The family and friends of the family were questioned andJanice and LeRoy were given lie detector tests but nothing helped the investigation and the case went cold. Unsolved Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan, age 8, Butler County She shared with us that Cherrie was the result of rape when Janice was 16. 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 can't begin to imagine the pain. 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. On the morning of February 22, 1985, Cherries mother Janice accompanied her to the bus stop, approximately 50 yards away from their home. ", "Does she miss me, does she want me, does she know me? In the early years, she turned to drugs to dull the pain and sold everything she had, "just to get another high because that pain was killing me, it was just killing me.". The Mysterious Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan Grunge, Filed Under: Still Missing Tagged With: 1985, Pennsylvania, Still Missing. searchers could barely see further than a few feet in front of them. Mahan was wearing a gray coat, a blue denim skirt, a white leotard, blue leg warmers, beige boots, and Cabbage Patch earmuffs. Long says, "We actually followed up on to the point we were investigating people outside of the commonwealth, the FBI got involved and helped us out. "It was very graphic and cruel to me," she says. But she does not believe he was involved in her disappearance? Caucasian female born on August 14, 1976 with brown hair and hazel eyes. Two sketches of the vehicle are posted with this case summary. "There was nobody that was a stranger to her," her mom says, "Like if you said her name she thought you knew her. In 2011, Rebecca Coriam disappeared from a Disney cruise ship. MicroComputers, a Pittsburgh company, donated a Using investigative research combined with primary audio, Morbidology takes an in-depth look at true crime cases from all across the world. 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. There were some leads in the years that followed. Is she alive, is she not alive, is she okay, is she not okay, is she with somebody are they taking care of her, are they not taking care of her? Well always look She believes people connected to Cherrie's father were . January 17, 2022 "And believe me, any parent who has dealt with an accidentthat guilt can kill ya.". Now 26 years later, the details of the woman's story are emerging and police said they are looking into every new piece of information. Nonetheless, Janice doted on her daughter, who grew into a friendly, talkative child, later stating: "We were always together. After school Cherrie exited the school bus with three friends at approximately 4:10 pm. They combed through the farmland and fields After finding her, he asked many times about what she could remember from the possible sighting. Long says they may not even realize it. ", But like all the other leads Trp. Mahan alighted her bus with three friends at approximately 4:10 p.m. before her friends entered a car driven by the mother of one of the girls, Debbie Burk, that had followed the school bus. Long says, "Unfortunately that letter as a whole hasn't been very fruitful at this point. Cherrie, circa 1985; Age-progression to age 44 (circa 2020); Sketches of van possibly involved. 36 years later, still so sign of local girl abducted getting off school The skier of the mural was wearing red and yellow clothing and was depicted skiing down the mountain. The tipster said she called a phone number listed on Mahan's missing person flier, but never heard back from anyone. In November of 2015 cadaver dogs were sent to search a property in Winfield based on a tip theyd received, but no sign of Cherrie was found. Mobile: Theres been However, none of their efforts led to any new or useful information. her.1. Debbie, the children on the bus and the bus driver told Janice and Leroy that Cherrie did get off the bus. Two of the children were Debbie's children and she gave a lift to another child who lived near her house. Cherrie Mahans Mother Still Searching 35 Years After She Disappeared, Cherrie Mahans Disappearance Haunts Her Mother 35 Years Later, Pennsylvania Child Still Missing After Getting Off School Bus in 1985, 36 Years Later, Still No Sign Of Girl Abducted After Getting Off School Bus, The Mysterious Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan, the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children. Long will say about suspects: Anybody that was implicated, until we find evidence otherwise, they still would be considered a suspect.. Cherrie Mahan - Chilling Crimes When Janine had a dream that she found Cherrie Janice and Leroy began searching the area and called people they knew to try to find her. Cherrie has pierced ears. Theonly other piece of evidence police had was tire marks that had been left in the snow at the bottom of the hill.Nobody saw Cherrie get into a van or car and nobody saw anybody taking Cherrie. Cherrie Mahan And Then They Were Gone In 1985, a bright, spunky 8-year-old girl got off the bus in Butler County, Pennsylvania. ", The pain of the unknown has been hard to handle from the start. Pennsylvania, with their 8-year-old daughter,Cherrie Mahan. Shortly thereafter, they donated the $58,000 reward fund to the National Center Another person saw Cherrie walk past the van which was seen parked at the side There was a van parked behind Debbie's van that Cherriehad to walk past. She said she was so concerned that she even tracked down Mahan's mother. Janice later married LeRoy McKinney who accepted Cherrie as his step-daughter. The only thing Trp. Cherrie Ann Mahan - The Resource Center For Cold Case Missing Children Her case info. 