Watch nightly at 10 ET. Jedesky retired in 2011, and another trooper was assigned to continue investigating Mahan's case. Unfortunately, none of the tips were deemed to be credible. 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. Those tips have prompted them to renew their call for anyone else with even small bits of info who were in the Cabot, Butler County, PA area that February 22, 1985 or who know information about the case to come forward with their information: Contact the State Police Butler barracks at 724-284-8100 with any info. 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. A search party was assembled and they worked tirelessly 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. February 19, 2020 / 7:48 PM Cherries disappearance became national news. The Vincent sisters dont think Cherrie is alive but they hold out hope for the family. "You can never move on until you forgive, and I have forgiven," she said. 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. 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. for Cherries safe return.3 Local businesses pledged another $10,000 for information Last updated September 23, 2021; age-progression updated. 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. When her father went in to check on her the next morning she had completely vanished. He was under the impression that she got a ride to her job since her phone and purse were gone. The only lead in the investigation that was released reported a van that was near the school bus when the children emerged. The investigation was highly criticized, but the Aruban police and hundreds of volunteers scoured the nation for her. Investigative Agency: Pennsylvania State Police, Troop D, Butler Station at (724) 284-8100 or Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Missing Persons Unit at (717) 783-5524. I worked 40 years in a nursing home. Janice McKinney said she still has hope that her daughter may be alive. 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. This woman is one of many who disappeared while taking a cruise to a foreign land. Janice McKinney says authorities did not believe her rape allegation and Cherries biological father was never charged. He claimed that Santos was polite and cooperative which is why he decided to drop him off. People didnt talk about it then. Nevertheless, as he made plans to retire, he still had not found any answers. She never made it home. She was abducted after getting off her school bus and has never been seen or h. . There has not been one confirmed sighting of the boy since getting back on the bus. 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. What happened to Cherrie Mahan? For what motive, we dont know. Lisa was also attending counseling at the shelter for battered women. Word of the potential abduction spread quickly throughout the Oil City police officer injured during arrest of assault suspect in Venango County. Friends Gather To Remember Cherrie Mahan Theres nothing to point the finger of suspicion at anybody. Investigating Agency. Efforts to locate Mahan, alive or deceased, are ongoing. [9] Her mother, Janice Mahan, was just 16 at the time she gave birth to her daughter, which she later confessed had been a result of her being raped at age 15. Burk saw Cherrie walking past a bluish-green Dodge van and then turn the corner to walk the last 150 . Investigators have no new leads in her disappearance, despite the numerous tips they have received over the years. searchers could barely see further than a few feet in front of them. Cherrie Mahan's Mother Still Searching 35 Years After Disappearance Watch on Cherrie Mahan's mother is still searching, KDKA's John Shumway reports. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Police May Have Break in 1985 Missing Girl Case", "Anonymous Letter Could Shed Light on Decades-old Disappearance", "Cherrie Mahan: Butler's Most Famous Cold Case", "Friends of Cherrie Mahan Gather to Remember Her 35 Years Later", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Cherrie_Mahan&oldid=1140841259, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:24. Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. This van had a picture of a skier on the side and was a teal/blue color, but understandably this isn't enough to track down the missing girl. Although police continue to run down every tip received, they need something more solid, DeLuca said. Mahan, who was 8 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen exiting a school bus on Feb. 22, 1985 in Butler County, State Police said. [36] However, investigators did state this "potentially crucial" information indicates Mahan is unlikely to still be alive. But Cherrie didn't make it home that day, and 35 years later, Cherrie's family and friends are still waiting for answers.Character limits won't let us list all of our sources here, but you can find them . Hello world! I can't imagine if that was my child. They split up just before the disappearance as Tony was headed home. Some reports describe this van as bright blue or green in color; some specifically describe the van as being bright blue. She was walking to get on the school bus and was only fifty feet from her house when she seems to have simply disappeared. They played for a while. There were also two other people in the home at the time of Aylas disappearance, her fathers girlfriend and his sister. This is not over. and Leroy McInney heard the school bus coming up the road just as they did He was a potato farmer in Gippsland. Cherrie Mahan was last seen on February 22nd 1985 in Cabot, Pennsylvania. He was eventually convicted of murder and kidnapping, so while this was a "solved" kidnapping we sure you won't blame us for endingwith a positive resolution. She was my life". Twenty-nine years ago, high school senior Chris Birckbichler watched media accounts of 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan's disappearance from Cabot, Winfield Township. Four of the attendees of this annual dinner are close friends of Mahan, who have each publicly stated the disappearance of their friend has had a profound impact on their lives, and that becoming mothers themselves has increased their empathy for Janice McKinney's sense of loss.