amir_and_zinah_jennings.jpgCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Despite detectives' pleas to national media, the disappearance of an 18-month-old black boy with the wide smile has yet to grab the widespread attention given to other missing children's cases.

 

Some advocates say the reason why may be as simple as the toddler's gender, and his race.

Monica Caison with the CUE Center for Missing Persons in North Carolina says it's often easier to get national attention when the missing subjects are white children.

Amir Jennings' mother was convicted Friday of unlawful conduct in the case of her missing son and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The boy has been missing since November.

Police say Zinah Jennings repeatedly lied about her son's whereabouts, leading investigators to search places from Atlanta to Charlotte, N.C.