Where is Andrea Hayslette? No Child Should Have to Wait 19 Years to Know

As I opened my computer this morning, I saw a story that, once again, touched my heart deeply; a 24 year old son doing an interview pleading for knowledge about his missing mother. As the tourist season on the Grand Strand in South Carolina is preparing to open, with headlines about all the latest attractions, we have forgotten a story that one family lives with each and every day.

It's reported that in 1990, Larry Hayslette, Andrea Hayslette's husband and father of her two children, was convicted of a charge of domestic violence against Andrea, an incident where he attacked her in the shower, held her hostage in a locked bathroom for hours, then tried to make her leave the home, still naked. She stated that Larry was often violent if under the influence of alcohol.

In 1993 Andrea Hayslette was a straight A student at  local Coastal Carolina University where she also held a part time job. She was married and the mother of two small children, a devoted mother, preparing for a career in marketing and communications, getting ready to take her final exams.  One of the things in her regular routine was taking her two children to the library in Surfside Beach twice a week. By all accounts of both friends and family, Andrea would never leave her children behind, so to assume that she somehow walked away from her life doesn't add up.

On April 24, 1993, Andrea was last seen by a neighbor at the Deer Track Villas in Surfside Beach where the family of 4 lived. By April 28, 4 days later, she was reported missing by her parents because it was not in her character to be out of communication with them for that length of time, and to be away from her two small children. Her truck and her van, along with all of her clothing and jewelry, were still at the home, but missing was her suitcase, toothbrush, her purse and other personal identifying items.

When her parents returned from a trip to Disney World with grandson, Ryan, his younger sister, Katie, only 2 years old at the time, stated that "Daddy put Mommy in those bushes." Because of her young age, this statement was not allowed to be presented in court, but led investigators to believe that foul play existed and Larry Hayslette became the number one suspect.

By May 24, 1993, a mere four weeks after Andrea disappeared, Larry Hayslette returned to his father's in West Virginia, returning to Surfside Beach one time after that to gather his belongings and move back there. Family court judge awarded Andrea's parents permanent custody of her two small children, a move that was definitely in their best interest considering some of the headlines we read today.

Eventually, in 1995, Larry Hayslette was convicted of forging Andrea's signature on the title of her vehicle for the purpose of selling it, and in 1996 he was charged with Andrea's murder, however, the charges were dropped in 1997 for lack of evidence and this case has grown cold over the years.

Here we are today in April of 2012 still without answers or justice for Andrea Hayslette and her family. Along the Grand Strand we have a couple high profile, nationally known, missing persons. Alice Donovan's case came to a close in 2009, 6 years after she was abducted from Conway's WalMart parking lot, when her remains were finally found, and Brittanee Drexel who vanished from an Ocean Blvd. hotel while on Spring Break in 2009, yet we haven't heard much about Andrea Hayslette and the circumstances surrounding her case.

What can we in our community do to help find the answers? With so many advances in technology in the last 19 years, including DNA and social media, we can do a lot to at least bring the name Andrea Hayslette back into the forefront.  News pieces like the one today from WPDE, Carolina Live, helps tremendously, it's this piece that brought my attention to the case, and I'm sure there are others in the area who were not aware of it before. Registering the case with a missing persons organization like CUE Center for Missing Persons located in Wilmington, NC,also raises the awareness level and continues to educate the public on the fact that she is still missing, and offers advocacy for the family and for the case.

The family can continue to make noise publicly and on social media networks to bring awareness back to the investigation. Clues are there, we just need to find them, and to assist investigators in bringing a resolution and justice for Andrea and her family. Over 19 years memories tend to lapse, but someone knows something and has been living with it all this time; hopefully they hold the key and will come forward.