[44]. She's still missing. MicroComputers, a Pittsburgh company, donated a A neighbor reported Lisa missing on May 1, 2007. Chuck Hadad AC360 Producer. based on something somebody claimed to have seen around the time of Cherries "I got it around her birthday," McKinney said. Michigan Police: Woman Is Not Cherrie Mahan, Target 11: Police Seek DNA In Cherrie Mahan Case, New Trooper Assigned To 25-Year-Old Missing Girl Case, 25 Years Later, Search Continues For Missing Girl, Pittsburgh woman missing for more than 30 years found alive in Puerto Rico, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Family of local teacher left with brain injury from car crash searching for healthcare options, Crafton man accused of sexually assaulting 11-year-old girl at playground, Video shows man arrested by heavy police presence outside hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. It's been a quarter of a century and the cops are nowhere closer to solving the case than they were the day she disappeared. They also said another tip led them to search an Armstrong junkyard and an old mine shaft in Butler County within the last year. Its not like the sex offenders we know today through Megans Law, she said. [21] Burk was the last individual to see Mahan. Her Now, nearly 26 years after she vanished, the lead investigator says there could be a break in the case. January 2011. Height: 4'2. Cherrie's family had her declared legally deceased in 1992. Police also investigated and determined it wasn't Cherrie. Eventually, suspect Bruno Richard Hauptmann was . There was an intensified nationwide campaign to find missing children and photographs of Cherrie were featured on spaghetti boxes and tucked inside telephone and utility bills. prisoners in the area, hoping that one of them would have some information Cherrie Mahan's family and members of law enforcement gathered at the Saxonburg Memorial Church 30 years after her unsolved disappearance. Police investigated the disappearance for a year before it was deemed a cold case. 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 . 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. One of the main suspects in the murder in the infamous Zodiac Killer. 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. Within weeks, up to 250 people and several helicopters were scanning the region for Mahan or the van that was seen on the corner. But not knowing where she is, whether shes dead or alive, its like a never-ending story. That's something I never had.". Long. What happened to Cherrie Mahan? alongside around 250 volunteers. Cherrie Mahan was last seen stepping off a school bus in Winfield Township on Feb. 22, 1985. Morbidology Podcast The article continues below but to no avail. "I just wish someone would come forth and tell me what happened," Janice McKinney said through tears. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 01:24, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "Millions of Cards in Pursuit of Missing Children", "Cherrie Mahan Case Still Open 30 Yyears After She Disappeared", "Cherrie's Death Official, Mother's Memory Eternal", "Girl Missing Since 1985 Declared Dead by Judge", "Tip Could be 'Crucial' Lead in Cherrie Mahan Case", "New Clue Reported in Disappearance of First 'Have You Seen Me?' transferred to her brother.6 This is not over. Other children on the bus and a neighbour told police that they A bright blue or green 1976 Dodge van was seen in the area at the time of Cherrie's disappearance and may be connected to her case. [34] In 2000, a computer-generated rendition of how Mahan may have looked at age 23 was mailed to thousands of households across America. At the time of her disappearance, Lisa Stebic lived with her two children and husband Craig. Again the links to this new info are here: Here's the article- https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/02/18/mother-police-still-searching-for-butler-county-girl-cherrie-mahan/, And the TV news segment video- https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/4452856-cherrie-mahans-mother-still-searching-35-years-after-disappearance/. But she does not believe he was involved in her disappearance? That afternoon like usual Cherrie was seen climbing off the The team has access to technological resources the state police dont have, Kofluk said. Cherrie Mahan is still missing a total of 30 years after the initial disappearance. The neighborhood was described as a safe place where children spent a lot of time playing outside, and residents rarely locked their doors. And police are hoping in there somewhere, they'll find the answer to Cherrie's disappearance. They combed through the farmland and fields Cherrie Mahan was the first individual to whom this initiative was used in efforts to locate a missing child. It sucks the life out of me.. The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan By Emily G. Thompson. Date of birth: August 14, 1976. Both men were last seen handcuffed driving away in the back of Calkins squad car. hell take her, she said. She was declared [25][26], Mahan's stepfather, LeRoy McKinney, overheard the school bus slowing to a halt near his home. The sisters from Butler County have been psychic sleuthing for decades and continue to be featured in national television programs, including one helping police crack the 2006 murder of Blairsville dentist Dr. John Yelenic. The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. Many presumed him dead immediately. Her left arm was previously broken below her left shoulder, but the injury had healed before her 1985 disappearance. After that, she has been neither seen nor. When his brother arrived back in Townsville he called his girlfriend and family. 