Ep9: Shaniece Rose Harris ~ Her Disappearance, with Domingo Ramos

Jasmine Castillo 0:00
Hola my beautiful humans. This is Jasmine Castillo, and I bring stories and cases from the people of color community bringing awareness of murdered and missing Indigenous women girls to spirits, the LGBTQ community, Asian American, Pacific Islander, black indigenous people of color. These are their stories. So welcome to Hands off my podcast.

June 19, which has just passed, I also like to provide some type of recognition, and it's a recognition it's long overdue, more than 46 million Americans self identified as black in 2019. And of the 29% increase since 2000. The number includes 2.4 Latinos who also identify as black, that's an increase of whopping 145% Since the year 2000. So it has been said time and time again. This issue concerns black Americans, as well as Latinos in America. So how should you honor Juneteenth the same way you do every celebratory holiday by recognizing its importance and significance within a historical context? This is the opportunity to become better informed and educated about the various aspects of black history and Afro Latina X history that hasn't been taught in school. Find yourself some resources that aren't whitewashed or inaccurate. And get into the details. Read books from black and Afro Latina X authors. Follow activist politicians and thought leaders on social media or check out the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. There is so many educational events to honor Juneteenth in your community throughout the country. I will have some links in the show notes on how you can educate, support and embrace culture.

Unknown Speaker 2:57
Five years and 25 days no these are not the lyrics from a song. What I am referencing to is five years in 25 days, the mysterious disappearance of Shaniece rose Harris from the Rose Hill New York area. As I mentioned before June is pride month this episode will extend on the LGBTQ Shaniece rose Harris is lesbian. I identify myself as pansexual under the LGBTQ also known as alphabet mafia, I want to raise her story and why it is important to keep her story alive. Rock Hill is a small but busy Hamlet's situated on the foothills of the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York Sullivan County. The population of Rock Hill in 2017 was about 1494 people. And as it stands in 2020, there was a climb or increase population of 2020, and four, but as of today, as it stands as a projection, at least, the latest numbers of 2022 it is to 1516 people, the race and ethnicity in this area is a typical innocence. For example, there's 68%, white, 15%, black and 14% is Hispanic single digits of Asian and persons that identify themselves as more than one race. 96.2% have a high school or higher and 42% are bachelor's degrees or higher. So just stating this specifically, crime, safety, poverty, education kind of goes hand in hand in areas and the reason why I'm identifying this is because I will be bringing this up later on in this episode. Just looking at the Rock Hill, New York community website. I mean, I see a farmers market I see vans There's volunteering. They're also receiving grants to build a better hospital in the area. It seems like it's a wonderful community, a connection, a bond with their neighbors, people who are wanting to build and thrive and support each other. That's what makes it a little bit harder for me to understand as to why nothing has come out in the mysterious disappearance of Shaniece rose Harris.

