Terkessa Wallace, 34 & Shequenia Burnett, 36: Friends Vanished In 2014
The childhood friends had been communicating throughout the day.
The case of Terkessa Wallace may be tied to the murder of her friend, Shequenia Burnett. The last time anyone saw both women was on January 10, 2014, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Then, nearly two years later, in December 2015, a fisherman made a gruesome discovery in the Arkansas River.
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Longtime Friends Go Missing
A leg was found floating in the river, and while it would take some time to identify its owner, it proved to belong to 36-year-old beloved mother Shequenia Bennett. What investigators also found disturbing is that 34-year-old Terkessa Wallance and Shequenia were very close childhood friends. Their relationship wasn’t just based on a light-hearted, longtime friendship; the two women were also reportedly involved in drug use on and off throughout the years. On the day they both disappeared, Terkessa and Shequenia had been in steady contact with one another, either by phone or text. It’s unclear whether they met up at a specific point, but they haven't been seen or heard from again.
Police Initially Didn’t Connect The Cases
Terkessa Wallace dropped off her five-year-old son with family members and never returned. Initially, investigators didn’t make the connection between Terkessa and Shequenia, but it was the phone records that led them to realize something was amiss.
Shequenia’s death was ruled a homicide, and The Charley Project reports that Terkessa’s family believes she may have traveled to Texas. They also made it clear that it wasn’t like Terkessa to cease all contact with her loved ones, especially her son.
Further, Terkessa’s white Toyota Corolla is also missing, and Tracey Holmes, Terkessa’s cousin, said it took her years to stop chasing down similar-looking cars she saw on the road. She, like many members of Terkessa’s family, holds out hope that she didn’t suffer the same fate as her friend.
“Give me something so I can know if I can hold on to a little bit of hope or if I need to be planning a service myself,” Holmes, who is raising Terkessa’s son, said. “It’s been almost 6 years, and it’s like I’ve been holding my breath this entire time. Let me breathe again.”
Terkessa Wallace: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Terkessa was 5 feet 6 inches tall and 190 to 195 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. Both of her ears are pierced, and she has a tattoo on her upper right arm.
Please share this story regarding the disappearance of Terkessa Wallace and the murder of Shequenia Burnett to reignite the investigation into their cases. They are our sisters, and their lives matter.
Case Number: 2014004373
Agency: North Little Rock Police Department
Phone: (501) 758-1234
Email: PoliceFrontDesk@nlrpolice.org
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