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. On the night of March 31, 2006, medical student Brian Shaffer decided to party to celebrate the first day of spring break. They have talked to the woman and she doesn't think she's Cherrie, but DNA tests are in progress. Two months after she vanished, the family raised $39,000 for any information about Mahan's whereabouts. The Vincent sisters, psychics from Butler County, will walk and pray with Mahans mother, Janice McKinney, to memorialize Cherrie and observe her disappearance at 4:05 p.m. today at McKinneys former home along Cornplanter Road in Winfield. Thirty-five years ago, Cherrie Mahan stepped off of her school bus, started the walk toward her driveway, and disappeared. "[43], Mahan's mother, Janice McKinney, has stated her conviction her daughter's disappearance can still be solved. In another follow up article just hours after the original the police spell out his person of interest status more explicitly: "John Shumway (local reporter) went back to the state police today about Cherries biological father. On February 22, 1985, eight-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus along with three schoolmates. "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.". Unfortunately, a thick fog fell across Winfield Township and the If nothing else, she'll always be [alive] in our hearts. Just read another article about it this morning that said that. Both investigations cleared Calkins but Santos wife claims that he was never even questioned. She hasn't been seen since, and was the first child ever featured on the now-famous "Have You Seen Me?" advertising circulars produced by a company called Advo Inc. Authorities eventually determined the girl might actually be Cherrie Mahan. Leroy wasnt Cherries birth-father. In an interview with 11 News, Jendesky said the search for Mahan had been terribly "frustrating." last we know of her is she got off the bus. Cherrie was officially declared dead in November 1998. off Cornplanter Road where the family lived. 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. PA PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985. At the time, many believed that Philip had been kidnapped by a bad man who lured him into the back of his vehicle using candy. What I hope what people get from this piece is people actually see the pain she's living through," says Trp. I caught a glimpse of the blue van in the mirror. According to Chilling Crimes, law enforcement officials briefly suspected a Massachusetts man of Mahan's abduction. To this day the baby remains missing. Trp. In 2011, authorities were also alerted to a woman living in Michigan, who a tipster reported was Cherrie Mahan. Cops have deemed said father a "person of interest" as well (see below), which is possibly a new revelation too. 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. McKinney believes someone is alive who can tell the story about what happened to Cherrie. When it comes to mysterious disappearances age is but a number. In the morning her, her cigarettes, and her lighter were gone. Mahan's abduction is strongly believed not to have been committed by a family member. Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. We feel this is the right time and someone is feeling remorse or guilt. 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. Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. In 1994, they learned the man had abducted and killed one child and attempted to abduct another. Cameron Norris | Cold Cases. I wish they'd come forward and say something. Unfortunately, no sign of the van or the girl was ever found. According to Morbidology, authorities also launched a national campaign to print her photos and a description of the van on grocery products. 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. Van Der Sloot was arrested twice and the brothers in the car with him three times under suspicion of involvement. Without photos, for example, police followed up on hundreds of vans with illustrations of mountain scenes, skiers and even some cowboys. Two sketches of the vehicle are posted with this case summary. Although a suspect vehicle was sighted and many. A local songwriter even wrote a song for Cherrie and several Before leaving campus on February 9, 2004, she emailed her professors and her work supervisor that she was taking a week off because of a death in the family. Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 after hopping off her school bus. Authorities also sent letters to people who were incarcerated to ask whether they had heard anything about the missing girl from other inmates. This was the last time that she was seen. . By April, neighbours and family had raised $39,000 as a reward 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. His silver Toyota Corrolla was found four days later at an intersection in town. Though Craig was a person of interest in the matter he has never been arrested for the disappearance of Lisa Stebic. side following the bus from Winfield Elementary School to Cherries bus stop. I made sure Cherrie had walked past the car, then I drove away. [12] In late 1984, the family relocated to Cornplanter Road in Butler County. 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. After five to 10 minutes,Chilling Crimes reports LeRoy walked to the bus stop and could not find any trace of Mahan. THE CASE OF CHERRIE MAHAN. His family reported him missing on January 16, 2006. The van had a snow-capped mountain and skier mural painted on both sides of the vehicle. As reported by Chilling Crimes, Janice became pregnant with her daughter when she was raped as a teen. In 2020, McKinney revealed her conviction that although she does not believe Cherrie's biological father was involved in her abduction, she believes individuals known to him were. I hope someone comes through with some good firsthand knowledge, DeLuca said. On the afternoon of February 22, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Ann Mahan boarded the school bus outside her elementary school and rode to her usual stop outside the home she shared with her mother and stepfather, Janice and LeRoy McKinney. On 22 February, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan hopped off her school bus in Winfield Township,. Death and dying is something I know about, she said. Possibly involved in her disappearance was a bright blue, or blue-green 1976 Dodge van with a . Now, in 2019, her mother told Target 11 Investigator Rick Earle she hopes an anonymous tip will help police crack this cold case. 