John Shumway went back to the state police today about Cherrie's biological father. NONFAMILY ABDUCTED CHILD CHERRIE ANN MAHAN AGE PROGRESSION DOB : Aug-14-1976 Date Missing : Feb-22-1985 Age : 26 years Height : 4' 2" - 127 cm Weight . Missing person fliers were distributed which described Cherrie as 4 feet 2 inches tall and 68 pounds with brown hair and hazel-eyes. Cherries name is pronounced Cherry like the fruit and not as shah-ree like the spelling Cherie. Cherrie's case has never been solved. McKinney stands at the last known location of her daughter, who was 8 years old when she disappeared in 1985 on Cornplanter Road in Winfield Township. Im still hoping for the day she comes home and I can marry her off, she said.5, In November of 1998, Cherrie was declared legally dead. This is not over. Debbie Burk said the three children got into her van, and Cherrie Mahan continued walking toward her home. "If they have information and they've been holding it for all these years, that they see what this woman has been living with her entire adult life and come forward and give that information to us.". McKinney said the father knew a biker gang she felt was dangerous, but she doesnt know if they were violent. This line of inquiry failed to generate any significant leads. Cherries disappearance became national news. It was the 22ndof February, 1985, when Janice Despite the fact that the case was declared cold, Pennsylvania State Trooper Frank Jendesky continued working on the case for 15 years. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. Pursuit of stolen car ends in arrest after suspect runs onto Interstate 5 in Bankers Hill. She was only eight-years-old when she disappeared. A small blue car was also seen near the site of Cherrie's disappearance. She believes people connected to Cherrie's father were involved in her disappearance. . By April, neighbours and family had raised $39,000 as a reward Although police continue to run down every tip received, they need something more solid, DeLuca said. Some pieces to the puzzle appear to be falling into place here just days away from the 35th anniversary of the crime. There are middle-aged people, teenaged people, and even babies and toddlers that have, and continue to be, missing. The only lead in the investigation that was released reported a van that was near the school bus when the children emerged. Calico left for her daily bike ride at 9:30 AM in New Mexico on September 20, 1988. She was approximately 100 to 150 yards along a dirt driveway from her family's residence on Cornplanter Road in Cabot, Pennsylvania at the time she disappeared. According to the children, the van a 1970s Dodgethat reportedly followed behind the bus for several miles was blue and had large murals of mountains and a downhill skier. The sisters believe Cherries remains are buried somewhere in Butler County. But they are trying harder and upping their efforts to find answers around the anniversary of the 8-year-old's disappearance Feb. 22, 1985. After KDKA's report of a new revelation from Cherrie's mother, KDKA's John Shumway reports police received dozens of new tips. BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. Thirty-eight years have passed since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan stepped off her school bus in Cabot, Butler County, but never arrived home. Target 11's Rick Earle has uncovered a new lead in the case that has investigators working on new interviews and a DNA test in . She stayed up drinking until the middle of the night with the cruise ship band and then went back to her room. Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 after hopping off her school bus. Pa. police officer shot while responding to call: reports . Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. They also said another tip led them to search an Armstrong junkyard and an old mine shaft in Butler County within the last year. Cherrie Mahan's family and members of law enforcement gathered at the Saxonburg Memorial Church 30 years after her unsolved disappearance. The theory is that she was drugged or beaten over the head and then removed from the hotel in a garbage bin or dumpster. Cherrie Mahan would be 42 years old today. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. rural community. Maybe they will pick up something myself or my predecessors didnt, DeLuca said. Shortly before her disappearance, Mahan had received a broken arm after being hit by a car. That's something I never had.". Cops have deemed said father a "person of interest" as well (see below), which is possibly a new revelation too. Updated 10 times since October 12, 2004. Sources:charleyproject.organdinternationalcruisevictims.org. Last updated September 23, 2021; age-progression updated. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Although the FBI eventually joined the search, they were also unsuccessful. But the young man never arrived. In the intervening years, a huge local and national search hasn't uncovered evidence about the girl's fate, but just like her family, investigators aren't giving up. Cherrie was officially declared dead in November 1998. Theres been [25][26], Mahan's stepfather, LeRoy McKinney, overheard the school bus slowing to a halt near his home. Van Der Sloot was arrested twice and the brothers in the car with him three times under suspicion of involvement. The case was never solved but it was picked back up by the Manhattan District Attorneys office in 2010. The 8-year-old girl disappeared after exiting a school . It was November 1982 when Jones disappeared while backpacking in North Queensland. to Cherrie or her disappearance. Janice McKinney on Wednesday, Feb. 22, holds a