Karena McClerkin, 18: Attended A Party & Vanished In 2016
Karena "Ree" McClerkin is missing from Kokomo, IN
Karena told her grandmother she was going to meet up with a male friend on the way to a party. After leaving the party, surveillance cameras showed Karena at a BP gas station near the intersection of South Washington Street & West Markland Avenue on October 11th, 2016 at 10PM. Witnesses reported seeing Karena walk across the street, and go into the alley behind Little Ceasers, and got into a car with an unidentified person. At the time of her disappearance, Karena was 5'4, 130 pounds, and black & white w/ curly reddish-brown hair worn in a bun, brown eyes, and two tattoos including a round symbol on the inside of her right forearm & angel wings w/ "RIP" on her upper right arm; her ears & navel are pierced.
Karena was last seen wearing a black off-the-shoulder crop top, a gray hoodie, ripped jeans, brown sandals, glasses, and several bracelets on both wrists.
What Happened to Missing Indiana Teen Karena McClerkin?
Officials with the Kokomo Police Department are investigating, and a representative for the department told Dateline Tuesday morning the case is open and active. Investigators have reportedly searched several areas with cadaver dogs within the last month, according to Captain Tonda Cockrell.
"Every and all leads are being investigated," Captain Cockrell told Dateline. "The family has been updated on all searches. It's not just leads we're following up on, it's any and all avenues in relation to this case."
Karena's grandmother Gerry also wishes her granddaughter's face would be on the news as much as other cases from the surrounding area. "Because of her race and age and the situation, no one seems to care," Gerry told Dateline. "None of it means that she isn't important. Every person is important and that includes my granddaughter."
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-new...-family-begs-for-answers-on-her-disappearance
“I just want her found. Her family wants her found. It’s tore this family to pieces. Everybody is almost went their own way. They hold it in, they don’t let it out," Karena's grandmother, Gerry McClerkin, said.
It's been five years since Karena McClerkin was last seen alive and her family members continue to beg for someone to come forward with information about her disappearance.
"Over 500 miles in and around Kokomo from Jonesboro to Burlington, Peru...We have covered every woods we've driver by. We'd stop and knock on the door to see if we can walk through their woods," Gerry said.
Police have executed search warrants and pursued several leads in the case over the past two years, but have not turned up any information on where Karena could be.
The McClerkin family enlisted the services of four private investigators in 2018 to help them pursue some of those leads, including a tip from an inmate who believed she knew where Karena was buried. But that tip, like many others, didn't turn up anything new.
What Happened to Missing Indiana Teen Karena McClerkin?
Many of the stories are haunting. Gerry says she heard stories that Karena had been killed and buried in a tarp in a wooded area, or that Karena's body had been thrown into a waterway to hide the crime. Those are the tamest stories Gerry has been told. Because of it all, she doesn't believe Karena is still alive.
"It's just a horrible mess, and the things you hear just make you sick," Gerry said. "I didn't want to believe she was dead. It took me awhile to accept that idea."
Karena McClerkin, 18: Attended A Party & Vanished In 2016
“The last thing my granddaughter said to me – she held my hand and said, ‘I’ll be alright grandma, I’ll be alright,'” Gerry said.
WRTV did a follow-up report on this case in 2019 on the anniversary of Karena’s disappearance, stating that the teen left the party she said she was going to then walked to a nearby BP gas station. It was there that Karena was captured by surveillance cameras before witnesses claimed that they saw her get into a vehicle in an alley. The car and who Karena may have been with is unknown.
In 2018, there were even private investigators who agreed to tackle the case free of charge.
They were unsuccessful.
James McClerkin, Karena’s father, dedicated his life to finding his missing daughter early on. He reportedly lost jobs and had to move out of town in order to afford the ability to care for his other kids.
“You want somebody to listen to you … nobody’s listening,” Gerry said last year. “It’s just frustrating not to have any answers for an 18-year-old. She was a beautiful girl. It’s been four years. Four years too long. Every minute is a nightmare.” In a separate interview with reporters, Gerry stated, “There doesn’t have to be an
arrest. All that has to happen is that Karena be brought back, dead or alive. We don’t care who done it, we just want her back.”
A
reward is still being offered for information on her case.
The Kokomo police department issued the following statement marking five years since Karena's disappearance.
"On October 11, 2021, marks five years since Karena’s disappearance. We want to remind the public that her case remains an active investigation. In the past five years, Kokomo Police Department investigators have pursued numerous leads and tips but the case remains open. The Kokomo Police will continue to search for Karena McClerkin. Kokomo Police Department investigators believe someone knows what happened to Karena McClerkin.
This investigation can be resolved and ask that “if you know something, say something”. The Kokomo Police Department continues to ask for the community’s assistance. Anyone with any information that they believe may be helpful in locating Karena McClerkin is asked to contact Captain Mike Banush at (765) 456-7278, or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at (765) 456-7017."
Bring Karena McClerkin Home
Justice for Karena Mcclerkin
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