Unknown Speaker 5:46
Now may 29 was actually Memorial Day in the US so on that evening, she nice was home hanging out with her girlfriend Shawna from what I understood in resources, she was not planning to go out for that evening. However, based on what the girlfriend identified, she made a change of plans to attend a friend's party. And so Shaniece leaves her home between 8:20pm and 8:40pm on May 29 2017, to attend this party at a friend's house. Her girlfriend doesn't join her to not sure the circumstances. So in my understanding that she needs to take her vehicle she needs girlfriend received a FaceTime call around midnight. Not sure what the conversation was about, but that would have been the last time there was any type of phone contact with Shaniece. So the following day on May 30 2017, Shana reaches out to Shaniece, his older sister to mica asking her Has she seen her has she heard from her? She has not come back home from this party. To mica knew this was not like her sister Shaniece Shaniece likes to plan things out things that she's going to do for the day and has always kept in contact with family, her mother, her sisters throughout the day, and she's a homebody, so I completely get it. You want to plan your day, get things done, come home and relax. So when Tamika found out that Shaniece never arrived home the following morning to make a contacted Elvia who was actually in the state of Florida at the time visiting and another daughter. She literally just left to head to Florida, the time that she nice disappeared. And Elvia herself was actually thinking that there was something completely odd because her daughter always calls her when she flies a check on her, and she never received a call. She never received a text from Shaniece to see, are you okay, is everything going? Well, just to check on her because that's just how she is she loves her mother. She loves her family LVR and forms to mica to file a missing report on her as soon as possible. So to make a DOS follow up with speaking with authorities to file a missing report, however, at that time, the law enforcement identified to Timika that she must wait at least 24 hours to file a missing persons report. Now, if you heard my rant from previous episodes, there is no actual law how long you have to wait to file a missing persons report. So this is what gets me even more upset is that Tamika? Did her due diligence, following through and reporting her sister Shaniece missing just to have her turn around the following morning. At least 24 hours after she Denise was identified as missing to have a law enforcement ask her why she waited so long to file the missing persons report. I am a little bit pissed, to say the least. So around 8am on May 31 Shaniece car was actually found on the side of the road less than five miles from her own home. Her dark gray 4 door Volkswagen Jetta was found by police two days after she was last seen. Her car was found near a wooded area along South Woods drive in a town of Thompson, New York. And based on the Google mapping where Thompson is located. Thompson is literally right next to Monticello. And also pretty close to the Resorts World Catskills from what I read about Monticello, it's a very high percentage of crime and safety scenarios. June 6 2017. During the day a prayer vigil was held at the Thompson Park. This was about a week after Shaniece banished, and again Shaniece family comes together on July 29 2017. They held a fundraiser with the community to raise money for reward. And this event was organized by the families friends, Michellee velas urena bonito, and of course, the person I will be speaking with today, former private investigator Domingo Ramos. By November of 2020, the FBI finally provided a reward three years with no answers and Denise's disappearance, they announced that they were offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Jasmine Castillo 11:01
So as I mentioned, I sat down with Domingo Ramos, the founder of hope alive 845, he founded his nonprofit organization in June 25th 2020. We dive deep into that conversation here and talk about the case that got it all started.

Domingo Ramos 11:18
My name is Domingo Ramos, I am a former private investigator. And I have a nonprofit organization to New York State as a public charity called Hope Alive 845 and what we do, we go out and we look for missing children missing adults, runaway children, sex trafficking. So we try to bring the members home back to their families, when their prime investigator five years ago, be picked up a case. That was nice Harris case. And after 13 months working on the case, it turned out to be that I knew the family personally, I knew the mother and me here at school together. And after a while of work on the case for new leaves, no nothing, you know, I myself took a personal so I spoke to my other half and I was like, you know, we're missing something, you know, there's something missing out here. And then it became hope alive, a four or five because we started noticing there's a lot of missing people. That's not even being talked about, and that we don't even know about. So we um, we formed the organization. It took us awhile to get, you know, approved by New York State and we finally got approved. And then I stopped doing private litigation and just started doing the organization. And, you know, luckily we've been successful so far and finding runaway children and missing adults so far. And that's what authority so basically, she means Harris is one authority.

Unknown Speaker 12:56
I know Domingo goes through a little bit about who was Shaniece but me personally looking at her pictures and watching videos on Facebook. Like she brings a smile to my face. She is so glowing with joy. She finds ways to make others happy. She sees life to its fullest, and she loves her family. It was even mentioned that if she saw an elderly person who was struggling with her groceries at a grocery store that she would stop and help carry their groceries or do anything to help others. She was a pure heart. And like she said her model is F OE family over everything. What a thing that really breaks my heart is that Elvia Tomeka and Latoya Shaniece. His family very their grandfather in December 2017. However, to mica had to file a missing persons report on his birthday, they want her back, they want her home, they want closure, and they will stop until she is home. Her being missing and her family I've watched her mother just break down and cry in i

Jasmine Castillo 14:13
I've affected by that stuff so much that I literally had to stop and pause and I was bawling my eyes out just listening to her pleading. Elvia was just pleading and in asking the community to give her something they can be anonymous this anything anything is better than nothing right now.

Unknown Speaker 14:37
Straight Talk 845 had a YouTube video of Shaniece mother and sister This is the one that I am talking about in our conversation with Domingo. I will have that one in the show notes.

Jasmine Castillo 14:50
There's a lot of missing person in your demographic, specifically 845. Is that an area code?

