NC - Matthew (40), Keara (12), & Sierra (11) Hess - Mooresville

[Hucklepie]

http://www2.statesville.com/content/2009/sep/24/information-sought-missing-girls/

Matthew Hess left with his two daughters, 12-year-old Keara and 11-year-old Sierra, either Wednesday night (Sep 23) or Thursday morning and has not been seen or heard from since. He left a note for his wife that was found Thursday morning, saying that he was taking the girls to get some school supplies and then to school. Neither girl was at school on Thursday.

The article above mentions that Keara is in need of an immediate medical procedure that the dad may not know about, making it all the more urgent that she return home. I haven't seen an article yet that specifies what the procedure is, but classmates of Keara's have posted comments saying that Keara is pregnant and very near her due date.

There is no Amber Alert because the girls were taken by a custodial parent, but the link I posted above has a description of the vehicle.

[STEADFAST]

The twelve-year-old may be pregnant?! Hope they are found safe soon!

[SewingDeb]

I hope they are found soon!

[Idaho4Groenes]

This article says that Keara is 9 months pregnant. Wow.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/21127454/detail.html

Praying that they are found very soon.

[Hucklepie]

I'm glad the TV news has picked up the pregnancy angle, because I was skeptical when the only "confirmation" of pregnancy was coming from Keara's classmates commenting on the news articles.

The second article calls Hess their stepfather... I think this is the first time I've heard that he's their stepfather and not biological father? I could be mistaken on that though.

[Idaho4Groenes]

This article also says he is a step-father or adoptive father.


Pregnant 12-year-old missing with sister, adoptive father

[snip]

There’s currently no Amber Alert because the girls weren’t abducted; they were taken by a custodial parent. However, authorities do have an order from a judge to turn Keara and Sierra over to the Department of Social Services when they’re found.

Investigators say the girls’ adoptive father, Matthew Hess, took them.

[snip]

Jeanette Hess said there is an ongoing child neglect investigation into them by the Department of Social Services by both Iredell and Lincoln counties.

She said that she had an idea of who the father is, but now, she's not sure.

More:
http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/top_stories/615251/pregnant-12-year-old-missing-with-sister--adoptive-father/ (http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/top_stories/615251/pregnant-12-year-old-missing-with-sister--adoptive-father/)

[spclk]

I am certainly NOT defending this man who took these children.....but, I did read in the comments section of our local paper that the girl was pregnant by a freshman in high school, I just pray these girls and the baby are safe.

[hoppyfrog]

Dear Posters:

This thread, like all in this forum, are for information and family support, not opinion, speculation or discussion. There are other forums at WS for that.

Thanks,

Hoppy

[dreamweaver]

I hope these two girls and the step father are found very soon.
It seems there is a whole lot of stuff going on in the background.

But the girls need to be somewhere safe and have everyone know they are safe.
The 12 yr old needs pre natal care and seemingly, maybe a hospital in which to have the baby. I hope she has been receiving good prenatal care all along.

Prayers for their safety.

[dreamweaver]

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&LanguageCountry=en_US&searchLang=en_US&caseLang=en_US&orgPrefix=NCMC&caseNum=1131936&seqNum=1
Keara.

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewChildDetail&caseNum=1131936&orgPrefix=NCMC&seqNum=2&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US
Sierra.

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewCsawDetail&caseNum=1131936&orgPrefix=NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US
Mathew Hess.
All missing for 5 days now.

[dreamweaver]

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/09/28/No-sign-of-missing-North-Carolina-girls/UPI-86891254155488/
This story says Keara 9 months pregnant and due to give birth this last weekend.


http://www.digtriad.com/news/most_popular/article.aspx?storyid=130955&provider=top
No activity on Mathew H bank account. Maybe this means he had cash with him?

[dreamweaver]

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11207915
An interesting new item.
Mathew Hess is the girls legal guardian. He has been married to their mother
for 11 yrs.
Keara had supposedly named a young person as the possible father of her unborn child.
And it looks like they packed for a length stay away.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-092809-mw-missing-mooresville-girls.1c4774d08.html
Now this article says they did not pack for a long time.
Maybe no one knows for sure.
Looks like Mathew and the girls just came back to live with the mom this summer.
Keara's doctor says the baby needs medical attention.

[3dogmom]

A video on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/09/29/fogerty.nc.missing.girls.WCCB

[dreamweaver]

FOUND alive and safe.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-093009-mw-missing-girls-found.1ced8263b.html

[dreamweaver]

from above link: FOUND

'snipped' from story :

Two missing sisters from Mooresville have been found safe in Tennessee.
Officials said Keara and Siera Hess are being taken to a local hospital in Tennessee for examination.
The girls were found with their father, Matthew Hess. The three had been missing since last Wednesday.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says Tennessee authorities contacted them this morning, saying they had found the family. Keara is still pregnant and will be treated by a physician in Tennessee, according to Iredell County officials.

Matthew Hess is being held in custody by Tennessee authorities. Iredell County officials say they are asking the district attorney to file charges against Hess for not getting medical care for Keara.
'snippped'

[dreamweaver]

http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7702&Itemid=1
They were found when their faded green car was stopped by police.

[dreamweaver]

http://www.wbt.com/news/details.cfm?article_id=48143
More charges against the dad.

[SmattNC]

More charges (http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-100409-mk-adoptive_father_more_charges.1e35dd197.html)
This family is friends of friends, He is the girls' step-father, but adopted them before he divorced their mother, so he is both their stepfather and adopted father. When he and the mother seperated his two stepkids went to live with him while his three biological kids lived with the mother. (Social services now has custody of all 5 kids plus Keara's baby)
SM