If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: Pennsylvania State Police 412-284-8100. 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. Its a kidnapping. [36] However, investigators did state this "potentially crucial" information indicates Mahan is unlikely to still be alive. Cherrie Mahan's mother still searching for answers In an interview with 11 News, Jendesky said the search for Mahan had been terribly "frustrating." The investigation was highly criticized, but the Aruban police and hundreds of volunteers scoured the nation for her. From 2020: Cherrie Mahan's mysterious disappearance haunts her mother 35 years later Cherrie Mahan was the first individual to whom this initiative was used in efforts to locate a missing child. Pursuit of stolen car ends in arrest after suspect runs onto Interstate 5 in Bankers Hill. premonition.4, The case gradually went cold. [41][42], Addressing the media following the conclusion of these legal proceedings, Janice McKinney stated: "When people die, you have a body. In 1985, approximately sixty-two percent of missing children in America were safely recovered. Subscribe to WTAE . Cherrie Mahan was last seen stepping off a school bus in Winfield Township on Feb. 22, 1985. When ten minutes had elapsed and Mahan had not arrived, her mother and stepfather began to worry. When Janine had a dream that she found Cherrie her.1. According to police, the young girl was dropped off at a school bus stop located about 100 yards from her family's hilltop home in Cabot. Theres nothing to point the finger of suspicion at anybody. The team has access to technological resources the state police dont have, Kofluk said. The last time she was seen she was lying in bed at 9 pm. The van had a snow-capped mountain and skier mural painted on both sides of the vehicle. The last call on his cell phone was placed at 4:05 am on January 5 to a friend that he had seen that day. 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. Cherrie had to walk 50 feet from the bus stop to her driveway. Police and psychics step up efforts to find who took Cherrie Mahan 38 side following the bus from Winfield Elementary School to Cherries bus stop. Some agencies state she disappeared from Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. She was wearing Cabbage Louise made friends with another mother in the neighborhood a bit of time before she disappeared. Now, 35 years later, Janice McKinney just wants to know. Since KDKA's report aired last night at 11, Trooper Jim Long says, "We've gotten a ton of tips, it's been very effective and as of now, we're still trying to work our way through them, cause even as we are speaking now, I would not be surprised if we got a couple more.". On Feb. 22, 1985 she got off her bus along Cornplanter Road in the town of Cabot. Patzs father was a professional photographer so beautiful photos of him were strewn across billboards, projected on Times Square, and put on milk cartons. Murray also conducted online research and made bookings at hotels in various areas on the east coast. Possible Break in Case of Cherrie Mahan 8 yo, missing since 1985 The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. 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. 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. [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. been abducted. [12], Pennsylvania State Police continue to receive tips and updates relating to Mahan's disappearance. Hopefully, over time, it has started to eat away at them or someone they confided in, DeLuca said. Shortly before her disappearance, Mahan had received a broken arm after being hit by a car. The story of her disappearance was also reported on CNN in January 2011 because of possible new evidence, but this evidence was never released. A pedophile still is a possibility, McKinney said. 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. Home Mysteries The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan. McKinney believes someone knows what happened to Cherrie all those years ago. Jedesky retired in 2011, and another trooper was assigned to continue investigating Mahan's case. I wish they'd come forward and say something. It is unknown if the car has anything to do with her case either. Her husband had last seen her April 30 at 6 pm. searchers could barely see further than a few feet in front of them. Someone has to know something.. People didnt talk about it then. Cops have deemed said father a "person of interest" as well (see below), which is possibly a new revelation too. "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.". While it is not confirmed, many suspect it is Calico in the horrifying photo above. We'll always look for Cherrie. Some pieces to the puzzle appear to be falling into place here just days away from the 35th anniversary of the crime. alongside around 250 volunteers. 15 Unsolved Disappearances That Shocked the World [22] She was 4feet 2inches (1.27m) in height and had brown hair and hazel eyes. Although he often walked to the end of the driveway to meet Mahan, Janice told him to let her walk alone because the weather was particularly nice that day. no ransom note, said Lt. Francis Walton of the state police. Cherie Mahan Addresses. Another person saw Cherrie walk past the van which was seen parked at the side Her friends got into a car waiting for them, driven by Debbie Burk, one of the girls' mother. Mahan's local community raised $39,000 as a reward for Mahan's safe return,[19] with a local business also pledging an additional $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of her abductor or abductors. Investigators have no new leads in her disappearance, despite the numerous tips they have received over the years. Burk saw Cherrie walking past a bluish-green Dodge van and then turn the corner to walk the last 150 . 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A Butler County judge approved a petition from Janice McKinney to do so in November that year. 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. Her left arm was previously broken below her left shoulder, but the injury had healed before her 1985 disappearance. In addition, Kofluk said, he and Maurer are starting at square one with the old police report, evidence and crime scene information.. The big news is Cherrie's mother says she believes she knows who took her. As reported by Chilling Crimes, Janice became pregnant with her daughter when she was raped as a teen. 