Alkia Rogers

Do you know who killed 18 year old Alkia Joquay Rogers in 2003?
Alkia Joquay Rogers was an 18-year-old mother who loved her family and, most of all, her infant son. Remembered by her sister as a comedian who could light up a room, the young African-American woman had her whole life ahead of her. Her aunt recalled her as a "beautiful person" who "loved her baby." A former student at Myers Park High School in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, Alkia was devoted to raising her one-year-old son, Marqualo.

On the evening of May 21, 2003, Alkia left her family’s home, which was just a thousand feet from the local park. She was on her way to meet the father of her child at the Southside Park playground, a familiar spot where they often met so he could provide diapers, food, and other necessities for their son. When she did not return home that night, her worried family reported her missing. The following evening, on May 22, their worst fears were realized. A group of children playing in the park made a horrifying discovery at the top of a slide. It was Alkia’s body.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers responded to a 911 call from the 2700 block of Toomey Avenue at approximately 7:26 p.m. The scene they found was one of shocking violence. An autopsy later confirmed that Alkia had been strangled and her throat had been slit. Investigators believe the brutal and personal nature of the attack indicates that Alkia likely knew her killer and that this was not a random act of violence. Cold case detective Ed Williams later described it as a "horrible way to die."

The investigation immediately focused on the father of Alkia’s son, whom she had planned to meet at the park. He was questioned extensively by detectives. However, the case grew more complex when DNA evidence collected from the crime scene did not match him. While he has not been officially cleared and investigators state there are still "lots of people" considered suspects, the lack of a DNA match has left the case without a clear suspect. Despite having what they describe as substantial DNA evidence from a potential perpetrator, it has not matched anyone in law enforcement databases.

For two decades, Alkia’s family has lived with the pain of not knowing who took her from them. Her sister, Sakendra Rodgers-Hall, has become a voice for the family, pleading for anyone with information to come forward. The family has held candlelight vigils and memorials, keeping Alkia's memory alive and continuing their fight for justice. Tragically, Alkia’s mother, Joe-Ann Rodgers, passed away in 2015 without ever learning who was responsible for her daughter's death.

Alkia’s son, Marqualo, was raised by his grandmother and later his aunt. He has grown up without his mother, knowing her only through the stories his family shares. As of May 2025, the case remains an unsolved homicide. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Cold Case Unit continues to seek new leads that could finally bring closure to Alkia's loved ones. A reward of up to $5,000 is available for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the CMPD Cold Case Unit at 704-336-2358.