If you feel you have that key, please reach out and contact Horry County Police, Lt. Russell Jordan at 843-915-5350. Case #1993-00014009

NamUs MP # 10575

Case Information

Status	Missing
First name	Andrea
Middle name	Lynn
Last name	Hayslette
Nickname/Alias
Date LKA	April 24, 1993 00:00
Date entered	05/04/2011

Age LKA	29 to years old
Age now	48 years old
Race	White
Ethnicity
Sex	Female
Height (inches)	64.0
Weight (pounds)	100.0

Information for this article gathered from the following sources:

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=745973#.T5kg46tYvoO

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/h/hayslette_andrea.html 

http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?p=846784

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-09-05/news/9309050403_1_reburn-hayslette-andrea

http://doenetwork.org/cases/2979dfsc.html

ImaginePublicity Sponsors Tour Stop to Remember the Missing Persons of South Carolina

On Saturday, October 29 at 10am family members of the missing, along with members of the community, law enforcement, media and speakers will gather at Chapin Park at 1400 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.  South Carolina has approximately 125 known open missing persons cases, some recent and many that have gone cold.  ImaginePublicity hopes to add to the awareness of each of them by hosting a stop along the CUE Center for Missing Persons’ Road to Remember Tour in Myrtle Beach.

Each year CUE Center for Missing Persons hits the road across several states in order to bring awareness to communities of the magnitude of a silent epidemic, missing persons.  This year’s tour will cover the following states: NC, TN, SC, TX, MS, AL, FL, LA .  Every year, Monica Caison and representatives from CUE travel a different route in order to bring needed attention in the media and each community.

The annual tour was created to generate new interest in cold cases of missing people across our nation. The inspiration came in 2004 from the case of North Carolina college student Leah Roberts, who had gone on a cross-country trip of self-exploration. Her wrecked and abandoned vehicle was found, but Leah is still missing. Leah’s case went cold and interest faded until CUE Center volunteers set out on a grueling 14-day trip to retrace her route and inform the media of all those who were missing in the path of the tour. In the years to follow, it only seemed right to keep hope alive after families across the country voiced the need for more help and supported the tour idea.

All families with missing loved ones in South Carolina are invited to participate.  Please bring pictures, signs, banners, or whatever you like, to honor your missing loved one and bring more attention to your loved one’s case.

If you are planning to attend, please email contact@imaginepublicity to give us an idea of who will be in attendance.   Your missing loved one will be honored regardless of attendance.

Randy "Amanda" Lehrer Missing From Jersey City (FOUND)

On August 28, Jersey City is under the gun of Hurricane Irene, one of the first to hit the area in a long time.  Not such great weather for a 32 year old mother to be missing from her child and her family.  And yet, her husband, Steven Acuna doesn't seem to see the importance of cooperating with the investigation surrounding her whereabouts.  Good friends and family members have formed teams to saturate the area with posters, hoping that a clue will come in from the community, something that will help determine where she might be.

According to news reports, on Tuesday, August 16, Steven Acuna filed a missing person report stating that he and Randy had an argument on August 13 and she stormed out of the house, leaving her 10 month old daughter, Stephanie, behind. Acuna waited three days after the argument, until August 16, to report Randy Lehrer missing.  The last person to see her, he called the restaurant where she worked on Monday, August 15 to tell co-workers that she had gone to care for her ailing mother in Canada.  When her mother was contacted, it was discovered that she was just fine and that Randy wasn't there.

Here we have Steven Acuna giving two different accounts to what happened before he stopped cooperating and will no longer talk to investigators without an attorney. Clearly Acuna is doing everything he can to delay the investigators, forcing them to get warrants, subpoenas and court orders to proceed, frustrating an already busy department.

What was happening before the argument?  It's reported by neighbors and friends that the couple argued a lot, and that the week before her disappearance, Randy was heard kicking Acuna out of the house, telling him to never return.  It's not been reported whether there was any ongoing violence in the relationship, or if there had been any police reports of intimate partner violence filed with local agencies, but with what is known, Steven Acuna is being examined closely.  Even though Acuna was arrested on a prior warrant, he posted bail and is caring for 10 month old, Stephanie, which is concerning.

Randy's friends, co-workers at Tommy's Restaurant, and the community have rallied around the missing mother, holding vigils and passing out fliers.  They are also talking with investigators about their knowledge of the relationship, hoping there is a clue that will help solve her disappearance and bring her home.

A private investigator, Charles Hannon, has offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to the return of Lehrer.