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. But not knowing where she is, whether shes dead or alive, its like a never-ending story. What happened to Cherrie Mahan? Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. "[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. 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. I feel we have a good chance of solving this, the women said. Mahan was then observed to walk past a bluish-green van which had parked near the bus stop[10][n 2][18] and turn a corner to walk the approximately 150-yard uphill driveway to her home. 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 . Her case info. Hello world! [31], When no significant leads developed and the child had been missing for three months,[32] a national direct mailing company printed a photograph of Mahan on postcards accompanied by the question, "Have you seen me?" 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. 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?' There could be several explanations for Mahan's disappearance, but law enforcement officials believe she was kidnapped and taken out of the region. However, their early efforts were hampered by a thick fog, which covered the region. However, none of their efforts led to any new or useful information. She still remains missing. [13][14], On Friday, February 22, 1985, the child was excited as her mother intended to take her on a play date when she returned from school. Within weeks, up to 250 people and several helicopters were scanning the region for Mahan or the van that was seen on the corner. It sucks the life out of me.. Its very Find The Missing/YouTube. Cherrie Mahan is still missing a total of 30 years after the initial disappearance. He said he doesnt want to speculate whether Mahans disappearance was caused by someone who knew her. 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. 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. Investigators suspect the cases are linked with the leading theory . [11] Janice later married a Vietnam veteran named LeRoy McKinney, who willingly accepted Mahan as his stepdaughter. Long. for Missing and Exploited Children.7. MicroComputers, a Pittsburgh company, donated a Cairns was last seen getting on the bus to go back to his school. I can't imagine the pain her mother must wake up with every day. How Did Cherrie Mahan Disappear 50 Feet From Her Front Door? Pittsburgh Post-Gazettereports Janice McKinney addressed the court, saying, "This is not over. 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 . Janice had moved to Mars with Leroy and the couple now had a 5-year-old son, Robert. Tipsters can remain anonymous. The 8-year-old girl disappeared after exiting a school . Updated 10 times since October 12, 2004. I remember this as a child, the description of the van that is! The last time that Louise and Charmian were seen they were getting into a white car with an older man. "Someone knows what happened to her for sure. 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. Janice McKinney says authorities did not believe her rape allegation and Cherries biological father was never charged. After five to 10 minutes,Chilling Crimes reports LeRoy walked to the bus stop and could not find any trace of Mahan. Cherrie Mahan Abduction - Facebook It was like the Earth opened up and she fell in, said her "I just wish someone would come forth and tell me what happened," Janice McKinney said through tears. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. 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 . Over time and all of the stuff we looked into, including family members, the case is open and no one is clear beyond a reasonable doubt until this thing is solved, DeLuca said. PA PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985. However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. Its a unique case in the fact that it happened in an area that is so rural, he said. 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. Cherrie Mahan Went Missing Near Pittsburgh 35 Years Ago - OnlyInYourState Unfortunately, none of the tips were deemed to be credible. New appeal made in case of missing Cherrie Mahan Investigating Agency. In 2019, Janice McKinney received an anonymous letter from someone who claimed they knew specific details about what happened to her daughter. However, Mahan's horrifying disappearance changed everything. "It's like your heart has been snapped half and it will never go back together again," she says. Cherrie Ann Mahan. Many believed that Tara Calico was kidnapped near her home in Belen, New Mexico. I caught a glimpse of the blue van in the mirror. Law enforcement officials ruled out Mahan's family and friends as suspects via extensive questioning and lie detector tests. In 2012 police released that over a cup full of Aylas blood was adjacent to her fathers bed. had seen a blue or green van with a skier and mountain scene painted on the abducted, she refused to let herself consider the fact that she could be deceased. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. And Then They Were Gone: Cherrie Mahan on Apple Podcasts [33][n 6] Lacking any conclusive evidence to the contrary, investigators have not discounted the possibility Mahan may still be alive. frustrating. 5 talking about this. 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 . Cherrie Mahan case lends hope to others? - The Charley Project Blog By the mid-1990s, authorities had exhausted all leads, and the case went cold. Cheri Jo Bates & The Zodiac Killer Morbidology 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. CHERRIE MAHAN - 8 yo (1985) - Winfield/Butler County PA - Forumotion Both investigations cleared Calkins but Santos wife claims that he was never even questioned. The letter, signed by someone calling themselves Pastor Justice, ended: "I pray you find some peace after you find her body.". However, he wanted to "bring the case to a conclusion." [34] In 2000, a computer-generated rendition of how Mahan may have looked at age 23 was mailed to thousands of households across America. Janice was a single mother for several years before she met and married Vietnam veteran LeRoy McKinney. Her 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. Twenty-nine years ago, high school senior Chris Birckbichler watched media accounts of 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan's disappearance from Cabot, Winfield Township. This woman is one of many who disappeared while taking a cruise to a foreign land. Cherrie has a cowlick on the right side of her hair. Burk was adamant this Dodge van had also followed the school bus, recounting this sighting in April 1985, Burk stated: "I sat in the car and watched the kids get off. 