The Heartbreaking Disappearance of Diamond Bynum and King Walker

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Welcome back to Black and Unsolved, True Crime Chronicles.
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I'm your host, A.I. Jackson, here to shed light on the mysteries,
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the forgotten and the unresolved cases that haunt our communities.
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Today, we explore the chilling and heart-wrenching disappearance of Diamond,
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Bynum, and King Walker, a 21-year-old woman with special needs and her two-year-old nephew.
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Their story is one of love, mystery, and a family's tireless fight for answers.
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Diamond, Bynum, and her nephew, King Walker, disappeared on July 25,
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2015 from their home in Gary, Indiana.
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Diamond had Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic condition that limited her cognitive
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abilities to those of a child and caused a persistent urge to eat.
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Despite her challenges, she was known for her bubbly personality,
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love of family, and willingness to help her loved ones.
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King Walker, a joyful and adventurous toddler, adored his aunt.
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That weekend, he was staying with Diamond and her grandparents while his mother,
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Ariana, attended classes in Chicago.
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Their close bond made their disappearance together all the more heartbreaking.
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The day they disappeared, a warm summer morning, Diamond and King were at home
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with Diamond's stepmother, Suzanne.
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Around 10.20 am, Suzanne put King down for a nap, and both she and Diamond decided to rest as well.
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When Suzanne woke at 11 am, Diamond and King were gone.
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At first, the family assumed Diamond had taken King to a nearby store,
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a habit linked to her condition.
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But her phone, tablet, and the house stocked with food, including a chocolate cake, were left behind.
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The family grew concerned.
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Diamond's mobility was limited by a limp and obesity, and both she and King
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were vulnerable in the unfamiliar neighborhood.
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They were last seen in the 500 block of Matthew Street.
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The timeline is tight, only 30 minutes.
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Did they wander off? Did someone lure them away? Or did something darker happen?
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The search began immediately.
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The Gary Police Department, volunteers, and even the FBI combed through the area.
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Search dogs tracked their scent to a go-low gas station, but it vanished there.
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A witness claimed to have seen them at the station, but surveillance footage
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didn't confirm the sighting.
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Gary, Indiana, presented unique challenges.
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The city has over 13,000 abandoned buildings, crumbling remnants of its industrial past.
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These structures became the focus of an extensive search, with law enforcement
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scouring 24 blocks of abandoned homes and empty lots.
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Adding to the complexity, there were 21 registered sex offenders living within
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a one-mile radius of the home.
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Though authorities interview these individuals, there was no evidence tying
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them to the disappearance.
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At one point, a 34-year-old man was named a person of interest,
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but this lead did not develop further.
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Gary also has one of the highest crime rates in the country.
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Could Diamond and King have encountered someone who took advantage of their vulnerability?
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Or were they simply victims of a tragic accident in this neglected urban landscape?
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To understand the risks Diamond and King faced, let's talk about Gary, Indiana.
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Once a thriving steel town, the city now struggles with poverty, crime, and decay.
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Its landscape is riddled with abandoned homes, wooded areas,
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and hidden spaces like drains, underpasses, and dumpsters, places where someone
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could easily get lost or hide.
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Within six blocks of Diamond's home, there was a heavily wooded park.
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Less than a mile west, the Ivanhoe South Nature preserves sprawls,
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offering dense vegetation and limited visibility.
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To the north lies the Grand Calumet River and a large retention pond.
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These areas were all within walking distance, even for someone with limited mobility like Diamond.
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Did they seek shelter in one of these places?
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Or did someone exploit the isolation of these locations to commit a crime?
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Several theories surround this case, each with haunting implications.
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Could it have been an accidental death in the environment?
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Diamond and King could have wandered into one of Gary's neglected areas,
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an abandoned house, a wooded park, or even a drain, and succumbed to the elements.
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The summer day's high was 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Not extreme, but enough to cause dehydration or exhaustion without water or shelter.
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Could it have been foul play? Given Gary's crime rate, it's possible they encountered
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someone with ill intentions.
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The sheer number of abandoned buildings and isolated spaces could have provided
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the cover needed for such a crime. Was it abduction?
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The fact that their scent trail ended at the Golo gas station raises the possibility
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they were picked up by a vehicle. Could they have been lured into a car by someone
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offering food or a ride? Could it have been separation?
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What if Diamond and King became separated?
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King, being small and curious, could have crawled into a space Diamond couldn't follow.
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In this scenario, one of them could have fallen victim to the environment while
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the other encountered a predator or wondered even further.
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Each theory raises chilling questions.
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The lack of evidence makes it impossible to rule out any scenario.
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Diamond and King's family has faced unimaginable grief and frustration.
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Despite their vulnerability, law enforcement delayed issuing a silver alert
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for Diamond for an entire month.
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The family often had to initiate communication with investigators and felt sidelined in the search efforts.
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Still, they've never stopped fighting. Diamond's mother, Lashon Walker,
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has organized events to raise awareness,
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worked with the Black and Missing Foundation, and even provided her DNA to help
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identify potential remain.
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Lashon says, and I quote, I'm asking if anyone knows anything, please say something.
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Someone knows something.
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End of quote.
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The broader context regarding missing persons in the Black community is important to note.
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Diamond and King's case is one of thousands of missing persons cases in the black community.
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Nearly 40% of all missing persons in the U.S.
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Are people of color, yet they receive disproportionately less media attention and resources.
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This disparity, known as Missing White Woman Syndrome, highlights systemic inequity.
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Families like Diamond and King's must fight not only for their loved ones,
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but also for the visibility their cases deserve.
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But their story reminds us of the power of community and determination.
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Their family refuses to give up, and neither should we.
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If you're moved by Diamond and King's story, here's how you can help.
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Share their story widely. Awareness is critical.
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Support organizations like the Black and Missing Foundation.
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If you have any information, no matter how small, contact the Gary Police Department at 219-881-1260.
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The disappearance of Diamond Bynum and King Walker is a tragedy that leaves
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us with questions and a family desperate for answers.
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Their story is a testament to resilience, and we owe it to them to keep their case alive.
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Thank you for joining me on this episode of Black and Unsolved True Crime Chronicles.
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If you or anyone you know has information about the disappearance of Diamond
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Bynum and King Walker, I urge you to come forward.
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Even the smallest detail could make a difference.
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Together, we can shine a light on the forgotten and bring hope to those searching for justice.
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And if you want to support their fight for justice, consider sharing his story,
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signing petitions, or donating to causes that advocate for unsolved cases in
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marginalized communities.
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If you enjoyed this episode, hit that like button, leave a comment,
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write a review, and share it with your friends.
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For more amazing shows from Black creators, visit nbgpodcastnetwork.com and
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check out our complete lineup.
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Stay tuned for our next episode, where we will continue to explore unresolved
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cases and the stories behind them.
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Remember, stay connected, stay empowered, and stay vigilant.
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Until then, I'm your host, A.I., Jackson, and this is Black and Unsolved,
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True Crime Chronicles on the NBG Podcast Network.