photo of her missing daughter, Cherrie Mahan, who was 6 years old when the photo was taken. The Vincent sisters dont think Cherrie is alive but they hold out hope for the family. The Dutch-owned island of Aruba might not have had the police force that Holloways parents were looking for. Burk saw Cherrie walking past a bluish-green Dodge van and then turn the corner to walk the last 150 . "I never left that house without her, we were always together, we grew up together, she was my life," Janice says. Many presumed him dead immediately. [12], Pennsylvania State Police continue to receive tips and updates relating to Mahan's disappearance. As reported by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, LeRoy McKinney was outside waiting on the porch when he heard the school bus pulling up to the stop and the children getting off the bus. road like madmen. What I hope what people get from this piece is people actually see the pain she's living through," says Trp. I just pray all the time that they would find it in their heart to just tell somebody, she said. This was the first time that a missing child was put on a milk carton. The tipster said she reported the sighting at the time but never received a response. Shaffer had gone out for a nice steak dinner with his father earlier in the evening before going out to party with his friend Clint that night. Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Unfortunately, no sign of the van or the girl was ever found. February 19, 2020 / 7:48 PM The police have no leads, no suspects, nothing to indicate her whereabouts or fate, even though she was missed within minutes with a good vehicle description besides. All of this information led police to believe that Murray wanted to disappear, but many people still believe that she was kidnapped. However, their early efforts were hampered by a thick fog, which covered the region. They also wrote to Child Find Case #: 11703. Shes disappeared. He was numb. DeLuca said state police take tips from the sisters and run them down as they do with all the tips they receive. The young man graduated from high school in Washington in 2005 and planned to move back to Hollywood the next year to continue acting. The only physical evidence suggesting anything unusual happened was a set of tire tracks in the snow where Burk said the other van was parked. [29], Appeals as to sightings of the distinctive bluish-green Dodge van produced eyewitnesses who informed investigators they had seen a vehicle matching this description in New Kensington, traveling in the direction of Mount Pleasant. The travesty of decades-long missing person cases is that the family cannot even deal with the persons estate and belongings until they are declared dead. But they are trying harder and upping their efforts to find answers around the anniversary of the 8-year-old's disappearance Feb. 22, 1985. Letters and posters were sent to every television station and She believes that incident and the disappearance are related, and that "friends" of her alleged rapist (Cherrie's unnamed biological father) were responsible for Cherrie's disappearance. Authorities also sent letters to people who were incarcerated to ask whether they had heard anything about the missing girl from other inmates. WINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - Almost 35 years later, Cherrie Mahan's mother still lives in Butler County, and she wants to know what happened to her daughter. She didnt bring her shoes, which shows how soon she was planning on coming back. Law enforcement and Butler's psychic sisters are frustrated by a 38-year search for a suspect in the abduction of Cherrie Mahan from a rural bus stop in Winfield Township. "[38], Cherrie Mahan's family and friends hold an annual remembrance dinner at a restaurant in East Butler on a date close to each anniversary of her disappearance. family sought this action so that a trust fund in Cherries name could be Its not like the sex offenders we know today through Megans Law, she said. Her friends got into a car waiting for them, driven by Debbie Burk, one of the girls' mother. Target 11's Rick Earle has uncovered a new lead in the case that has investigators working on new interviews and a DNA test in Michigan.It was February 22, 1985, when a school bus dropped Mahan off at her stop on Cornplanter Road in Winfield Township. Its every mothers dream to have a child graduate, go on to college and get married. Cherrie Mahan's Mother Still Searching 35 Years After Disappearance Watch on Chilling Crimes Author State Police at Troop D, Butler, have been searching for Cherrie Mahan, who disappeared when she was 8 years old on Feb. 22, 1985, after getting off a school bus along Cornplanter Road in . [6], Mahan's disappearance is one of the most infamous unsolved missing child cases in the United States. THE CASE OF CHERRIE MAHAN. Louise made friends with another mother in the neighborhood a bit of time before she disappeared. Watch nightly at 10 ET. The mother was allegedly raped and conceived Cherrie. And in the follow up they mention that after this new report initially aired on local TV in the past few days, the local cops said they have received DOZENS of new tips in the past few days. If nothing else, she'll always be in our hearts. The case has gone on to become one of the most infamous missing children cases in US history. kept saying, My little girls gone. If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Pennsylvania State Police 412-284-8100. Authorities also sent letters to people who were incarcerated to ask whether they had heard anything about the missing girl from other inmates. When 8-year-old Cherrie got off the bus that