cherrie mahan suspects cherrie mahan suspects

Michael Haim Arrested in the 23 Year Old Murder Investigation of Bonnie Haim. bus and heading down the hill towards her driveway. [15], Mahan was last seen exiting her school bus on Cornplanter Road on February 22, 1985. Cherrie was a tough little girl, she was growing up and fought (with the pedophile), Vincent said. to Cherrie or her disappearance. That van was very distinctive I wouldnt be surprised if it was destroyed shortly afterwards. The photo at right shows a computerized age-progression photo that shows what she might look like as a young woman. In 2020, McKinney revealed her conviction that although she does not believe Cherrie's biological father was involved in her abduction, she believes individuals known to him were. However, their early efforts were hampered by a thick fog, which covered the region. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. However, none of their efforts led to any new or useful information. They are reviewing some of the files of the case, a voluminous dive into 5,000 typewritten reports, plus notes, attachments, photos and more, said Trooper Max DeLuca, who has been leading the investigation. She was declared legally dead in November 1998. Mahan's biological father remains a "person of interest" in the child's abduction. third grade. Cherrie Ann Mahan (August 14, 1976 - disappeared February 22, 1985; declared legally dead November 5, 1998) was an eight-year-old American girl who disappeared on February 22, 1985, after disembarking a school bus approximately fifty feet from the base of the driveway to her home in rural Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Cherrie has a cowlick on the right side of her hair. Cherrie was officially declared dead in November 1998. [12], Pennsylvania State Police continue to receive tips and updates relating to Mahan's disappearance. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. This woman is one of many who disappeared while taking a cruise to a foreign land. Both pilots were forced to eject and although his other pilot escaped Arad was captured by the Lebanese Amal. She stayed up drinking until the middle of the night with the cruise ship band and then went back to her room. At the time of her disappearance, she was 4'2" tall and. CHERRIE ANN MAHAN Birth: 8/14/1976 - Death: Unknown (Legally ~ 1998) Ethnicity: Caucasian - Sex: Female Height: 4'2" - Weight: 58 lbs Hair Color: Brown - Eye Color: Hazel Other: She has a cowlick on the right side of her hair and has both ears pierced She has scars on her left arm from the dog bite According to Chilling Crime, Mahan, along with three other children, exited the bus at approximately 4:10 p.m. Debbie Burk was parked in her van at the bus stop, waiting for her two children and another child who she had agreed to drive home. Two sketches of the vehicle are posted with this case summary. The van has never been located or identified and investigators are still not sure if it was connected to Cherrie's case. Eventually, suspect Bruno Richard Hauptmann was . And in the follow up they mention that after this new report initially aired on local TV in the past few days, the local cops said they have received DOZENS of new tips in the past few days. daily newspaper in the nation. There is only one similar story of a child being murdered in Ireland, that of Robert Holohan in January 2005. Those tips have prompted them to renew their call for anyone else with even small bits of info who were in the Cabot, Butler County, PA area that February 22, 1985 or who know information about the case to come forward with their information: Contact the State Police Butler barracks at 724-284-8100 with any info. Though he has never been charged in the case both Aylas mother and police believe that hes been less than forthcoming about the details of that night. . SC - Paul Murdaugh & mom Margaret Found Shot To Death - Alex Murdaugh Accused - Islandton #28. McKinney gathered a group to pray Tuesday on the anniversary of her disappearance. BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. Thirty-eight years have passed since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan stepped off her school bus in Cabot, Butler County, but never arrived home. Now, Birckbichler is an No arrests have ever been made in her case and no suspects have been identified in the case. There is no evidence received that puts her in the van, DeLuca said. In 1994, they learned the man had abducted and killed one child and attempted to abduct another. A pedophile still is a possibility, McKinney said. He was then brought to Beirut where he was leveraged against Lebanese prisoners held in Israel. Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus on February 22, 1985, and hasn't been seen since. Morbidology Podcast The article continues below Pedro Hernandez confessed to the murder before his Miranda Rights had been read. The Mysterious Death of the Isdal Woman. You kiss 'em in the face, you put them in the ground, and you say goodbye. To this day the baby remains missing. Hair: Brown. "Someone knows what happened to her for sure. After KDKA's report of a new. The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan By Emily G. Thompson. [41][42], Addressing the media following the conclusion of these legal proceedings, Janice McKinney stated: "When people die, you have a body. [37], A further line of inquiry investigators pursued dates from 2014, when investigators pursued a tip that Mahan was alive and living under an assumed name in Michigan. On 22 February, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan hopped off her school bus in Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Cherrie Mahan was last seen stepping off a school bus in Winfield Township on Feb. 22, 1985. . Whatever happened to her occurred during the walk to her house, police said. Law enforcement and Butler's psychic sisters are frustrated by a 38-year search for a suspect in the abduction of Cherrie Mahan from a rural bus stop in Winfield Township. ", Although Cherrie Mahan was declared legally dead, her family refused to hold a funeral service. On Feb. 22, 1985 she got off her bus along Cornplanter Road in the town of Cabot. Cherrie Mahan only had to walk around the corner and go up her 150-foot driveway to make it home where her parents were waiting for her. The free online system can be searched by coroners, law enforcement officers, and medical examiners. These alibi drop off points were just four miles from each other. . She still remains missing. This was the last time that she was seen. Info soughtAnyone with information on the disappearance of Cherrie Mahan in Winfield Township, Butler County, on Feb. 22, 1985, is asked to contact Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers online with a tip ($5,000 reward), or call Pennsylvania State Police Missing Persons Unit at 724-284-8100, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678. Although she did not witness anything unusual, Chilling Crimes reports Burk said she did notice another van parked at the corner Mahan would have to pass. But they are trying. based on something somebody claimed to have seen around the time of Cherries If nothing else, she'll always be [alive] in our hearts. The story of her disappearance was also reported on CNN in January 2011 because of possible new evidence, but this evidence was never released. Their last time being seen in public was while they were being arrested by former Collier County Sheriff's deputy Corporal Steve Calkins. Eventually the FBI was called in to assist in the search yet no clues turned up. One of the main suspects in the murder in the infamous Zodiac Killer. Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. Little Etan Patz disappeared his very first time walking to the school bus on his own. Now, nearly 26 years after she vanished, the lead investigator says there could be a break in the . The van was following the school bus Cherrie had been riding in. He didnt answer his phone the rest of the weekend, eventually missing a flight to Miami that had been long planned with his girlfriend. However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. While there have been rumors and focus on Cherries family and acquaintances, DeLuca doesnt want to rule anyone out. ", Download the WPXI News App for the latest investigations from Target 11, Last summer, McKinney received a handwritten letter detailing who killed her daughter, why they did itand where her body could be found. When ten minutes had elapsed and Mahan had not arrived, her mother and stepfather began to worry. In an interview with 11 News, Jendesky said the search for Mahan had been terribly "frustrating." All of this information led police to believe that Murray wanted to disappear, but many people still believe that she was kidnapped. The letter, signed by someone calling themselves Pastor Justice, ended: "I pray you find some peace after you find her body.". The mission went awry when a bomb exploded prematurely which damaged the aircraft. We almost hit Leroy. However, Mahan's horrifying disappearance changed everything. We grew up together. Because of this, his first trial went to retrial. A thorough search of Butler County was bolstered by an estimated 250 local volunteers, although these searches failed to locate the child. Murray also conducted online research and made bookings at hotels in various areas on the east coast. [33][n 6] Lacking any conclusive evidence to the contrary, investigators have not discounted the possibility Mahan may still be alive. Authorities also sent letters to people who were incarcerated to ask whether they had heard anything about the missing girl from other inmates. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. [6], Mahan's disappearance is one of the most infamous unsolved missing child cases in the United States. The only physical evidence suggesting anything unusual happened was a set of tire tracks in the snow where Burk said the other van was parked. Four of the attendees of this annual dinner are close friends of Mahan, who have each publicly stated the disappearance of their friend has had a profound impact on their lives, and that becoming mothers themselves has increased their empathy for Janice McKinney's sense of loss.[44]. He later recollected he had intended to walk down the 150-yard driveway to meet his stepdaughter before his wife said: "No, it's a nice day. Many believed that Tara Calico was kidnapped near her home in Belen, New Mexico. In 2012 police released that over a cup full of Aylas blood was adjacent to her fathers bed. "That's all I pray for all the time is just to know. These detectives officially determined his death a kidnapping and murder. Efforts to locate Mahan, alive or deceased, are ongoing. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle Cary Shaffer Psychic sisters Suzzanne and Jean Vincent will be going to Cornplanter Road on Wednesday to the site where Cherrie Mahan was abducted 33 years ago. But the young man never arrived. You kiss [them upon] the face, you put them in the ground, and you say goodbye that's something I never had. He told police that they lived together amicably but on the same day as her disappearance Lisa filed a court order to have him removed from their home. Well always look She was abducted after getting off her school bus and has never been seen or h Live Streams Local Mother still. [12], In January 2011, Pennsylvania police received a new tip they deemed as "potentially crucial to the investigation in the future". Another person saw Cherrie walk past the van which was seen parked at the side CABOT, Pa. Thirty-four years ago, on Feb. 22, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off the school bus in Cabot but never made it home. When Cherrie Mahan was abducted, investigators had little to go on, but they have investigated numerous leads over the years. However, since the bombshell announcement in June 2020 about new prime suspect Christian B - public progress has been slow. Cherrie Mahan, born August 14, 1976, was an eight-year-old child from Butler County, Pennsylvania when she was abducted on Friday, February 22, 1985 around 4o'clock pm, just moments after stepping off the school bus, which was approximately 100 yards from her home along a road in rural Winfield Township. After repeatedly calling him Clint and his lady friend waited outside for Shaffer to emerge. This was the last time that she was seen. This is not over. Earlier that evening her mother reports that the waiters tried to invite her out to Carlosn Charlies and she refused. premonition.4, The case gradually went cold. The 1986 investigation utilized hundreds of officers and divers who searched lakes, forests, and everywhere for Philip Cairns. Editor's note: "AC360" is investigating some of the nation's most notorious cold cases. Although police continue to run down every tip received, they need something more solid, DeLuca said. Law enforcement and Butler's psychic sisters are frustrated by a 38-year search for a suspect in the abduction of Cherrie Mahan from a rural bus stop in Winfield Township. We feel this is the right time and someone is feeling remorse or guilt. of the road. Its every mothers dream to have a child graduate, go on to college and get married. There were also two other people in the home at the time of Aylas disappearance, her fathers girlfriend and his sister. Arad was captured by a Shiite group and handed over to Hezbollah while on a mission over Lebanon. McKinney of Jefferson Township is the director of the housekeeping department at Washington Place in Richland Township. In 1985, eight-year-old Cherrie Mahan exited the school bus near her house. At this event, stories and memories of Cherrie are shared. Burk saw Cherrie walking past a bluish-green Dodge van and then turn the corner to walk the last 150 . Mahan was then observed to walk past a bluish-green van which had parked near the bus stop[10][n 2][18] and turn a corner to walk the approximately 150-yard uphill driveway to her home. Unfortunately, she never made it home from her adventure. The disappearance of Cherrie Mahan is one of the most infamous unsolved missing child cases in America. Patch earmuffs, blue leg warmers and a denim skirt. 