http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20110111/NEWS01/701119981
Tip brings hope of resolution
CNN looks at case in show Thursday
Eagle Staff Writer
Cherrie Mahan's missing person file is nearly 26 years old and 3,600 pages thick.
But it's not dusty.
Investigators say, coincidentally, a promising tipster has come forward with information about the case at the same time CNN plans to revisit the case as part of its network television series on the nation's top 10 cold cases.
“An individual has come forward to the Pennsylvania State Police whose information has the potential to bring resolution to this case,” said Trooper Robert McGraw, stressing that he's “truly optimistic” about this new development.
Cherrie, an 8-year-old who disappeared from her Winfield Township school bus stop Feb. 22, 1985, has long garnered attention near and far.
Witnesses who recalled seeing Cherrie get off the bus, also claimed seeing a bluish-green van with a painting of a mountain and a skier behind her bus as well as a small blue compact car nearby.
Because it was a nice day, Cherrie's stepfather, LeRoy McKinney, would later tell investigators he let the third grader walk the short distance to her Cornplanter Road home.
When she didn't arrive home, he went to the bus stop 10 minutes later and saw tire prints, but no Cherrie.
Her disappearance changed the way many people thought about the safety of their children and neighborhoods.
Her case, including the picture of the now familiar smiling, brown-haired girl, also was the first ever to appear on one of the national “Have you seen me?” missing person, direct mail flyers.
CNN reporter Randi Kaye said she covered the story then, and recalled meeting Cherrie's mother.
“This case has always stuck with me,” Kaye said. “I've thought a lot about it over the years.”
Kaye's segment on Cherrie's case will run Thursday at 10 p.m. and again at 11 p.m.
She interviewed McGraw, the fourth person to take the investigation lead, by telephone Thursday.
McGraw, who was 13 years old when Cherrie went missing, said that to this day not a week goes by that someone doesn't offer investigators information they believe will be helpful in resolving the mystery once and for all.
“We follow every lead,” he said, acknowledging the case keeps him up at night.
“I can't imagine if that was my daughter,” he said. “I can't imagine the pain her mother and stepfather must feel.”
McGraw, who took over the investigation about seven months ago, said he volunteered for it because he specializes in crimes against children and firmly believes this case will be solved.
More at link, long article.
ETA: Sorry, just realized that you need subscription to view this story, but the important detail of when the CNN show is airing is included in the above section that I copied here. I tried to find the story elsewhere and couldn't find anything. Again, I apologize, but I will leave the link for those who may be here who can view it.