day, Janice says she didn't just evaporate. Cherrie, as you may know, is an 8-year-old girl who disappeared shortly after getting off her school bus on February 22, 1985 from Butler County, Pennsylvania. In the morning her, her cigarettes, and her lighter were gone. just tell he was numb, said Kathleen Yates, a neighbour. side following the bus from Winfield Elementary School to Cherries bus stop. Law enforcement and Butler's psychic sisters are frustrated by a 38-year search for a suspect in the abduction of Cherrie Mahan from a rural bus stop in Winfield Township. By all accounts, McKinney cared deeply for Mahan and treated her as if she were his own daughter. She received $3,500 in compensation for her injuries. If nothing else, shell always be in our hearts, said her mother. Whatever happened to her occurred during the walk to her house, police said. They are reviewing some of the files of the case, a voluminous dive into 5,000 typewritten reports, plus notes, attachments, photos and more, said Trooper Max DeLuca, who has been leading the investigation. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Emphasizing her belief that an anonymous tip from the public could finally give herself and her family the closure they crave, McKinney stated to the media: "I just wish someone would come forth and tell me what happened. Cherrie was last seen getting off of the bus from her elementary school at approximately 4:05 p.m. on February 22, 1985. They donated the life insurance policy they received to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and put a car accident settlement she had received into a trust fund for her brother. alongside around 250 volunteers. Unfortunately, a thick fog fell across Winfield Township and the I dont think that I ever knew somebody or anybody who knew me had that streak in them to do something this crazy, McKinney said. Cherrie Mahan's trust fund was given to her younger brother, Robert, who was born four years after Mahan's disappearance. McKinney gathered a group to pray Tuesday on the anniversary of her disappearance. last we know of her is she got off the bus. If you have any information on this case, please contact CUE Center for Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131 or call the CUE Center 24-hour tip line at . Aylas mother was the primary caretaker but she was staying with her father for an overnight visit. Active Missing People reports that the description matches the van Debbie Burk saw parked on the corner Cherrie Mahan would have passed on her way home. Cherrie was last seen getting off the bus from her elementary school on February 22, 1985, around 4:05 p.m. Three other students joined her at the bus stop. The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. Their last time being seen in public was while they were being arrested by former Collier County Sheriff's deputy Corporal Steve Calkins. The story shocked the entire country because it caused parents to fear for the safety of their children even in the middle of the day. Before leaving Calico told her mother to come find her if she wasnt home by noon since she had made plans with her boyfriend at 12:30 that afternoon. Child", "State Police Ask People with Information about Cherrie Mahan's Disappearance to Come Forward", "Classmates, Mother Hope Dramatization Will Bring Home Missing Girl", "Family, Friends Still Seek Answers 30 Years after Winfield Child Vanished", "Tip Could Be 'Crucial' Lead in Cherrie Mahan Case", "Missing 8-Year-Old on Utility Bills, Spaghetti Boxes", "Cherrie Mahan Case Still Oopen 30 Years After She Disappeared", "Cherrie Mahan's Mysterious Disappearance Haunts Her Mother 35 Years Later", "Pennsylvania Child Cherrie Mahan Still Missing After Getting off School Bus in 1985", "Breaking: New Information Released in Cherrie Mahan Disappearance", "25 Years Later, Search Continues For Missing Girl", "Cherrie Mahan Case Still Open 30 Years After She Disappeared", "State Police Ask Anyone with Information About Cherrie Mahan's Disappearance to Come Forward", "Police Report New Lead on Long-Missing Pa. His silver Toyota Corrolla was found four days later at an intersection in town. Date of birth: August 14, 1976. These are 15 of the most chilling examples of missing person cases that you're surely not going to forget anytime soon. A neighbor reported Lisa missing on May 1, 2007. This woman is one of many who disappeared while taking a cruise to a foreign land. Cherrie Mahan was last seen on February 22nd 1985 in Cabot, Pennsylvania. On 22 February, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan hopped off her school bus in Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Long says they may not even realize it. personal computer for volunteers to keep track of addresses. By the mid-1990s, authorities had exhausted all leads, and the case went cold. He said that there had been no leads for years but said that they were still treating the case as a stranger abduction. Janice McKinney said she still has hope that her daughter may be alive. Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 after hopping off her school bus. Its so sad, the mom really has a lot of guilt because apparently that was the one day that she didnt pick her up at school or something. The Mysterious Death of the Isdal Woman. Although Mahan was legally [] We almost hit Leroy. 