2nd annual 'Restaurant Ramble' features 10 downtown New Kensington eateries, New Kensington woman accused of letting toddler eat pot-laced candy to stand trial, Woman accused of punching Allegheny Valley Hospital guard, biting second one arrested on felony charges, Multiple felony charges filed against Cheswick man accused of being serial shoplifter at Walmart, Feds announce 57 arrests in Operation Lake Effect bust of fentanyl, meth ring, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies after brain aneurysm, TV Talk: Mel Brooks History of the World, Part II belatedly arrives on Hulu, Models strut the runway with their canines for the Bark and Swagger Dog Fashion Show, Caf Momentum Pittsburgh offers 2nd chance to those exiting juvenile facilities, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source, From 2020: Cherrie Mahan's mysterious disappearance haunts her mother 35 years later, From 2014: Investigation continues in case of Cherrie Mahan, missing for decades, From 2005: Girl's disappearance remains a mystery 20 years later. Janice McKinney on Wednesday, Feb. 22, holds a photo of her missing daughter, Cherrie Mahan, who was 6 years old when the photo was taken. On her trail, several items were found, including her broken walkman, headphones, and phone. Trying to find information about this case is frustrating at best. I can't imagine if that was my child. "I think about her all the time, I pray for her every night, I pray for her every morning," Janice says. Height: 4'2. "I truly believe that there is someone out there that knows exactly what happened," she says. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The police did not believe the rape allegation and Cherrie's biological father was never charged. Although the FBI eventually joined the search, they were also unsuccessful. Her case info. [8], Cherrie Ann Mahan[n 1] was born in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, on August 14, 1976. DeLuca said state police take tips from the sisters and run them down as they do with all the tips they receive. Pa. police officer shot while responding to call: reports . Watch nightly at 10 ET. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website, The 10 Most Expensive Things Owned By The Rothschilds, 15 Mysterious Disappearances Thatll Never Be Solved, John Wick's Garage: 10 Crazy Expensive Motorcycles In Keanu Reeves' Collection, The 10 Most Expensive Purchases Of Kelly Clarkson, Ranked, Seth Rogen And Lauren Miller Recall Snoop Dogg Once Auctioned Off A Blunt For $10,000 To Benefit Alzheimer's Charity, A Peek Inside David Beckham's Insane Car Collection, Sylvester Stallone And Jennifer Flavin Canceled Their Divorce And Reconcile Their Marriage, Rihanna Confirmed To Be The First Ever Performer For Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, 8 Outrageous Ways Joel Osteen Spends His Massive $100 Million Fortune, Deadpool Biker's Club: Inside Ryan Reynolds' Expensive Motorcycle Collection, Sharon Osbourne Demands $900,000 Donation To BLM Be Returned, The 10 Most Expensive Superyachts In The World, As Of 2022, Lawyer Reveals How Tom Brady & Giseles Prenup Affects Their Divorce, Actress And Producer Sandra Bullock Lists Her Southern California Avocado Ranch for $6 Million, These Are The 10 Most Expensive Penthouses In The World, Angelina Jolie Countersues Brad Pitt Over Winery, Exposes Alleged Abuse, Calvin Klein Has Tapped Stranger Things Star Maya Hawke For Their Newest Campaign, The 10 Greatest Billboard Hits Of Nicki Minaj, Ranked, Here's How Drew Barrymore Made Her $125 Million Fortune, Johnny Depp Allegedly Dating Lawyer Joelle Rich From His Libel Trial. Someone has to know something.. Just read another article about it this morning that said that. Instead, Amy stayed on the ship with her brother and took in a show then stayed out until the wee hours partying together. On the evening of January 5, 2006, Pichler was in good spirits while he played cards with friends. Jedesky retired in 2011, and another trooper was assigned to continue investigating Mahan's case. Immediately after his disappearance 100 police officers and bloodhounds searched his SoHo neighborhood high and low for him. Calicos mother requested that she bring mace on her rides but the young woman shrugged her off. State police in Butler continue their search for Cherrie Mahan, who was last seen at age 8 on Feb. 22, 1985, when she exited her school bus on Cornplanter Road, Winfield Township, Butler County. The terrain around her home was extensively searched with the assistance of bloodhounds and helicopters, and investigators conducted house to house inquiries. Janice was a single mother for several years before she met and married Vietnam veteran LeRoy McKinney. Burk was adamant this Dodge van had also followed the school bus, recounting this sighting in April 1985, Burk stated: "I sat in the car and watched the kids get off. Active Missing People reports that the description matches the van Debbie Burk saw parked on the corner Cherrie Mahan would have passed on her way home. Friends and family gather around Janice McKinney, the mother of Cherrie Mahan, at the base of her former driveway where the 8-year-old girl was reportedly abducted in 1985. Cherrie was last seen getting off the school bus 150 yards from her home in Saxonburg, PA, on February 22, 1985. Her birth father had never The purple ink is stenciled from a note in Cherries handwriting when she was 6 that says I love you, Cherrie.. The person who I said was her father never wanted to admit to it, she said. Louise made friends with another mother in