I saw this news headline and a two-page article with much the same headline: that the disappearance of Cherrie Mahan twenty-five years ago today “lent hope” or “lends hope” to others.
I cannot fathom what it is about Cherrie’s case that inspires hope. The girl has been missing for twenty-five years. The police have no leads, no suspects, nothing to indicate her whereabouts or fate, even though she was missed within minutes with a good vehicle description besides. 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. What’s hopeful about that?
The Charley Project Blog 
I don’t know either. I think what the author of the article was trying to say was that the missing children flyers, of which Cherrie was the first person profiled, have helped many other abducted children be recovered.
I remember on the Tonight Show when they had newspaper headlines and print ads that were unintentionally funny or risqué. I think this is just another case of that.
I think what they’re trying to do here is say that her disappearance had something to do with the rise of the very archaic milk cartons that read “Have You Seen Me” and that for some weird reason this brings hope to others. I believe Etan Patz was one of the first kids, if not THE first, to be featured on a milk carton, 5 years before Cherrie disappeared, but I could be wrong.
Etan Patz was first, then Johnny Gosch.
(raises his hand)
I’d like to say something about that, please!
My friends and I have been interviewed by reporters several times about our missing friend Debbie Key, and we are often disappointed to find that the press very rarely (if ever) tells the story the same way we do.
The news media is a business.
They are more interested in getting ratings than in the story itself.
They like to paint it up to get reader’s attention.
Here’s a recent example.
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/nc_missing/621666/friends-hope-new-information-will-lead-to-justice
My friends were interviewed early last month, telling the same story we have told before, and they decide to title it, “Friends hope new information will lead to justice.” We all looked at this after the story was published and said, “What is the new information?”
Sorry, no new info here.
But hey! What a catchy title!
I mean, it get’s your attention, doesn’t it?
If you stretched it a bit, you could say that headline meant “Debbie’s friends hope some new information will come to light that will lead to justice.” Maybe…. But you’re probably right, probably it was the reporter being an idiot.
This is a very special and sad case for me. I grew up in the same county Cherie did and we are the same age. I clearly remember when this happened. There were posters everywhere and I personally posted and handed out fliers with pictures of Cherie and the van with my Girl Scout troop. I moved to VA in 1989 and haven’t heard much about her at all since she went missing. About a year ago, I received and ADVO ad in the mail that had her picture on it. It made me cry instantly to look at her face and realize that she still has not been found.
I think the article was directed at the ADVO ads that began with their first ad being Cherie Ann Mahan. I’m glad to hear that others have been found thru this method. I wish there was an ending for Cherie though.
Cherrie was indeed the first ADVO kid. Lots of kids are recovered from being seen on ADVO cards.
I am also from the area where Cherrie Mahan disappered (not the same county, but close).. I still remember watching on the News about her disapperance and Van…( I was also the same age as her when she went missing)… Her case is what has brought me to Charley Project and other websites.. I would love to just know what happened to her. It’s like she vanished into thin air!!!
Cherie was grabbed so quickly by that van and was probably used in the CIA sex ring that was active in the 80s. Most of those children were used for political purposes and were then murdered. This is what happened to Johnny Gosch, although he survived.
…Dude… whatever.
Dude….whatever yourself. This is a cover up that was blown out of the water by Johnny Gosch’s mother. Google her and read her webpage and you will see all of the stuff that happened….you won’t believe it. All the people who tried to expose it were mysteriously killed.
WHATEVER
I’m with Justin here. Go back and put on your tin foil hat.
I think govt agents would not use such a wildly conspicuous abduction vehicle. Also, why is Noreen Gosch still alive?
Not only is Noreen Gosch still alive, she spreads this theory wherever she can. If there’s some conspiracy going to keep people silent, it’s a really bad one.
I remember this case well as it was all over the Pittsburgh news for years and haunted me all through my childhood. Everytime us kids saw a strange van, we ran and hid. It’s one of the things that got me interested in missing persons cases.
Someone in my family just talked to Cherrie’s mom recently, not about Cherrie though. That was surprising because I thought she moved away. Nonetheless, it got me thinking about her and Googling any theories. That CIA thing was the only thing I came across because this case really clueless. I was too young to remember it, but you can’t not be attached when you drive past Cornplanter Road. One thing that is scary to think about but almost preferable is that it had to be someone in the community. It’s a small town. Twenty-five years ago, there probably would have been less reason for thru-traffic. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are people who maybe look the other way and ignored suspicions for a relative. I honestly have the strong feeling that someone is going to realize so much time has gone by that they have nothing to lose by getting something off their chest that ends up being a big break. It’s been 25 years and everyone here still knows her name.
I also remember the case of cherrie mahan. I too was praying that the women in michigan was her to finally givd everyone the answer to the question we have all been asking and that is what happened to cherie mahan. I feel so bad that for going on 27 yrs now her mother has had to wonder if she is still alive or dead. Keep praying that she is still alive because you never know. Terry proben was lucky to get her daughter jaycee dugard back alive after 18 yrs along with 2 beautilul grandaughters.