There is a Facebook page created by friends to bring awareness: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-You-Seen-Randy-Amanda-Lehrer/211610325558914?sk=wall

Suggestions:

• A family member should register the case with a reputable missing persons organization like CUE Center for Missing Persons, in order to have trained liaisons and advocates to assist.
• Family members must submit DNA and be certain all information is registered properly with CODIS and NamUs.
• Use social media resources as well as traditional media, and radio shows to keep the case alive and facts in the public eye.  (Crime Wire, The Roth Show, The Susan Murphy Milano Show,  and Jon Leiberman have all contributed greatly to awareness and bringing forth clues in missing persons cases)
• Create a simple website where all pertinent information is housed, a place where the family is in charge, and a place where they can share their thoughts.
• Do not take anything for granted in an investigation, be persistent, diligent and hold on to hope. Talk to others who have been, or who are still, in the same position with a missing loved one.  They are a great source of strength. (Peace4 the Missing is a great source of support and information)
• Pray, a lot.

Lehrer is 5-foot-2, 145 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes and a fair complexion. Her right shoulder bears a tattoo that reads “Laugh Now Cry Later,” police said. She was last seen publicly around 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 after leaving her waitress job at Tommy’s.

Anyone with information about Lehrer's whereabouts is urged to call Jersey City Police Department - Missing Persons Unit at 201-547 5427. All calls will remain confidential.

http://missingpersonsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/randy-amanda-lehrer-missing-jersey-city.html
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/08/19/jersey-city-police-looking-for-randy-amanda-lehrer-missing-mother-of-10-month-old-child/#.TloxtXA_Qth.facebook
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/15232837/article-Thinking-of-Amanda-Community-leaders-and-residents-organize-for-missing-mom-?instance=jersey_city_story_left_column
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-You-Seen-Randy-Amanda-Lehrer/211610325558914?sk=wall

UPDATE

Body found in concrete-filled drum is missing NJ mom, family says
Relatives say husband arrested; remains discovered in home's basement

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44655584/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/randy-amanda-lehrer-implementing-change.html

Missing Susan Ryan

On June 5th, 2011 a one year anniversary event was held in Christmas Run Park in Wooster, Ohio, a favorite place of Susan Ryan.  It wasn't an anniversary celebration as one might think, but an event to commemorate the fact that Susan has been missing from  the area for a year.

It's been a year of turmoil and unanswered questions for her daughter, Helen Ryan-Zimmel, who has tirelessly organized events, as she entered the world of the missing.  Attending a national conference sponsored by CUE Center for Missing Persons, she was embraced by others within that world and came away with a better understanding of what lay ahead. Her days filled with constantly calling hospitals, police departments and missing persons organizations, Helen found a lot of positive support from the community and the willingness of them to volunteer their time in the effort to find her mother.

Helen recalls her mother as a "homebody," someone who liked to sit with her things and her pets in familiar surroundings, not really venturing out much. They enjoyed the same television programs and movies, often making a night of either CSI, Star Trek or a bunch of B movies.  Although estranged from many in her family, mother and daughter were exceptionally close. Helen was taught to be independent, open minded and had more like a best friend relationship with her mother.

Although Susan was usually at home, she communicated on a regular basis with her circle of close friends, as well as her daughter, talking by phone more than once a day.  She was essential to one of her friends whose husband lost a battle with brain cancer, later establishing little traditions to help her through her grief.

Helen tells about a vacation they took together to San Antonio, TX to see Helen's husband graduate from Medic training with the US Army.  Susan was a very proud mother-in-law, close to her son-in-law, and very, very worried about his upcoming deployment overseas.  She was worried about his safety, and also worried about Helen being alone.

Helen says that a few months before she vanished, Susan wasn't herself.  She had been suffering with an infection in her teeth that seemed to be making her sicker, and Helen noticed a change in her personality as a result.  Susan had become depressed, but Helen feels she would not take her own life.  Susan had a very deep faith in God, receiving a minister's license when Helen was small.  She could be described as a "tough cookie" by some of the jobs she held over the years from driving a school bus, to doing in home nursing and working on the floor of a factory.

It remains a mystery what happened on that day, June 5, 2010, when Susan Ryan was last seen at an intersection in Wooster, Ohio.  Many things were uncharacteristic of Susan that day, like leaving her dog behind, leaving without her cell phone or credit cards. Susan didn't own a car, and was on foot when last seen.  All leads in her case are considered and quickly followed.