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. Debbie was the last known person to see Cherrie and she claimed she waited until Cherrie walked past her vanbefore she drove off. Cherrie's biological father has never been charged in connection with her disappearance and maintains his innocence. The longer it goes If the good Lord feels shell be better off with him, Required fields are marked *. June 14, 2011 at 5:20 pm EDT. Burk was the last individual to see Mahan. Cherrie has never been heard from again. Cherrie's biological father was not a part of her life. Here are the exact passages from the article: "Janice believes there is a connection between her rape, Cherries birth, and eight years later her disappearance I do, I believe that but I cant prove anything, she says. He was running up and down the road He But s. Cherrie walked homealone. Earle said the tipster was vague but then went into more detail after Channel 11 News cameras were shut off. A Butler County judge approved a pe*ion from Janice McKinney to do so in November that year. There were further and multiple sightings of avan. Major Cherrie Mahan Update: Her Mother Believes She Knows Who - Reddit After being unable to find her he called the police to report her missing at approximately 5:00 pm. There are predators everywhere. A search of their driveway did not locate the child or any of her footprints upon the snow on the ground leading to her house, although they did discover a set of tire impressions in the driveway soil approximately fifty yards from their home. She has never been seen or heard. Target 11's Rick Earle has uncovered a new lead in the case that has . "Not him personally but the people that he knows yes. Cherrie Mahan's family and members of law enforcement gathered at the Saxonburg Memorial Church 30 years after her unsolved disappearance. Local, state and national agencies helped in the investigation. We almost hit Leroy. Cherrie Mahan - Disappeared Cherries biological father has never been charged in connection with her disappearance and maintains his innocence. Her mother believes that people who had connections to Cherrie's biological father were involved in Cherrie's presumed abduction. When Cherrie Mahan was abducted, investigators had little to go on, but they have investigated numerous leads over the years. The terrain around her home was extensively searched with the *istance of bloodhounds and helicopters, and investigators conducted house to house inquiries. The question still remains: Who killed him? through the afternoon, evening, and well into the night. The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan Wikipedia "To forgive somebody that I didn't know because I was killing myself.". 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Missing Date: Fri, Feb 22 1985. Investigators took along cadaver dogs and Cherrie's mom was right there with them. The child's mother has stated that she doesn't believe Cherrie's biological father kidnapped her, but that people "known to him . Cherrie was then observed walking past a blue/green van that was parked near the bus stop, before turning the corner to walk up the driveway to her home. He maintains his innocence in his daughters disappearance. Have You Seen Cherrie Mahon? - KILLERS, KREEPS, AND OTHER KRAZY STUFF Your email address will not be published. Somebody would have known who was driving a van with that design on both sides at the time. If nothing else, shell always be in our hearts, said her mother. On her shoulder and near her heart, Janice carries tattoos to remind her of her daughter and every day she prays for the relief of 'that call' from the police. Her mother believes that people who had connections to Cherries biological father were involved in Cherries presumed abduction. At around 4.10pm that day, the 22nd of February, Cherrie got off the bus, the stop closest to her house, with three friends. Memories of Cherrie Mahan - Facebook He was ruled out as a suspect when police confirmed he was in New York the day of Cherrie's disappearance. Cherrie was excited, as her mother was planning on taking her on a play date when she returned home from school. The big news is Cherrie's mother says she believes she knows who took her. It was the 22ndof February, 1985, when Janice She was only eight-years-old when she disappeared. Early on in the investigation, it was theorised that Cherrie had And I said 'go check' and he went down he checked and she wasn't there," she says. Blue incolor with the mural on both sides. by Chilling Crimes 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. Cherrie Mahan's Mother Still Searching 35 Years After Disappearance Watch on Cherrie Mahan's mother is still searching, KDKA's John Shumway reports. Did somebody knock her on the head and drag her into a car, did somebody say 'hey your mom said we're to pick you up and get in the car?' Cherrie was last seen wearing a white leotard, a gray coat, a blue denim skirt, white stockings, blue leg warmers, beige ankle boots, and brown Cabbage Patch earmuffs. side following the bus from Winfield Elementary School to Cherries bus stop. Janice says, "It's just what happened from the time she got off that bus to when she headed towards our driveway.". Mahan's mother, Janice McKinney, has stated her conviction her daughter's disappearance can still be solved. Cherrie and her family deserve answers. A search party was assembled and they worked tirelessly Addressing the media following the conclusion of these legal proceedings, Janice McKinney stated: "When people die, you have a body. Word of the potential abduction spread quickly throughout the Protect yourself and those you love. Efforts to locate Mahan, alive or deceased, are ongoing. Long will say about suspects: "Anybody that was implicated, until we find evidence otherwise, they still would be considered a suspect.". She believes people connected to Cherrie's father were involved in her disappearance. Cherrie and her family deserve answers. Cherrie Mahan, age 8 (Photo provided by PA State Police) . She was declared legally dead in November 1998. Cherrie stood 42 and weighed 68 pounds when she disappeared. She was last seen getting off the school bus about 100 yards from home. 