In a shocking turn of events, a woman has recently claimed to be Cherrie Mahan, a young girl who mysteriously vanished 39 years ago. Cherrie was last seen on February 22, 1985, after her school bus dropped her off in front of her Pennsylvania home. Despite extensive searches, no trace of Cherrie has been found since that day.
The case, which has remained cold for decades, took a twist when a woman declared herself to be Cherrie in a Facebook post dated May 23 on the “Memories of Cherrie Mahan” group. The Pennsylvania State Police have since begun investigating these claims.
However, Cherrie’s mother, Janice McKinney, is skeptical of this latest assertion. Over the years, several individuals have come forward, claiming to be her long-lost daughter; this is the fourth such instance. Speaking to the Butler Eagle, Janice expressed her doubts, saying, “I truly believe she thought in her mind that she was Cherrie. It did not look anything like Cherrie at all.”
Her frustration evident, Janice criticized the woman’s actions, suggesting they were driven by a desire for attention. “If you wanted your 15 minutes of fame, you’ve already blown it,” she remarked. “People are mean, they are cruel, but this affects me really crazy. It’s gonna be 40 years since Cherrie’s been missing.”
The post claiming to be from Cherrie has been removed from Facebook. Janice noted that around the anniversary of Cherrie’s disappearance, there’s often a spike in people claiming to have leads or new information.
Despite the turmoil, Janice holds onto a belief that her daughter is okay, whether alive or passed. “I’ve always felt that she was OK. If she was dead, she is in heaven with my parents and my brothers. If she was alive, someone was taking care of her. I don’t know why I feel that way,” she shared.
Yet, the hope for some resolution remains. “I wish that we [investigators on Cherrie’s case] could all get together and sit and talk. There’s something somebody missed somewhere, and somebody knows,” she concluded, suggesting there might still be a piece of the puzzle missing.
As the investigation continues, the community and authorities remain watchful for any new developments that could finally bring closure to this long-standing mystery.