Helen has expressed extreme gratitude for the work of the Wooster Police Department who has been devoted to the case, along with members of the community for their response and support.

As the balloons rise up to the sky as a gesture of hope from one of her favorite places, many prayers go up with them as well. Prayers that Susan Ryan is finding peace and that she will return to her family soon.

Helen Ryan-Zimmel and her mother, Susan Ryan

"Perhaps they are not stars, but openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines on us to let us know they are happy" - Eskimo Proverb

From CUE Center for Missing Persons:


Circumstances of Disappearance: 
Susan left on foot during the early morning hours. She left behind all of her possession including her cellphone, purse, credit cards, taxi pass, and her dog.Family states that it is very uncharacteristic of her to leave her dog behind.
Her case remains unsolved.

Investigative Agency: 
Wayne County Sheriff’s Dept
Agency Phone: (330) 287-5700

If you have any information on this case please contact  Cue Center for Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131 24 hour tipline (910) 232-1687.

Missing from: Wooster, Ohio

Missing since:06/05/10

Classification: Endangered Missing

Age at time of disappearance: 58

Date Of Birth:04/17/52

White Female

Height: 5′ 3

Weight: 105 lbs

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Blue

Clothing: Jeans, white sneakers

Identifying Characteristics:  Partial dentures, Glasses with transition lenses (either wearing beige or red pair), rose tattoo on back hip, dragon tattoo on collar bone, phoenix tattoo on collar bone. Her mental health is declining.

Nickname: Susie Stern

Official Family Website:   Where is Susan Ryan

Facebook Page:  Missing Susan Ryan

NamUs MP # 7421

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4841079

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2010/06/08/police-at-risk-woman-missing-from-wooster-may-be-in-elyria-area/

http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=8948.0

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/05/23/family-still-looking-for-former-elyria-woman-who-disappeared-a-year-ago/

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5045554

http://www.woosterweeklynews.com/article/20110607/FEATURES/706079945?sectioncat=WWN

UPDATE

Oct. 17, 2011

Human remains believed to be of Susan Ryan

WOOSTER -- Police found human remains Saturday which they believe to be of Susan Ryan, the Wooster woman missing since June 2010.
According to a press release issued by the Wooster Police Department, at about 4:30 p.m. officers responded to a call of the discovery of possible remains in a dense brush area just south of the Wayne County Fairgrounds, near the western-most building along Kemrow Street.
Chief Matt Fisher said the remains were located by a man working in the area. Fisher explained the human skeletal remains were collected along with a small handgun and photo identification, which are leading police to believe the remains are that of Ryan.
Ryan was reported missing June 5, 2010 after quitting her job in Wooster two days prior. She was believed to have left her house on foot with nothing more than a map, her identification and a handgun.
Numerous searches led by police and volunteers around Wooster's parks, including Christmas Run, yielded no leads on her whereabouts. Police also followed leads of alleged Ryan sightings around Ohio, such as in Elyria.
The case essentially went cold with no new leads since August 2010. Detectives believed Ryan may have wished to commit suicide, given that she had a handgun with her and left behind several valuables she reportedly never left behind. But with no firm evidence one way or the other, investigators and family members were left with nothing but hope she would turn up.
Ryan would have turned 59 years old this past April.
The Wayne County Coroner's office is testing the remains for a cause of death and will be matching the remains with dental records for Ryan.
"No foul play is suspected," Fisher said, as he stated the case is still under investigation.
"This investigation is still ongoing and we ask that you keep the family in your thoughts during this difficult time," added the release on the discovery.

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5110676

Rebecca Lynn Simmons Missing From Anderson County,SC FOUND

Each morning as I check my email, there is a Google alert for missing persons from South Carolina, my home state.  Usually I know about most of the missing because of networking on Facebook and various missing persons sites, however, I had not heard of Rebecca Lynn Simmons who has been missing since May 8, 2011 from a WalMart parking lot in Anderson County.

