Strange Fla. disappearances gets new attention

Published April 4, 2012 7:45PM (EDT)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — An illegal immigrant and a black man had little in common until about eight years ago when they disappeared three months apart in the Naples area, both of them right after crossing paths with sheriff's Deputy Steven Calkins.

Calkins, who is white, denied doing anything more than dropping off the two men at different convenience stores. He was never charged, but he was fired after he stopped cooperating with investigators.

The families of Felipe Santos and Terrance Williams were left to wonder and grieve after public interest faded.

Now their disappearance is back in the spotlight, in part because Hollywood star Tyler Perry and civil rights activists are using the Trayvon Martin case to draw attention to what they see as a string of injustices and incomplete investigations involving minorities.


By Salon Staff

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