the neighborhood a bit of time before she disappeared. Home Mysteries The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan. I dont think that I ever knew somebody or anybody who knew me had that streak in them to do something this crazy, McKinney said. Early on in the investigation, it was theorised that Cherrie had At the time of her disappearance, Lisa Stebic lived with her two children and husband Craig. Although the circumstances were difficult, Janice formed a close bond with her daughter, and the publication described their relationship as "extremely close." WINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - Almost 35 years later, Cherrie Mahan's mother still lives in Butler County, and she wants to know what happened to her daughter. They frequently left messages for each other with family to keep in touch. Its very News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. (CNN) - Cherrie Mahan was 8 years old when she disappeared from her bus stop one day after school in 1985. People who saw her reported a blue or green . Cherie Mahan Addresses. He was eventually convicted of murder and kidnapping, so while this was a "solved" kidnapping we sure you won't blame us for endingwith a positive resolution. Cherrie Mahan's family and members of law enforcement gathered at the Saxonburg Memorial Church 30 years after her unsolved disappearance. This young woman was celebrating her high school graduation with friends in Aruba in 2005. [27], Investigators quickly discounted any possibility Mahan had been kidnapped for a ransom;[28][n 4] concluding the child most likely knew her abductor or abductors, although all family members were quickly eliminated as suspects. I can't imagine the pain her mother must wake up with every day. He had a chance to speak with a guy who, as a boy, got off at the same bus stop as Cherrie did. "[38], Cherrie Mahan's family and friends hold an annual remembrance dinner at a restaurant in East Butler on a date close to each anniversary of her disappearance. Sources:charleyproject.organdinternationalcruisevictims.org. A local songwriter even wrote a song for Cherrie and several just tell he was numb, said Kathleen Yates, a neighbour. The Disappearance of Cherrie Mahan. Cherrie was last seen getting off of her school bus 37 years ago. She turned the letter over to policebut never heard back. It was right behind me.". After checking with her friends, the Mckinneys realized something was terribly wrong and contacted authorities to report the girl as a missing person. And police are hoping in there somewhere, they'll find the answer to Cherrie's disappearance. kept saying, My little girls gone. The girl has been missing for twenty-five years. Over time and all of the stuff we looked into, including family members, the case is open and no one is clear beyond a reasonable doubt until this thing is solved, DeLuca said. What happened to Cherrie Mahan? When 8-year-old Cherrie got off the bus that day, Janice says she didn't just evaporate. Police can only hope to receive more viable, solid tips from someone with direct knowledge. There is so little out there and its scattered everywhere. transferred to her brother.6 This is not over. This was the first time that a missing child was put on a milk carton. In addition, Kofluk said, he and Maurer are starting at square one with the old police report, evidence and crime scene information.. and Leroy McInney heard the school bus coming up the road just as they did Emphasizing her belief that an anonymous tip from the public could finally give herself and her family the closure they crave, McKinney stated to the media: "I just wish someone would come forth and tell me what happened. The only lead in the investigation that was released reported a van that was near the school bus when the children emerged. Subscribe to WTAE . Chuck Hadad AC360 Producer. In the day before the minor car accident where she was last seen Murray was acting emotionally and erratically. Despite the fact that the case was declared cold, Pennsylvania State Trooper Frank Jendesky continued working on the case for 15 years. His family reported him missing on January 16, 2006. He duly noted the bare facts: Cherrie Mahan was born Aug. 14, 1976. I just love learning new things, interesting facts, mind-boggling lists and obscure knowledge every day! [36] However, investigators did state this "potentially crucial" information indicates Mahan is unlikely to still be alive. Leroy wasnt Cherries birth-father. [7] The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children featured Mahan as the first missing child to be depicted upon postcards distributed nationwide alongside a headline reading, "Have You Seen Me?" "Not him personally, but the people that he knows, yes," she says. The van had a snow-capped mountain and skier mural painted on both sides of the vehicle. Oil City police officer injured during arrest of assault suspect in Venango County. Cherrie's case has never been solved. She would drive Robert to and from school, and even walks him into the building. Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 after hopping off her school bus. The state police in butler are waiting for your call. She was my life". She was abducted after getting off her school bus and has never been seen or h. . The Vincent sisters, psychics from Butler County, will walk and pray with Mahans mother, Janice McKinney, to memorialize Cherrie and observe her disappearance at 4:05 p.m. today at McKinneys former home along Cornplanter Road in Winfield. acknowledged her or attempted to have any kind of relationship wit abducted, she refused to let herself consider the fact that she could be deceased. People didnt talk about it then. It sucks the life out of me.. Its a unique case in the fact that it happened in an area that is so rural, he said. The travesty of decades-long missing person cases is that the family cannot even deal with the persons estate and belongings until they are declared dead. Cherrie was last seen getting off of the bus from her elementary school at approximately 4:05 p.m. on February 22, 1985. I hope someone comes through with some good firsthand knowledge, DeLuca said. Aylas mother was the primary caretaker but she was staying with her father for an overnight visit. Other children on the bus and a neighbour told police that they I feel we have a good chance of solving this, the women said. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/02/18/mother-police-still-searching-for-butler-county-girl-cherrie-mahan/, https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/4452856-cherrie-mahans-mother-still-searching-35-years-after-disappearance/. scene. for Cherries safe return.3 Local businesses pledged another $10,000 for information Shaffer had gone out for a nice steak dinner with his father earlier in the evening before going out to party with his friend Clint that night. Hello world! She got off the bus with three other children. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Cherrie Mahan was the first individual to whom this initiative was used in efforts to locate a missing child. 1 of 2. . The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children featured Mahan as the first missing child to be depicted upon postcards distributed nationwide alongside a headline reading "Have You Seen Me?" In a strange and elaborate tale, Calkins explained that he had dropped both men off at Circle K convenience stores. Although authorities have not released the actual contents of the letter, they confirmed it included specific names and locations, which were thoroughly investigated. This figure has since greatly increased. Mahan's local community raised $39,000 as a reward for Mahan's safe return,[19] with a local business also pledging an additional $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of her abductor or abductors. But she does not believe he was involved in her disappearance? Cherrie Mahan is still missing a total of 30 years after the initial disappearance. Cherrie had to walk 50 feet from the bus stop to her driveway. Find The Missing/YouTube. Its a kidnapping. We are always looking, and that person is never forgotten. A blue van with a mountain and skier on the side was parked near her driveway, according to eyewitness reports. Target 11: Police Seek DNA In Cherrie Mahan Case Posted: 3:47 pm EDT June 13, 2011Updated: 5:20 pm EDT June 14, 2011 ::snipping2:: PITTSBURGH -- Cherrie Mahan vanished from a Butler County neighborhood 26 years ago. The Vincent sisters dont think Cherrie is alive but they hold out hope for the family. Today marks 38 years since 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan disappeared in Butler County. Now, nearly 26 years after she vanished, the lead investigator says there could be a break in the case. According to 11 News, authorities conducted an extensive search of a hunting camp along the Allegheny River, as the letter indicated Mahan was killed and her remains were buried somewhere on the property. family sought this action so that a trust fund in Cherries name could be Nonetheless, Janice doted on her daughter, who grew into a friendly, talkative child,[10] later stating: "We were always together. 19th February 2020. The case was never solved but it was picked back up by the Manhattan District Attorneys office in 2010. personal computer for volunteers to keep track of addresses. searchers could barely see further than a few feet in front of them. A distinctive van had been following the school bus and it was theorized whoever was in this van, abducted Cherrie. They combed through the farmland and fields List Enthusiast. Latest: arielilane; 2 minutes ago; [] Morbidology reports Cherrie Mahans family and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation went to great lengths to make sure every media outlet and newspaper in the United States would distribute information about Mahan and the mysterious van.