Two things bothered me about this particular missing mother.  The first thing I do is check the news stories, other missing persons sites, Google and Facebook to see if there is further information about the case.  As I found the page on Facebook that her family members put up (with only 55 "likes") I was struck by something sounding familiar.  One of the members posted a response from one of their local news outlets:

"...investigators say they don't believe foul play is involved or that she is in any danger. Please know I realize you and your family are still concerned about her well being. Because she is an adult and investigators don't believe she is in harms way (at this time) there's nothing I can do story wise." (June 30)

Unfortunately, this is a typical response when an adult goes missing. The first news reports didn't go out until July 13.  This is outrageous! Two months have passed and no one has taken the pleas of this family seriously.  Precious evidence is already gone which could have clues as to what happened to Rebecca Lynn Simmons.

The second thing that bothered me greatly was the last place she was seen was a WalMart parking lot.  Memories of Alice Donovan came flooding back to me.  Alice was one of the first missing mothers I wrote about, the case from which this blog was born.  Luckily, her family knew to check certain records immediately and were able to get investigators to react quickly.  Although Alice was abducted, tortured and murdered, her killers were caught and are now on death row.  Her remains would not be found for 6 years, leaving the worst nightmare for her daughters and other family members to live through.

News accounts say that Rebecca Lynn Simmons had an active warrant for a probation violation.  Perhaps she wasn't on the right side of the law, and that's a reason that authorities believed she may have walked away from her life, but it's not a good enough reason not to actively look for her.  Her family, as thousands of others, didn't know what to do first, she wasn't reported missing until May 31, again, losing precious time.

Simmons’ mother, Jewell Craig, said she has kept a picture of her daughter in her pocket since she disappeared. "It just makes me feel a little better. Even though I don't know where she is, I got this and I can say, 'I love you,' to her picture," said Craig. "When I change my shirt, I take it out and put it in my clean shirt."

The family of Rebecca Lynn Simmons has entered the world of the missing.  It's a world where no one has chosen to be, but are thrust into it by circumstances.  My hope is that they will be able to connect to the good people who will do what they can to help.  They need many, many different kinds of help, from support to passing out flyers, from prayer to someone to assist them with law enforcement and media attention.  

Perhaps they will contact CUE Center for Missing Persons to get that help.  Monica Caison and her group of volunteers are the best in the nation and can possibly make a change in direction for this missing mother case.

CUE Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 910-232-1687.

Rebecca Lynn Simmons had no money, and her cell phone has been cut off since she went missing.  Authorities, two months later, admit there may be foul play connected with her vanishing. 

Simmons is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with blonde hair, hazel eyes and tattoos on both sides of her neck.

Simmons’ family has also set up a Facebook account dedicated to finding her.

To see the Facebook page, click here.

Lynn was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger. The tag expired on 5/31/2011. The truck is GRAY and the bottom is spray painted BLUE.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office at 864-260-4400.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43749563/ns/local_news-greenville_sc/

http://www.wyff4.com/news/28540981/detail.html

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/jul/13/anderson-county-investigators-searching-missing-wo-ar-2106341/?referer=None&shorturl=http://bit.ly/nxo9rk

UPDATE

July 15, 2011........Rebecca Lynn Simmons has been found.

ANDERSON, SC (FOX Carolina) -

The Anderson County Coroner's Office said Friday that a body found in an abandoned well on Thursday was that of a woman missing since May.

The well was located on property in a remote area off Hurricane Creek Road.

Chad McBride, of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, said an investigator was at the property when he looked down into the well and saw what appeared to be human remains at the bottom.

Crews were sent into the well and determined that the investigator did indeed see a human body.

The Anderson County Coroner's Office said Friday afternoon that the remains are that of 45-year-old Rebecca Simmons.

Simmons's family said she had been missing since May 8.

Watch FOX Carolina News at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the latest on this developing story.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/15081723/deputies-search-property-near-anderson-co-well

3 Years Missing: Rachel Conger

 March 13, 2011 is the 3rd year anniversary of Rachel Conger's disappearance.

Each Spring as the sun shines warmer and daffodils bloom on cool mornings, I'm reminded that Rachel is still missing, taken from our world way too soon.  Each year, on the morning of the anniversary of the day Rachel went missing, I sit to write something to honor her memory, and each year I wish it to be the last time.

