The search for Cherrie Mahan continues 40 years after her disappearance and now a $100,000 reward is being offered in hopes of bringing her home.
Mahan’s mother Janice McKinney says she believes the person responsible for the abduction of Cherrie in 1985 is in prison for child molestation charges but she would not name the person. The new private investigator also believes the person responsible knew Mahan.
“All I truly want and I know is that Cherrie wants to come home, she wants to be found she wants us to figure out what happened and to bring her home to me,” said McKinney.
Steve Ridge is a former investigative TV reporter now turned licensed private detective in Iowa has taken on the case pro-bono. At a Tuesday afternoon press conference at the Bonniebrook Club House and Golf Course Ridge revealed a picture of a blue backpack he’s asking the public to be on the lookout for or provide information.
Ridge would not prove details on why the backpack was crucial for the investigation but says any information about the backpack can provide insight.
Due to only having a private investigator license in Iowa and not Pennsylvania, Ridge cannot see police file on Mahan’s disappearance. Although, he says he’s working with State Police to press criminal charges.
“We don’t want to work independently, I don’t want to do anything to supplant the State Police. As a curtesy I touch base with them and sought their blessing to my work. I don’t expect them to share anything with me, but on the other hand I will be happy to share things with them as I come across them,” said Ridge. “I would much rather get it in their hands and complete the puzzle of this case in a way that justice can be done than for me to assemble and say a-ha I solved this crime. I’m not going to solve it, to have a crime solved you have to have a convection.”
Ridge only sees legal proceedings as a step on closure. He’s more focused on returning Mahan home.
“My concentration really is first and foremost on finding Cherrie finding her remains or clothing or accessories,” said Ridge. “Something that will give us an indication of more precisely of what actually happened.”
To help close the case Ridge is not only asking for those with information to speak with him and state police.
The search for Mahan has not been easy for McKinney and she holds on to Hope.
If you have any information or tip you can provide that may lead to information on the blue backpack or Cherrie’s remains you can contact the Find Cherrie Mahan Facebook Page or State Police.
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