19th February 2020. A forensic team excavated a mount there but uncovered nothing related People didnt talk about it then. Other children on the bus and a neighbour told police that they Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. Thirty-five years after her daughter 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus in rural Butler County and disappeared, Janice McKinney can tell you time does not heal the wound. She was declared legally dead in November 1998. Mahan's first name is phonetically pronounced "Cherry". Theyll want to get it off their chest., 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Courtesy of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, An age progression of Cherrie Mahan, who went missing in 1985. Both pilots were forced to eject and although his other pilot escaped Arad was captured by the Lebanese Amal. Real Name: Cherrie Ann Mahan Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Cabot, Pennsylvania Date: February 22, 1985 Bio Occupation: None Date of Birth: August 14, 1976 Height: 4'2" Weight: 68 pounds Marital Status: Single Characteristics: Caucasian female with Brown hair and hazel eyes. Eventually the FBI was called in to assist in the search yet no clues turned up. third grade. Maurer added that he appreciates the media keeping the story alive for the families and communities, as well as helping with the investigation. I can't imagine the pain her mother must wake up with every day. On February 22, 1985, Cherrie Mahan got off of her school bus only blocks from her home. In 2014, Target 11 traveled to Michigan to investigate a tip that Cherrie was alive and living under another name. But not knowing where she is, whether shes dead or alive, its like a never-ending story. What happened to 8-year old Cherrie Mahan, missing since 1985 On February 22nd 1985 8 year-old Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus around 4:10 in the afternoon and never made it home. Mahan was last seen in Butler County, Pa., on the afternoon of Feb. 22, 1985. While she had accepted that her daughter had most likely been State police in Butler continue their search for Cherrie Mahan, who was last seen at age 8 on Feb. 22, 1985, when she exited her school bus on Cornplanter Road, Winfield Township, Butler County. cherrie mahan suspects Thread starter mindys; Start date Mar 18, 2004; New Posts. In 1994, a Massachusetts man was questioned by police after he was. . Its very [12], In January 2011, Pennsylvania police received a new tip they deemed as "potentially crucial to the investigation in the future". It was right behind me.". She turned the letter over to policebut never heard back. / CBS Pittsburgh. Now, 35 years later, Janice McKinney just wants to know. The 8-year-old third-grader was last seen Feb. 22, 1985, as she got off a school. [37], A further line of inquiry investigators pursued dates from 2014, when investigators pursued a tip that Mahan was alive and living under an assumed name in Michigan. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I remember this as a child, the description of the van that is! Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. CABOT, Pa. Thirty-four years ago, on Feb. 22, 1985,8-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off the school bus in Cabot but never made it home. [23] Mahan was wearing a gray coat, a blue denim skirt, a white leotard, blue leg warmers, beige boots,[24] and Cabbage Patch earmuffs. Oil City, PA 1 day ago. Patzs father was a professional photographer so beautiful photos of him were strewn across billboards, projected on Times Square, and put on milk cartons. According to Chilling Crimes, law enforcement officials briefly suspected a Massachusetts man of Mahan's abduction. . This little Irish boy left his school to go home and eat lunch one afternoon. Cherrie's home in Butler County PA, just north of Pittsburgh, was only about 50 feet from the bus stop. 5 talking about this. [34] In 2000, a computer-generated rendition of how Mahan may have looked at age 23 was mailed to thousands of households across America. Many believed that Tara Calico was kidnapped near her home in Belen, New Mexico. Morbidology reports Cherrie Mahan's family and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation went to great lengths to make sure every media outlet and newspaper in the United States would distribute information about Mahan and the mysterious van. He later recollected he had intended to walk down the 150-yard driveway to meet his stepdaughter before his wife said: "No, it's a nice day. On 22 February, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan hopped off her school bus in Winfield Township,. Several witnesses, including her schoolmates, saw Mahan get off the bus and begin walking toward her home, which was approximately 50 yards away. You could Though Craig was a person of interest in the matter he has never been arrested for the disappearance of Lisa Stebic. Cherrie Ann Mahan (August 14, 1976 - disappeared February 22, 1985; declared legally dead November 5, 1998) was an eight-year-old American girl who disappeared on February 22, 1985, after disembarking a school bus approximately fifty feet from the base of the driveway to her home in rural Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. Chilling Crimes reports several children, who were riding the school bus, also remembered seeing an unusual van. According to Morbidology, authorities also launched a national campaign to print her photos and a description of the van on grocery products. The 1985 Disappearance of School Girl Cherrie Ann Mahan ~ True Crime Diva, The Mysterious Disappearance Of Cherrie Mahan Explained - Celeb 99, Lost at Sea The Disappearance of Rebecca Coriam. The author of this letter concluded this correspondence by stating: "I pray you find some peace after you find her body. for Cherrie. This Israeli pilot was marked as missing in action in October 1986. She was abducted after getting off her school bus and has never been seen or heard from since. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/02/18/mother-police-still-searching-for-butler-county-girl-cherrie-mahan/, https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/4452856-cherrie-mahans-mother-still-searching-35-years-after-disappearance/. We'll always look for Cherrie. Jones was a native of Western Australia and was on the last leg of his trip with his brother when he disappeared. These psychic detective mediums volunteer their services to families of victims and police. Immediately after his disappearance 100 police officers and bloodhounds searched his SoHo neighborhood high and low for him. Please enter valid email address to continue. Although Mahan was legally declared dead in 1998, police and family still hold out hope. abducted, she refused to let herself consider the fact that she could be deceased. Let her walk." daily newspaper in the nation. no ransom note, said Lt. Francis Walton of the state police. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. [n 3] The van would later be described as a 1970s-era Dodge (possibly a 1976 model[20]) with a distinctive mural depicting a skier traversing a snowcapped mountain painted on the side. she kept the door unlocked every night in the hopes that it was a He simply had to wait to get his braces removed. ", Although Cherrie Mahan was declared legally dead, her family refused to hold a funeral service. After KDKA's report of a new. Height: 4'2. He claimed that Santos was polite and cooperative which is why he decided to drop him off. Weight: 68 lbs. The disappearance of Cherrie Ann Mahan on February 22, 1985, has remained one of the most notorious unsolved missing child cases in the United States. At noon her mother followed her route to find her but Tara Calico was nowhere to be found. It is unknown if the car has anything to do with her case either. [35] This spokesman declined to further elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. McKinney has made statements over the years about possible suspects, including an acquaintance of Cherries biological father, who McKinney said raped her when she was 15 and has never been identified publicly. Cherrie Mahan was 8 years old when she disappeared from her bus stop one day after school in 1985. 1 of 2. ", Pennsylvania State Police Officer Robert McGraw, referencing the ongoing investigation into Cherrie Mahan's disappearance. The young, doe-eyed girl with an impish grin became the first person featured on the famous Have you seen me? circulars produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 1998, the missing child was officially declared dead. In 1985, eight-year-old Cherrie Mahan exited the school bus near her house. Click Here For Cherie Mahan's Last Known Address 2046 Stanford Ave, Flint, MI 48503-4011 501 E Ridgeway Ave, Flint, MI 48505-5246 1117 Pettibone Ave, Flint, MI 48507-4812 3507 Clovertree Ln Apt 5, Flint, MI 48532-4726 Po Box 736, Baldwin, MI 49304-0736 1633 Jane Ave, Flint, MI 48506-3372 4400 Kings Ln # 4104, Burton, MI . PITTSBURGH Cherrie Mahan vanished from a Butler County neighborhood 26 years ago. Most of these leads have been potential sightings of Mahan or the two vehicles observed in the vicinity of her abduction, although the child has never been found, and neither vehicle was ever located. There has not been one confirmed sighting of the boy since getting back on the bus. [8], Cherrie Ann Mahan[n 1] was born in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, on August 14, 1976. Over the headquarters and a local grocer donated food for those assisting in the search. She was abducted after getting off her school bus and has never been seen or h Live Streams Local Mother still. "I just wish someone would come forth and tell me what happened," Janice McKinney said through tears. #CherrieMahan Murray also conducted online research and made bookings at hotels in various areas on the east coast. Someone has to know something.. Authorities believe Cherrie was abducted, but no suspect has ever been identified in her case. She still remains missing. Without photos, for example, police followed up on hundreds of vans with illustrations of mountain scenes, skiers and even some cowboys. prisoners in the area, hoping that one of them would have some information Since that dark day more than three decades ago, Cherrie, the eight-year-old with the big brown eyes and the pretty smile, has become a part of Pittsburgh's collective memory. PA PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985. Arad was captured by a Shiite group and handed over to Hezbollah while on a mission over Lebanon. [19][n 5], In the decades since Mahan's disappearance, investigators have pursued thousands of leads pertaining to the child's whereabouts and the identity of her abductor or abductors. However, none of the charges stuck. On the night of March 31, 2006, medical student Brian Shaffer decided to party to celebrate the first day of spring break. Within weeks, up to 250 people and several helicopters were scanning the region for Mahan or the van that was seen on the corner. At this event, stories and memories of Cherrie are shared. People who saw her reported a blue or green "There was [sic] a bunch of people and a couple of dogs, and you know they went over the property with a fine-tooth comb,"Janice said, but no trace of Mahan was found. The mysterious death of the still-unidentified Isdal Woman has haunted Norway for almost 50 years. Katherine Korzilius, 6, was discovered unconscious at the side of the road four houses away Amanda Tusing set off from her fianc's home in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to her parents' home Would love your thoughts, please comment.