Honoring Rachel today, as in years past, to me, is honoring all of the mothers missing from their children.  Although she may be missing from our earthly lives, as I once again look over her pictures, I'm reminded of the impact she's made on the world, I see the day differently through the eyes looking back at me.  Although I didn't know her personally, through these pictures and memories of her family, she has become close to many, reminding us that lives can be changed in an instant and those changes are far reaching.

Today marks the third year Rachel's daughter, Amber Simmons, has been without the mother who dearly, dearly loves her.  We have watched as Amber has grown from  a mere child to a beautiful young lady filled with much of the spirit of her mother. There are many surrogate "Mamabears" who vow to keep an eye out for this young lady, watching over her and taking her under our wings when needed.

Each year she whispers softly to us, reminding us all to take care, to love more, to reach out further, to be reminded that there is a family who starts every day silently hoping  it will be the day that she will be found.

Her light is gone, her voice is silenced, but we will continue to gather, united in prayer and hope that the light and love she left in this world will shine upon the path that, one day, will bring her home and give her family peace.

What more can we say, what more can we do, to bring her home? 

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Henry County Sheriff’s Department
Sheriff Monte Belew or (retired) Investigator Mike Smothers
(731) 642-1672
If you have any information on this case please contact CUE Center For Missing Persons using the contact form below or contact Cue Center at (910) 343-1131 24 hour tipline (910) 232-1687.

NamUs Missing Person Case #MP 5106

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/5106/0/

Information about Rachel Conger:

http://bringrachelhome.blogspot.com/

http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/rachel-conger/

Past articles about Rachel Conger:

http://mothersarevanishing.blogspot.com/2008/08/rachel-conger.html

http://mothersarevanishing.blogspot.com/2009/02/can-you-help-find-rachel-conger.html

http://mothersarevanishing.blogspot.com/2009/03/rachel-conger-monday4-missing.html

http://mothersarevanishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/rachel-conger-missing-for-2-years.html

http://mothersarevanishing.blogspot.com/2010/11/from-mother-to-daughter-rachel-conger.html

 

Is There Hope for Hope Meek?

In the Southeast corner of Oklahoma, near the Texas and Louisiana border, is the small town of Valliant which sits on land originally designated as Indian Land and part of the Choctaw Nation.  In the 1970's Weyerhouser Paper Mill (now International Paper Company) came to town and, at that time, was the largest mill in the world. The company also brought with it many jobs for the surrounding area and prosperity to the residents of Valliant.  As in other small towns across America, everyone knows everyone, and most of their business.

Hope and Jerry Meek, along with their three young children, lived on Section Line Road, most likely a road cut by the section of timber which Weyerhouser may have been harvesting at one time.  Hope Meek worked as a jailer who transported inmates to court, and was preparing to soon graduate with a degree in criminal law. Jerry Meek worked for Weyerhouser (International Paper Company) when, in February, 2002, Hope disappeared.

Family members describe Hope as being very close to her family, talking to her mother by phone several times throughout each day, which is verified by phone records, so when there was no word from her the family was worried and took action by sending the police to the home for a wellness check.  On that day, Jerry Meek told them Hope had just left to go to the store, however, upon searching the home they found that her vehicle was still there, all her belongings, credit cards, her purse, cell phone, and her glasses and contacts, unusual for someone who can't see without them.  The three children were also at home.

It was five days before Hope Meek was reported missing, at the insistence of her immediate family.  Apparently Jerry Meek changed his story about Hope going to the store and admitted that he hadn't seen her for five days, reporting that he had taken the children camping, at a location he was unable to remember 5 days later. According to accounts from friends and family, the winter night of February 21 was quite cold, too cold for three small children (ages 6, 3 and 10mo.) to be sleeping outdoors.

Family and friends allege the marriage was beginning to unravel, there were police reports made about domestic violence incidents and the couple were separating.  The night he went camping with the children, Jerry Meek says he left Hope with $500, and when he returned, she was gone as well as the $500.

Her employer, McCurtain County Sheriff's Department, says it was not in Hope's character to be absent from work without a valid excuse, and was highly unusual that she did not pick up her paycheck.  As in almost all cases of missing mothers, friends and family say that she would NEVER leave her children behind and discontinue contact with them.

