas, including nearby Washington Park and parts in the northwest section of the city, however no further clues as to her whereabouts were found.
Some students reported seeing a red truck outside the school the week prior to Alexis’ disappearance, which never dropped or picked anyone up. The sightings of the truck stopped after Alexis vanished, and it’s unknown if it’s related.
On May 14, 2002, investigators announced that Alexis disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and reclassified her case from a missing child to a criminal investigation.
The FBI brought in a cadaver dog who alerted to the trunk of LaRon’s car and the family’s basement. The areas were sprayed with luminol, a chemical which can reveal traces of blood and other substances such as bleach, and it lit up everywhere. However lab testing was negative for blood.
Alexis’s biological father, Kenya Campbell, was in prison at the time of her disappearance. He was released shortly after and cooperated with authorities.
Alexis’s mother and biological father both provided police with DNA samples shortly after she disappeared in 2002.
In 2003, Alexis’s stepfather, LaRon, was charged after getting into a dispute with Alexis’ mother Ayanna. She described him as abusive, however the criminal charges against him were later dropped. They divorced in 2005, and he died of a suspected drug overdose in 2021.
LaRon told authorities he drove his son to the bus stop after walking Alexis to school on the morning of May 3, however his son said that didn’t happen. The bus driver backed up the son’s statement, saying the boy wasn’t on the bus that day.
A school crossing guard was unable to confirm whether LaRon had walked Alexis to school on the morning of her disappearance, but did say LaRon returned to the school in tears the following morning.
According to a police report, a family friend said he had seen Alexis’ mother Ayanna hit her numerous times, “usually across the face and about the body with her hand.”
On the afternoon of Alexis’ disappearance, a neighbor stopped by the home to see Ayanna and her new baby. The neighbor says Ayanna admitted to giving Alexis a “real bad whooping” the night before.
Ayanna admitted to hitting her daughter, however she said she had a good reason — Alexis had been caught by a teacher talking to an unknown woman behind the school. The teacher however does not recall those incidents, and says she would have called police if it had occurred.
“Every tip we had came back to that family and it became apparent that something tragically went wrong in that house,” Steve Spingola, a retired homicide lieutenant who worked the case, told USA Today.
FBI agents who were brought in to help with the case believe Patterson and Bourgeouis likely had something to do with Alexis’ disappearance, though some authorities believe she may have been taken by a neighbor or other family member.
Police have never officially named a suspect in Alexis’ disappearance.
Ayanna Patterson hasn’t given up hope that she’ll find her daughter again. “I’m not giving up, ever. Just, I’m not giving up,” Ayanna told FOX6 in 2022. “Alexis, Mama coming for you, and you know it.”
In 2016 a woman in Ohio came forward claiming to be Alexis, however DNA testing excluded her as a match.
Appearance
Black female born on April 4, 1995 with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, Alexis stood 3’8 tall and weighed 42 pounds. She has a scar below her right eye and a bump on her left pinky finger.
Clothing & Accessories:
Alexis was last seen wearing a light blue or purple blouse with horizontal stripes, a red pullover nylon jacket with a grey stripe on the sleeves, light colored blue jeans, white high-top Nike sneakers, sunflower shaped earrings, and a pink Barbie bookbag.
Her hair was in two french braids that were pulled back into a ponytail.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Alexis Patterson please contact the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7401, or the Milwaukee FBI Field Office at (414) 276-4684.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Alexis Patterson’s return.
Resources & Further Information
Alexis S Patterson – NamUs
Alexis S Patterson – The Charley Project
Media Links
Police Records Tell Two Stories About The Fate of Alexis Patterson. This Is One Of Them – USA Today
Alexis Patterson Missing From Milwaukee For More Than Two Decades – WISN
What We Learned From The Milwaukee Police Reports In The Alexis Patterson Case – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee’s Alexis Patterson Missing 20 Years, Mom Believes She’s Alive – FOX6
Police Search For Sign of Girl, 7, Last Seen Friday Near School – JSOnline
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