Missing Persons Playing Cards: Seeking the Unknown within Prison Walls

In a unique effort to solve cold cases, a non-profit organization has created decks of playing cards featuring faces of missing persons for distribution in jails, hoping to generate new leads among the incarcerated population.

Cleveland Missing, a non-profit dedicated to assisting the loved ones of missing individuals, has embarked on an innovative campaign to solve cold cases: decks of playing cards adorned with the faces of 52 missing persons. These cards are distributed to jails, leveraging the potential for incarcerated individuals to possess crucial information.

The organization's goal is to reach those who may have encountered or heard whispers of missing persons within the prison system. Inmates often have connections to diverse networks, including drug dealers, sex workers, and gang members, who could provide valuable clues.

One of the most haunting examples of the need for these playing cards is the case of Cherrie Mahan, an 8-year-old girl who vanished from a school bus stop in Pennsylvania nearly four decades ago. Despite exhaustive searches and years of investigation, her fate remains unknown.

Recently, a woman claiming to be Cherrie surfaced on Facebook groups dedicated to her case. While this claim was quickly refuted by Cherrie's mother, it ignited a renewed interest in the search. The Pennsylvania State Police promptly launched an investigation and have attempted to contact the claimant several times without success.

"If it was really her, she could present herself at any police office and arrange for a DNA test," said Brock Organ, a moderator of the "Memories of Cherrie Mahan" Facebook group. "She doesn't have to reach out to people online and make aggressive claims."

However, the moderators' decision to delete the claimant's posts and block her has drawn criticism from some members of the group. They argue that even a remote chance of it being Cherrie warrants further investigation.

"People have been claiming to be Cherrie for years," said Cherrie's mother, Janice McKinney. "It's heartbreaking that people keep doing this to me."

McKinney has dedicated her life to finding her daughter, but the relentless false claims have taken an emotional toll. She pleads for people to be mindful of the pain inflicted by such deception.

The distribution of missing persons playing cards in jails presents a unique opportunity for incarcerated individuals to seek redemption. By sharing information they possess, they can make amends for past mistakes and contribute to the closure of unsolved cases.

"I'm hopeful that someone will recognize one of these faces and come forward with information," said Colleen Fitzpatrick, founder of Cleveland Missing. "Every missing person deserves to be found."

The cold case of Cherrie Mahan serves as a chilling reminder that the passage of time does not diminish the pain of loss. The missing persons playing cards are a symbol of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest corners of society, the search for the unknown never ceases.