Domingo Ramos 14:58
Yeah, that's area code. That's Hudson Valley. Okay,

Jasmine Castillo 15:01
okay, Hudson Valley. Wow.

Domingo Ramos 15:05
There's a lot we have, we have another case that nobody's ever talked about, that's been missing since 84. Oh, my gosh, you know, and, you know, so it's a little tough in, but what we do we, we stand strong with the family, and we fight for the families. He was a young black male, he, Marvin Gibbs, and his family already passed away, except for a sister. And nobody's talked about it, you know, and then when we, they reached out to us, and, you know, we were like, We gotta open this up. Now, we've got to check this information on this, because either or even if his mom and father passed away, there still has to be closure for that case, it just can't stay cold and not mentioned at all. We did another one young man who went missing an 87. Joseph help, you know, he, they, they talked about it, but not that much. And we're a type that will keep bringing it back up again. And we're also talking to people again, you know, and if we get any kind of clues or or information as value, then we will contact the whoever's in charge of that case, and say, Look, this, what we have, you know, this look into this, when we brought up about the Gabby Petito case, you know, it went millions and millions of people, you know, following that case, talking about it, so many searches, you know, it was over news coverage, when we brought up about our people that's not being treated like that, that every life should matter. It shouldn't just be one color, it should be all lives matter. So that mentioned that on one of our podcasts, because we do podcasts, so. And we the news was contacting us know that they're trying to make it to a racial thing, but it's technically not a racial thing. It's just more the fact that everybody should get coverage, not just want person, and doesn't matter if they're rich or not. You know, there is poor people out there that have somebody missing, you know, should they be treated the same way, of course, they should be treated, that their loved one should get coverage, no matter what the circumstances are. So that's what what we were fighting for it for a while now. And then, um, and once again, it goes right back to Shaniece. Harris, we're not bringing that back up again, and really pushing the law enforcement and the medium to start getting her out there. Because that family needs closure, they need to know what's going on, they need to know what happened to their daughter. It's not right, that the mother can sit there every single day being lied to being attacked. Um, you know, and not knowing anything, you know, and her her five year just passed off in May that you've been missing. So and post a birthday was just past two. So it's tough, you know, and I would rather see this family get the closure now, before it's too late.

Jasmine Castillo 18:32
So mingle also mentions a variety of people that he's working on that haven't been in the news haven't been in social media and you haven't heard of if you are from the true crime community, a podcaster who is involved in the same ethical True Crime genre and would love to know more information how you can help amplify the voices of these missing persons please don't hesitate to reach out to me nine or 38836103 or email me at hands off my podcast@gmail.com I would love to share this to whomever who is able to help them mingle and get their voices heard. Thank you

Unknown Speaker 19:33
Okay, so of course, I'm gonna have my theories. So here are the questions. I like to play devil's advocate, and have a different perspective on some of the things that I believe that have not been asked as of yet, especially with other podcasters who have worked on this same story. I have a different angle because I myself is an afro Latina, and I have lived in rural areas like rock he'll New York. So my question is, Should we be concerned on the crime and safety of this area. And one of the things that is mentioned in a few of the podcasts that I've heard the story about Shaniece Harris, some have said that there's a high percentage of crime and safety concerns in the Rock Hill area of New York. Now, Rock Hill, New York itself is probably one of the safest areas in the Sullivan County. The thing that would be more concerned to me is where her car was found. And that was in the Monticello area, and based on the crime and safety research of that area, is probably one of the worst high rated crime and safety issues in Sullivan County. So some of the questions that come to mind is that would that be a reason why Shaniece would travel in that area? If she is traveling alone. She's a homebody like myself. So my thought process is that if I'm going to be doing something, last minute, I would at least provide some information on where I'm going to go who I'm going with how long I'm staying out there. Especially in the area of Monticello, be a cautious person as an overall. Another question is what makes a nice change her mind that evening. So I do believe, Elvia and Tamika and Latoya identify that Shaniece did hang out in that area off and on. I don't believe she would leave her car on the side of the road. If she had to go somewhere, she would take her own vehicle, especially if she's anticipating and returning right after. And to give at least some information to someone and where you're going your whereabouts and when you will be returning to not give someone at least some information, especially from what has been identified from the significant other Shaniece tonight informed Shanna where she was going is a little bit questionable for me. And I know that it's going to be brought up that maybe it has something to do with her in her 420 lifestyle. Now, that's not as eyebrow raising as other types of drugs. I mean, 420 lifestyle is quite norm in a lot of areas in I don't see it playing out as dramatic as some other people would see it is. And I don't think that Shaniece had a secret life that she had to keep things DL. You know, her lifestyle the way she was, she was considered heart loving. Her personality was just a beautiful person. She was dedicated to her relationship from what I hear with her significant other at the time. I don't think that would be something to question for someone who schedules things and has an order in her life. It's just a little bit concerning that she would just up and leave without having a plan and knowing that her original plan was to stay at home for the evening, and then turn it into a last minute event by heading to a friend's house for a quote unquote party. Another question is was Shana ever interviewed by law enforcement from what I know not after disappearance of Shaniece girlfriend Shauna literally up and moved out of Thailand after that. I don't know how long their relationship was but from my perspective, it is a significant other that just ups and leaves in the middle of searching for their missing significant other that will be a little bit of an eyebrow raising situation for me. Was she questioned? Does she have connections with other persons that she nice supposedly went out to hang out with that evening. That's just such an concern for me and I'm not sure if it was ever addressed.

