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. McKinney stands at the last known location of her daughter, who was
8 years old when she disappeared in 1985 on Cornplanter Road in Winfield Township. Cary Shaffer/Butler
Eagle
CARY SHAFFER
Cherrie Mahan’s mother still searching for answers
by Molly Miller and Eddie Trizzino
The Butler Eagle
February 23, 2023
Janice McKinney doesn’t get many updates these days about the potential whereabouts of her daughter,
Cherrie Mahan, but when a rare message does come along, she can get emotional.
Recently, McKinney saw a rendering of what the adult Cherrie, who was 8 at the time of her disappearance
Feb. 22, 1985, might look like today, 38 years later.
“I was at work and the woman came in with the picture of her and I just started crying because it looked
just like Cherrie,” McKinney said. “When they’re growing up you never realize what they’re going to look like.
I pray that it looks like her.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, McKinney performed her ritual commemorating the anniversary of her daughter’s
disappearance at 1136 Cornplanter Road in Winfield Township. She walked up and down the street where
she and Cherrie used to live, and then gathered in a circle with her close friends to pray for the best.
On that Friday in 1985, Cherrie got off the school bus near 1136 Cornplanter Road, according to the bus
driver and students who were on the bus at the time. There were reports that Cherrie was taken into a van
painted with a decal of a skier on a mountain.
Law enforcement refers to Cherrie’s disappearance as a kidnapping, as does her mother. Cherrie was
declared legally dead in 1998 and the judge set her death date as Feb. 22, 1992, seven years after her
disappearance. Yet, McKinney is still hoping someone will come forward with information about her.
“Every single day I think about Cherrie,” McKinney said. “Truthfully, I’m feeling hopeful, and I’m always going
to be hopeful that somebody says something.”
Continuing investigation
The case of Cherrie’s disappearance continues to be investigated, according to Trooper Josh Black, state
police public information officer for Troop D.
Black said new leads on the case are welcomed by police, but the case has become less talked about over
the years.
“It’s still an open case in our criminal investigation unit. In older cases in general, the trouble is getting in
touch with people; they may move. Older cases, you’re running into people passing away that we want to
contact,” he said.
Black said part of the process is going back through old files and talking to old suspects, witnesses and
family members.
Any information could mean a break in the case, he added.
“If someone recalls something from that day, if they overheard something or saw something on social
media, you should always call to let us look into it further,” he said. “Even if you think it’s insignificant, we
still want you to call. Let the investigators determine that.”
Black said tips can be shared by calling Troop D Barracks at 724-284-8100, or submitting information
anonymously through Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at crimewatchpa.com/crimestoppers.
A photo of Cherrie’s face was the first to appear on the “Have you seen me?” ads produced by the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Mother’s search
McKinney said another reason she continues to observe the anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance is
to keep her name around in case anyone might have some information.
“This is my mission, to make everybody aware,” McKinney said. “I think the more light that is shed on the
case, the better the chances will be.”
Carol Hines, McKinney’s sister from Saxonburg, said many people from the community still support McKinney
and her hope for answers.
“When she says hopeful, that’s what parents who have lost their kids should be,” Hines said. “That’s what
keeps you going; you have to have hope.”
McKinney said she still thinks about the wrongness of her 8-year-old daughter being taken from the school
bus stop, which is another aspect of the case that keeps her motivated.
“Cherrie didn’t deserve to be taken and that breaks my heart,” McKinney said. “People think I forget, but it’s
always on my mind.”
