Woman Claims To Be Long-Lost Cherrie Mahan, Mom Thinks Not

A woman has said she is the missing Cherrie Mahan. Cherrie went missing in 1985 when she was 8 years old. This case left many people wondering about her fate for years. But Cherrie’s mother, Janice McKinney, doesn’t believe the woman claiming to be her daughter.

Cherrie Mahan has been missing for almost 40 years, a horrible mystery for her family. When a woman claimed to be her on Facebook, it gave hope. Is this the clue they’ve been looking for? However, the situation has gotten more complicated and emotional, with Cherrie’s mother having doubts.

Cherrie Mahan’s Disappearance in 1985

Cherrie Mahan’s disappearance has kept her family and others wondering what happened to her for almost 40 years. It was February 22, 1985, when the eight-year-old went missing. Since then, many have tried to find her and uncover the truth.

Last Seen Getting Off School Bus Near Home

That day, Cherrie got off the bus near home in Winfield Township, PA, but didn’t arrive at her house. People saw her walking towards her house, just 100 yards away. The spot where she disappeared has since become the heart of a long-standing missing person case.

Search Efforts and Missing Persons Bulletin

Right after she vanished, a considerable search began. Local groups, volunteers, and the community all pitched in. Even with months of looking, there was no sign of Cherrie.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released a bulletin about her case. It shared details and showed an age-progressed picture of Cherrie. The idea was that someone might recognize her and help solve the mystery.

With each passing year, the quest to find Cherrie continued. Many leads were followed, and different ideas were explored. Yet, the story stayed unresolved, causing both her family and the community to still wonder about this missing little girl.

Woman’s Claim on Facebook Group

In May 2024, a post on Facebook made a shocking claim. It was from a woman who said she was Cherrie Mahan. This stirred up the long-gone but remembered case of a missing child.

Reaction from Cherrie’s Mother, Janice McKinney

Janice, Cherrie’s mom, saw the Post and called the police. She felt it wasn’t her daughter speaking through the Post. This redoubtable added to the mother’s deep pain from losing Cherrie.

This Post set the police investigators in motion to investigate the woman’s claim.

Police Investigation and DNA Testing

The Pennsylvania State Police are looking closely at the claim. They are exploring whether this woman might really be Cherrie Mahan. Police plan to use DNA tests for a clear answer.

A positive DNA test would lead to many questions. Why and how did she disappear where she has been all this time, And why did no one find her sooner? If the DNA match is positive, the focus would be solving this long-unsolved mystery.

Pennsylvania State Police Spokesperson’s Statement

A woman recently claimed to be missing Cherrie Mahan. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the claim. Trooper Bertha Cazy discussed the case with the Butler Eagle, Butler County Daily Newspaper.

Cazy State Police Investigators could not reach the woman who claimed to be Cherrie Mahan using the info she provided regarding the Post.

The police are still looking into this woman’s claim and are asking anyone who may know her to come forward.

Mother’s Belief and Physical Resemblance

Janice McKinney, Cherrie Mahan’s mother, thinks the woman who said she was Cherrie may genuinely believe it. But McKinney is still trying to determine whether it’s true. She says the woman didn’t look like her missing daughter enough, in her opinion.

Previous Claims and Ongoing Search

The woman recently claiming to be Cherrie Mahan was not the first. Over the last nearly 40 years, three other women have also said they were her. But, all these claims were never proven true. So, what happened to Cherrie remains unknown.

Even though it’s been nearly 40 years, and there are no viable leads, the search for Cherrie continues. Her family and the police are still working to find her. Right now, a $5,000 reward is available for any helpful information.

The Blue 1976 Dodge Van

A key detail in the investigation from 1985 is a blue 1976 Dodge van with a mountain mural seen in the area of the disappearance. Police believe this van may be linked to Cherrie’s case. Investigators are eager to learn more about it and the people in it.

Even though many years have gone by, Cherrie Mahan’s family and friends still hope for the truth. The family believes that one day, they will find out what happened to Cherrie and why.

Conclusion

A woman claims to be Cherrie Mahan, a long-lost girl missing nearly 40 years, sparking new activity in her case. The woman made the claim on Facebook, which caught Cherrie’s mother’s attention. However, Cherrie’s mother, Janice McKinney, doubts the woman’s claim. Cherrie’s mother does not feel the woman looks like her daughter.

The Pennsylvania State Police are looking into the woman’s claim. They have yet been able to contact her because the information provided did not lead to locating her. Investigators hope to use DNA to confirm if she’s really Cherrie. At this time the Police can not verify the woman’s claim.

In the last 40 years, three other women have claimed to be the missing Cherrie, but they were not. The search for Cherrie goes on, with a $5,000 reward for helpful information. Cherrie’s family continues to hope that she will be found and they will finally discover what happened to Cherrie Mahan one day.