Unknown Speaker 24:11
Here's a little bit about Shaniece rose Harris characteristics and what she was wearing born February 2 1986. So currently she would be 36 years old. She is five eight weighs around 289 pounds, has brown eyes brown hair. She is biracial, which is African American and Hispanic. She was wearing a black and gray hoodie with four pockets in the front. So two on the top and two on the bottom on the front of the hoodie, black sweatpants square, diamond shaped earrings, black Nike Air Max sneakers and Versace eyeglasses that were prescription. She also had rosary bead braids in her hair. She has multiple All tattoos including her nickname sparks, which is spelled s p a r k z on a top of her right hand to female symbols linked together on the top of her left hand. The words Philippians 411. On her right forearm, a design with a halo flanked by angel wings and the words in loving memory, grandma, one 613 on her left forearm, and a design of clouds, seashells to doves, praying hands, holding a rosary, and an open book with the writing on her left elbow area and upper arm. Harris's dark gray Forter Volkswagen Jetta has tinted windows and the New York license plate number H M y 2644. And this was abandoned along South Woods drive in Thompson, New York on May 31 8am. If you've ever seen this vehicle as you drove during that time, please do not hesitate to contact the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office 845-794-7100 You can also contact queue which is a Center for Missing Persons as well as hope alive 845 I will have all this information in the show notes. Domingo's nonprofit organization helps in all of the 845 area and of the neighboring areas. Their mission is to help families friends, victims, law enforcement with support or necessary services for the missing kidnapped trafficking, or exploited children and adults. Domingo mentioned that on June 25. They will have a vendor Day event presenting 80s and 90s concert there will be two separate events on the same day. They will have special guests as well as a special tribute to their veterans. I will have this link in the show notes. If you'd like more information about the event in Fallsburg New York. One of the things that helps with donations, it helps them keep going with posters and flyers helps them hire private investigators to find a lost loved one. They help put together rewards for any information regarding a missing person helps them gain more gear for searching in wooded areas and protect their staff and volunteers. Also it helps them purchase more equipment like drones, handheld radios to communicate with staff and volunteers. Backpacks first aid water and excetera Domingo has been running his awareness hope alive aid for five in Sullivan County for four years and from Domingo. He wants to thank you for making a difference for their staff at the hope alive aid. Poor five every donation helps. Thank you so much. Thank you for listening to hands off my podcast. If you're enjoying the podcast, and you'd like to support the mission. I do have a patreon membership that will help the cause and bring more detail on cases and stories from the people of color community. If you yourself has a lost loved one, or a story suggestion, please don't hesitate to contact me email. Handsoffmypodcast@gmail.com and if you are only able to support in another way, please give this podcast a five star rating on Apple or Spotify and continue to listen to upcoming episodes every Thursday. Wherever you listen to your podcast. Dios de Bendiga

Transcribed by https://otter.ai