According to public records found online, Jerry Meek petitioned for divorce from Hope Danielle Meek on March 6, 2002, 10-12 days after Hope went missing.  Others report that another woman, a former babysitter and now elementary teacher, moved into the marital home within a short period of time.  According to family members, Jerry Meek was having an affair with the "other woman," and Hope knew, but that wouldn't be a reason for her to leave everything and walk away.

Nine years have gone by, and Jerry Meek has managed to erase Hope's very existence in the lives of her children, including fighting Hope's family for full custody of her oldest child from a previous marriage.  Hope's family has been denied visitation which was court ordered, leaving them with no contact with her biological family, and theirs.

Jerry Meek has not cooperated with investigators, searched for his wife, nor answered any questions concerning what has happened to her.  He refuses to take a polygraph.  In this writer's opinion, Jerry Meek is probably well connected to the area, being born and raised there, and someone, somewhere is covering up the truth of what happened to Hope Meek.

In cases such as this, speculation runs very high, but no matter what the circumstances are today, the fact remains that Hope Meek is missing and needs to be found to give her family peace of mind and her children the truth.

Missing Since: 02/21/02

Missing from: Valliant, Oklahoma

Classification: Endangered Missing

Date Of Birth: 1976

Age at disappearance: 25 years old

Height:5’1

Weight:90 lbs.

Hair Color: Sandy Blonde

Eye Color: Blue

Race: White

Gender: Female

Distinguishing Characteristics: Hope wears eyeglasses,

but she left her pair behind inside her residence at the time of her disappearance.

NamUs MP # 5169

.

Investigating Agency

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Valliant Police Department

580-933-4555

OR

Oklahoma State Bureau Of Investigation

800-522-8017

If you have any information on this case please contact CUE Center For Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131   24 hour tipline (910) 232-1687.

Interview 5/5/2011 with sister of Hope Meek




http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/hope-danielle-meek/#comments
http://hope-meek.memory-of.com/About.aspx
http://lostnmissing.posterous.com/unsolved-missing-hope-meek-25-oklahoma-who-ha
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/valliant-ok/TM9KOQNOK62MBI7LF
http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2010/05/hope-meeks-family-demands-answers-in-loved-ones-disappearance.html
http://www.valliantchamber.org/index.html
http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=637.0
https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/5169
http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21141

UPDATE

AUGUST 11, 2012

OSBI agents arrested Jerry Meek, 39, where he works, at the International Paper Company in Valliant.

He was booked into the McCurtain County Jail on one count of first degree murder. His bond was set at $250,000.

The bureau said the arrest was made possible by a new District Attorney, who was willing to prosecute the case despite the lack of body. They said they believe the passage of time proves Hope is deceased.

http://www.newson6.com/story/19249969/osbi-makes-arrest-in-decade-old-disappearance-case

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/OSBI-makes-arrest-in-10-year-old-case/AKw41av4b0ydrzzCqXCABw.cspx

Renee Pernice: Remembering You

Two years ago on New Year's Day 2009, Renee Pernice vanished, leaving behind her home in Kansas City, MO, her husband and three children.  Two years ago her husband, Shon Pernice, says she just walked out of the house on foot and he couldn't "remember" where she said she was going.  Renee has not been seen nor heard from since.

Following this case for the last two years has been a series of twists and turns, watching Shon Pernice sidestepping with inconsistencies in his original story, never participating in searches for his wife, and being arrested on several charges, finally for the murder of Renee.  He will go to trial in 2011.

The pattern of conduct of Renee Pernice leading up to the day she vanished could be like so many other women trying to leave a marriage.  Renee held a good job with a salary enough to support herself and her children, in fact, Renee alone cared for her children while her husband was stationed overseas.  During the investigation divorce papers were discovered in Renee's home office, leading us to believe she was serious about leaving her marriage this time.

Renee Pernice was close to her family, was in constant contact, and, as is often heard in cases of missing mothers, "she would NEVER leave her children."  Most of the statements from Shon Pernice are in direct contrast with the woman and mother her family knew her to be.  Perhaps Renee confided in her family or close friends about the upcoming divorce, or the problems in her marriage leading her to make the decision to finalize it.