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. []. Psychic Sisters Suzanne and Jean Vincent give detailed psychic Impressions as to what has happen to Cherrie Mahan, Abducted from Butler County February 22 19. The mother was allegedly raped and conceived Cherrie. There was a soda machine down the street outside the beer distributor and We knew the owner whom was like another grandfather to us ..We even called him Pappy and he would give us each a dollar and free soda anyways We would walk down the street arms locked always looking out for said van! 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. The only thing Trp. off Cornplanter Road where the family lived. Janice alleged that she was raped and as a result had Cherrie. 1 Cherrie's family had her declared legally deceased in 1992. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you have any information on the circumstances surrounding Cherrie's disappearance, please call the Pennsylvania State Police Missing Persons unit at 724-284-8100. Cherrie, circa 1985; Age-progression to age 44 (circa 2020); Sketches of van possibly involved. The fliers also contained a description of the van following the school bus. When Janice met Leroy, he looked after and loved Cherrie. Last seen: February 22, 1985 Janice McKinney feels like she has nothing to lose in her search to find out what happened to her daughter. This spokesman declined to further elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. ", Police are aware of McKinney's suspicions and have told her the man is adamant in his denials. PA - PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985 - Websleuths Janice later married a Vietnam veteran named LeRoy McKinney, who willingly accepted Mahan as his stepdaughter. Did she fall overboard or did something much more sinister happen? Clothing: The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. They are not hiding in shadows. Have you seen this child? Cherrie Mahan - National Center for Missing Psychic Investigators Profile Missing Cherrie Mahan Abducted - YouTube The elementary school became a "I was gonna jump out, cause that car behind us was going to squish me like a bug and I didn't care," she says. The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. Cherries mother Janice later revealed that Cherrie was conceived through rape, and later went on to believe people involved with Cherries father may be responsible for her disappearance. Eventually the FBI was called in to assist in the search yet no clues turned up. Her The heartbreaking disappearance of a third-grader has haunted a small Pennsylvania town for almost four decades, It sounds like a scene out of a movie: a beautiful little girl gets off her school bus, waves to her friends, and begins to make the short walk up her driveway alone. The woman in question denies that she is Mahan, but investigators said they have a lot of questions and interviews to do before making any determinations. Age: 8 years old Gone in the Blink of an Eye: The Cherrie Mahan Story On February 22, 1985, Cherrie Mahan got off of her school bus only blocks from her home. Updated 10 times since October 12, 2004. Cherrie's mother admitted that she became pregnant with Cherrie after being raped. Missing person fliers were distributed which described Cherrie as 4 feet 2 inches tall and 68 pounds with brown hair and hazel-eyes. It was described as having a snow capped mountain and skier mural painted on both of its sides. The children on the bus, and the bus driver told Janice and Leroy Cherrie did get off the bus. Cherrie was born on August 14, 1976, and her mother Janice was only sixteen when Cherrie was born. Cherrie Mahan, eight years old. The man, who wasn't identified . When the school bus arrived, the two told each other they loved each other before Mahan boarded the bus. Janice said: We heard the bus come and after five or tens minutes and Leroy said maybe she fell down, do you want me to go check? Location: Winfield Township, Pennsylvania When it became clear that Cherrie was not just playing with friends somewhere, Janice and Leroy contacted police. Upon being reported missing police searched the area around Cherries home for days, with the assistance of helicopters, bloodhounds, and 250 volunteers. Although existing laws had determined Cherrie Mahan could have been declared legally dead seven years after her disappearance, Mahan's mother only pe*ioned to have her daughter legally declared deceased in 1998. for Cherries safe return.3 Local businesses pledged another $10,000 for information There have been many tips and leads, but Cherrie's case remains unsolved. . Leroy wasn't Cherrie's birth-father. That's all I pray for, all the time, is just to know.". 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. Jenn is a lawyer-turned-author and true crime writer. Its a kidnapping. PA - PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985 | Page 35 | Websleuths Cherrie's family had her declared legally deceased in 1992. 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. At the time of her disappearance, Cherrie attended Winfield Elementary School, where she was regarded as a popular, bright and happy child. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. The mother was allegedly raped and conceived Cherrie. Pennsylvania child Cherrie Mahan still missing after getting off school
