Search warrants filed in D.C. Superior Court show that Tatum used his bank check card to pay for a parking meter in Washington on March 18, the day before police took up the case, and used the account, associated with his Gmail address, again on March 21 at 3:12 a.m. No other details were provided in the warrant, filed with Google. In the search warrant application, police said they were looking for the date, time and duration of communications and the Internet protocol addresses that are unique to each device.
Court documents also show that police searched a storage locker on South Capitol Street rented in August of last year by the Tatums. The documents say the last payment was made on March 3, two days after Relisha was last seen, and the rent had been paid through March 31. Police said they were looking for evidence of Relisha, photographs, documents and a weapon. The document says police seized mail and photos.
Police have also said they are investigating other contact that Tatum had with young girls at the shelter. Several people have told The Washington Post that
Tatum frequently offered girls gifts — including $20 bills — and that he spent a lot of time with Relisha.
Lanier would not describe the type of contact but said authorities are concerned. The shelter, which houses hundreds of children and adults, is managed by the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. The facility’s rules prohibit social interaction between employees and residents. But residents interviewed last week said
that ban was regularly flouted — in particular by Tatum, who several mothers said had offered money to their daughters in plain view of other shelter staff.