Maybe Shon Pernice has a history of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, being one of the last to see another missing mother, Star Boomer who vanished in 1999.  It would be a great service to the family of Star Boomer if information on her whereabouts would come forth during the investigation of Renee's murder.  Although there were a reported 13 witnesses, no one is talking.  As always, someone knows where the remains of these two mothers are today.

Hindsight is always valuable, and one of the reasons many blog about cases like this is to learn and use the information to educate others in the hope that another mother may be spared.  Had Renee Pernice, or Susan Powell, or Stacy Peterson taken precautionary measures while preparing to leave their marriages, this blog would not have been written.  A revolutionary new procedure has been introduced by Susan Murphy Milano in her latest book, "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave an Abusive and Stalking Relationship" called the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit.  This simple procedure is likened to a living will, spelling out in notarized, witnessed documents and video testimony the evidence of what went wrong in the relationship and, if abuse is present, it's documented as well.  Procedures utilized by Murphy Milano over the last 20 years have led to a perfect track record in keep women alive during the traumatic end to their relationships.

Writing about missing mothers has given me an insight, as well as working closely with advocates and organizations surrounding the issues of intimate partner violence and missing persons.  In many cases, there is a clear pattern of conduct in the actions of those involved, a relationship with violence, or at the least an "ownership" attitude, that if you leave me, no one else will have you and my children.  It's a pattern that is seen over and over, and the results, unfortunately, are usually the same.

While remembering Renee on the second anniversary of her missing, I also urge readers to remember her children.  They are now in the care of Renee's father, Rick Pretz, and although trying to give them the best childhood they deserve, it can't be easy.  Children left behind with no answers, children left to deal with the trauma, children who were unconditionally loved by their mother, have daily reminders that their lives have changed dramatically.  They have needs expressed in ways that we sometimes don't understand, and will be forever branded in their psyches.  They are the innocent bystanders in the chaos surrounding them that makes no sense to them.  Never will they have the opportunity to know what could have been.

CUE Center’s 2011 National Conference for Missing Persons

National Conference for Missing Persons

HOPE LIGHTS THE WAY

The 7th Annual National Round Table Conference
March 24th thru 27th of 2011

Holiday Inn Hotel Conference Center 5032 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 392-1101

Everyone is invited to attend our upcoming national conference for missing persons and all who work in the arena from advocating, volunterism, investigation, search and rescue and identification process of those who are lost. This event is open to all who support the mission of finding a resolution for families who have suffered a missing loved one.

Please share this information to anyone in this line of work and or a family of a missing person or homicide victim. To learn more about CUE Center for Missing Persons please visit us at our web sitewww.ncmissingpersons.org or email us cuecenter@aol.com

Thank you

CLICK HERE to print flyer below (PDF)

FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO THE CUE CENTER FOR MISSING PERSONS WEBSITE   HTTP://CUECENTER.ORG

Information for the 2011 instructors, guest speakers, and exciting events will be posted as confirmations are made, please keep check back, thank you….

TRAINING SESSION, Certificate Classes

“Illuminations”, Surviving Victimization and Suicide, Allison West

“Intimate Partner Violence”,  My Loved One is Missing”, Susan Murphy Milano

“Psyhics & Missing Perons – Help or Hindrance?, Kelly Jolkowki and Robert Cooke

GUEST SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Pat Brown, Investigate Criminal Profiler

Curtis Barnhill, Project Life Saver, New Hanover County Sheriff Office

Jane Bradley, Author of  “YOU Believers”

Victims Hours, Friday

National Candle Light Service – HonoreesMarch 26, 2011 @ Riverfront Park, Downtown Wilmington Waterfront – 7:30 pm, the public is welcome
MC -
Guest Speaker - Susan Murphy Milano “Moving Forward”
Reading of the Poem – Sheree Justus
Vocal Tribute - Mallory Malter
National Prayer – Angie Davis
Unveiling of the Wall
Service Dedication (see posters)

Conference aims to provide training to help find missing people

Wilmington | The annual conference by a local group focused on missing persons is expected to bring together various roles in the search and rescue field ranging from Federal Bureau of Investigation representatives to families of people who have gone missing.