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 . However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. The person who I said was her father never wanted to admit to it, she said. Eventually the FBI was called in to assist in the search yet no clues turned up. 5 talking about this. [27], Investigators quickly discounted any possibility Mahan had been kidnapped for a ransom;[28][n 4] concluding the child most likely knew her abductor or abductors, although all family members were quickly eliminated as suspects. Cherrie Mahan only had to walk around the corner and go up her 150-foot driveway to make it home where her parents were waiting for her. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. Updated 10 times since October 12, 2004. They frequently left messages for each other with family to keep in touch. 19th February 2020. Target 11: Police Seek DNA In Cherrie Mahan Case Posted: 3:47 pm EDT June 13, 2011Updated: 5:20 pm EDT June 14, 2011 ::snipping2:: PITTSBURGH -- Cherrie Mahan vanished from a Butler County neighborhood 26 years ago. 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. [12], Pennsylvania State Police continue to receive tips and updates relating to Mahan's disappearance. In the day before the minor car accident where she was last seen Murray was acting emotionally and erratically. WINFIELD TOWNSHIP A new appeal is being made as a grim anniversary occurs today for a family in a township along the Butler-Armstrong county line. Nonetheless, Janice doted on her daughter, who grew into a friendly, talkative child,[10] later stating: "We were always together. every week day. 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. The photo at right shows a computerized age-progression photo that shows what she might look like as a young woman. [35] This spokesman declined to further elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. Tips come in locally, as well as through Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, which offers a $5,000 reward. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. According toActive Missing People, authorities also ruled out kidnapping for ransom, as the family never received any ransom demands. Cherrie Mahan. [] Morbidology reports Cherrie Mahans 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. The free online system can be searched by coroners, law enforcement officers, and medical examiners. Eventually, the trail went cold and the case was put to the side. Cairns was last seen getting on the bus to go back to his school. 1 of 2. She cited him as cruel, domineering, and verbally abusive. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Cherrie Ann Mahan. After finding a bit of success Pichlers family begged him to come home to Washington in 2003, when he was sixteen years old. While she waits for answers, McKinney said she's made her peace. Either they are afraid, or I dont know.. Let her walk." Pursuit of stolen car ends in arrest after suspect runs onto Interstate 5 in Bankers Hill. Now, in 2019, her mother told Target 11 Investigator Rick. [11] Janice later married a Vietnam veteran named LeRoy McKinney, who willingly accepted Mahan as his stepdaughter. Oil City, PA 1 day ago. This national bank of resources for missing people is run by the United States, but there are missing person investigations going cold around the entire world. "That's all I pray for all the time is just to know. headquarters and a local grocer donated food for those assisting in the search. Because of this, his first trial went to retrial. Authorities also confirmed they contacted each person named in the letter and were unable to find any evidence proving they were involved in Mahan's disappearance. Cherrie Mahan was 8 years old when she disappeared from her bus stop one day after school in 1985. No arrests have ever been made in her case and no suspects have been identified in the case. He didnt answer his phone the rest of the weekend, eventually missing a flight to Miami that had been long planned with his girlfriend. Cherrie's home in Butler County PA, just north of Pittsburgh, was only about 50 feet from the bus stop. 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. [22] She was 4feet 2inches (1.27m) in height and had brown hair and hazel eyes. From 2005: Girl's disappearance remains a mystery 20 years later. Craig had filed for divorce months before she disappeared but the couple continued living together. Cherrie, circa 1985; Age-progression to age 44 (circa 2020); Sketches of van possibly involved. Her case info. Janice had moved to Mars with Leroy and the couple now had a 5-year-old son, Robert. However, Mahan's horrifying disappearance changed everything. [33] Three months earlier, she had donated the $50,000 reward sum for information leading to the safe return of her daughter to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "I'll never forget, but I have forgiven.". This is a follow up to the Cherrie Mahan post a few days ago, I mentioned in it there was a new big news story about her I saw in passing on our local TV. On Feb. 22, 1985 she got off her bus along Cornplanter Road in the town of Cabot. Theres been Now, nearly 26 years after she vanished, the lead investigator says there could be a break in the . While she had accepted that her daughter had most likely been This mother and daughter went missing in 1980 from St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia. There are limitations in following up on the decades-old abduction. 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. "[39], Although existing laws had determined Cherrie Mahan could have been declared legally dead seven years after her disappearance,[n 7] Mahan's mother only petitioned to have her daughter legally declared deceased in 1998. Murray also conducted online research and made bookings at hotels in various areas on the east coast. Cherrie has a dog bite scar on her left arm.