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. This was the last time that she was seen. 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. Aylas mother was the primary caretaker but she was staying with her father for an overnight visit. Earlier that evening her mother reports that the waiters tried to invite her out to Carlosn Charlies and she refused. Authorities also sent letters to people who were incarcerated to ask whether they had heard anything about the missing girl from other inmates. Heartbreaking mysteries of SEVEN missing children who won't - The Sun Editor's note: "AC360" is investigating some of the nation's most notorious cold cases. kept saying, My little girls gone. The Mysterious Disappearance Of Cherrie Mahan Explained - Grunge.com Cherrie's home in Butler County PA, just north of Pittsburgh, was only about 50 feet from the bus stop. List Enthusiast. 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. "[43], Mahan's mother, Janice McKinney, has stated her conviction her daughter's disappearance can still be solved. Shortly thereafter, they donated the $58,000 reward fund to the National Center Oil City police officer injured during arrest of assault suspect in Venango County. Cherrie's father maintains his innocence in her case. transferred to her brother.6 This is not over. 15 Mysterious Disappearances That'll Never Be Solved - TheRichest last we know of her is she got off the bus. 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. ", Although Cherrie Mahan was declared legally dead, her family refused to hold a funeral service. She was only eight-years-old when she disappeared. This is a pivotal missing person case because it was the first to feature a circulated flier with the child's photo. Morbidology Podcast The article continues below just tell he was numb, said Kathleen Yates, a neighbour. As reported by 11 News, the tipster said she saw the mysterious van and a girl matching Mahan's description in Michigan in the weeks after the girl vanished. If nothing else, she'll always be [alive] in our hearts. But they are trying harder and upping their efforts to find answers around the anniversary of the 8-year-old's disappearance Feb. 22, People who saw her reported a blue or green January 2011. The elementary school became a They have talked to the woman and she doesn't think she's Cherrie, but DNA tests are in progress. He was running up and down the road He Tip could be 'crucial' lead in Cherrie Mahan case Nevertheless, as he made plans to retire, he still had not found any answers. road like madmen. Cherrie Mahan was 8 years old when she disappeared from her bus stop one day after school in 1985. A thorough search of Butler County was bolstered by an estimated 250 local volunteers, although these searches failed to locate the child. PA - PA - Cherrie Mahan, 8, Cabot, 22 Feb 1985 - Websleuths However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. McKinney said Cherries father still lives in Butler County and was local to where she grew up in Clinton Township. When she failed to arrive home, her stepfather went looking for her and called police when he failed to find her. Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 after hopping off her school bus. Cherrie Mahan would be 42 years old today. When the school bus arrived, the two told each other they loved each other before Mahan boarded the bus. Now, nearly 26 years after she vanished, the lead investigator says there could be a break in the . 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. I just pray all the time that they would find it in their heart to just tell somebody, she said. That's something I never had.". prisoners in the area, hoping that one of them would have some information 'It's A Torment': Cherrie Mahan's Mother Still Searching 35 Years After Little Etan Patz disappeared his very first time walking to the school bus on his own. Authorities believe Cherrie was abducted, but no suspect has ever been identified in her case. Show all. It wasnt until 2006 that the government openly claimed that they thought he was dead and had no idea where his remains could be. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure . disappearance. Cherrie Mahan - Lecture notes 6-8 - Cherrie Mahan THE CASE OF CHERRIE The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan - TPKs Stories 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. 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. Louise was the youngest of three children. for Cherries safe return.3 Local businesses pledged another $10,000 for information She stayed up drinking until the middle of the night with the cruise ship band and then went back to her room. We grew up together. However, he was eventually ruled out as he had a confirmed alibi on the day Mahan vanished. Cold Case: Cherrie Mahan | fox43.com We dont give up hope, Kofluk said. Cherrie Mahan. John Shumway went back to the state police today about Cherrie's biological father. 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. Its not like the sex offenders we know today through Megans Law, she said. She received $3,500 in compensation for her injuries. What happened to Cherrie Mahan? On February 22, 1985, eight-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus along with three schoolmates. Cherrie has a dog bite scar on her left arm. What happened to 8-year old Cherrie Mahan, missing since 1985 [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. $5,000 Reward: 8-Year-Old Disappeared After Getting Off Her School Bus But they are trying harder and upping their efforts to find answers around the anniversary of the 8-year-olds disappearance Feb. 22, 1985. To this day the baby remains missing. In 1994, they learned the man had abducted and killed one child and attempted to abduct another. But many believed that the young woman was kidnapped. You kiss 'em in the face, you put them in the ground, and you say goodbye. Mahan was last seen in Butler County, Pa., on the afternoon of Feb. 22, 1985. Lieutenant Ron Arad was never found, and a special forces agent even died while trying to rescue the pilot. It was November 1982 when Jones disappeared while backpacking in North Queensland. While she waits for answers, McKinney said she's made her peace. Police report new lead on long-missing Pa. girl 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.