The Disappearance of Soon Chon Hwang

Source: NamUs

Soon Chon Hwang has been missing since September 5th, 2006. 

The then-44-year-old was living in Memphis, Tennessee at the time of his disappearance. He owned a local grocery store called J.C. Community Grocery. The day Soon went missing seemingly began as a regular day; he was seen at his store that morning as usual. Around 12:30 PM, he went to Tri-City Wholesale - a wholesale grocery store that he frequently patronized. 

According to reports, Soon received a phone call in the midst of his shopping trip. The call was reportedly urgent, as it prompted him to abruptly exit the grocery store, leaving his shopping cart and all of his merchandise behind. Soon never returned to his own store, nor did he ever return home. He has never been seen or heard from again.

On the evening of September 5th - just hours after Soon was last seen at Tri-City Wholesale - his car was found abandoned off of Interstate 55 in West Memphis, Arkansas. The vehicle was found right at the Arkansas state border - an approximate 12-minute drive from Memphis, Tennessee. There was no further sign of Soon himself on the scene.

Soon's store was reportedly robbed several times prior to him vanishing, but it is unclear if the robberies are related to his disappearance. Various reports state that foul play is suspected in Soon's case, but no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly named. In 2010, Soon was listed as a defendant in a lawsuit, but it was noted that he was never served due to the fact that he is a missing person.

The Memphis Police Department has investigative agency over Soon's case. If you have any information that could help solve his disappearance, please contact authorities at 901-373-3883.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Lawsuit
NamUs

The Disappearance and Murder of Lori Paige

source: WTXL

Lori Paige vanished on June 3rd, 2023. The then-12-year-old girl was last seen in Tallahassee, Florida, on Continental Court near Ocala Road. Lori never returned home and has not been seen or heard from again. 

When Lori was first reported missing, investigators initially did not suspect foul play because, according to reports, "all signs pointed to a voluntary runaway." Lori had run away before, about a month prior to her June 2023 disappearance. It appears that she was only missing for a short amount of time after her first time running away. This time around, though, Lori did not return home.

Unlike most preteens and teens, Lori had a very small digital footprint. A report on Lori's case from February 2024 states that friends helped her during her previous runaway. However, it does not appear that investigators have been able to identify anyone who helped Lori run away in June 2023. 

The Tallahassee Police Department investigated over 1,200 missing juvenile cases between the years of 2021 and 2023. As of February 2024, only seven of those cases are still open - Lori's being one of them. Tallahassee Police Detective Anna Lee Drake told reporters in that 2024 report that that Lori's case was the only case she's worked involving a missing juvenile "who has been missing this long without any contact." As such, there were increased concerns for Lori's safety and wellbeing.

There is very little information available about Lori's disappearance. The events on the day she left home are unknown. By February 2024 - eight months after she went missing - Lori's family had not publicly spoken about her disappearance. In fact, it appears that the only person who had spoken out is Margaret Summers - a teaching assistant from Lori's middle school. 

Summers spread awareness about Lori's disappearance on social media and spoke to reporters about the case. She expressed that she does not believe Lori would stay away for this long on her own. In February 2024, Summers told reporters, "I do not believe for a second that she’s sustaining herself. There’s adults who can’t even make it on their own."

In April 2025, a major break was made in the case. Digital footprints from Lori's father, Andrew Wiley, led investigators to Merrily Plantation in Thomas County, Georgia. While searching the area, investigators found the remains of Lori Paige. Shortly after the discovery, Wiley was arrested and charged with his daughter's murder.

After Wiley's arrest, it was reported that investigators found evidence that he killed Lori on June 1st, 2023, and disposed of her body in Thomas County the following day. It was also reported that "purchases Wiley made before the slaying suggest there was likely abuse of [Lori] occurring, which may have been of a sexual nature.”

Wiley was being held in Leon County Detention Center as the case against him was pending. Approximately two and a half months later, in June 2025, it was announced that Wiley had died in custody following a "medical emergency" at the detention center. As of right now, his cause of death is still pending.

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Sources:
Crime Online
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tallahassee Democrat
Tallahassee-Thomasville WCTV
WALB News 10

The Disappearance of Brittany Shante Robinson

Brittany Shante Robinson was only 14 years old when she vanished on June 14th, 2012. She was last seen in Mobile, Alabama, after her aunt dropped her off at the home of her father, Demetric Hooper. Brittany was only supposed to be with her father for a two-day visit, but she never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again. Demetric fled Mobile immediately following Brittany’s disappearance. A warrant for his arrest was issued six weeks later.

Investigators were finally able to track Demetric down in September 2012, at a mental health facility in Arkansas. He suffered from both schizophrenia and drug addiction and had previously been in-and-out of treatment centers in Alabama for years. During September 2012, Demetric reportedly was seeking treatment for his schizophrenia. Once police tracked him down, they confirmed that Brittany was not with Demetric in Arkansas. He was then arrested and charged with felony custodial interference.

After Demetric’s arrest, investigators determined that he had been in Arkansas since July. However, in the weeks following Brittany’s disappearance, he traveled to multiple different locations throughout the southeastern United States. On July 7th, 2012, Demetric took a bus from Memphis, Tennessee to Arkansas, and it was determined that Brittany was not with him during said trip. 

When police finally tracked him down, they found Brittany’s iPod, knives, and a rope in his possession. However, Brittany herself still remained missing.

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The custodial interference charges.

Demetric continuously denied harming his daughter. A search of his home provided no evidence of Brittany’s whereabouts. Due to this, police were unable to charge Demetric with anything related to Brittany’s disappearance, but they still pursued the custodial interference charges. 

After initially denying those charges as well, Demetric ended up pleading guilty to custodial inference in August 2014. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was released in 2016 after serving two years.

A cold case turns to sudden charges.

As the years ticked by without any sign of Brittany, her father Demetric Hooper remained the main person of interest. Still - investigators seemingly did not have enough evidence to prove that he harmed Brittany. Brittany's disappearance quickly faded into a cold case.

Then, in February 2024, it was announced that a grand jury had indicted Demetric Hooper for Brittany's murder. The charges came nearly 12 years after Brittany's disappearance. At the time of the indictment, Demetric was already in custody in Oklahoma on unrelated charges. Prosecutors announced that he would face the murder charges in Alabama.

After Demetric's arrest, it appeared that Brittany's loved ones were one step closer to finding answers and justice. Unfortunately, the answers and justice would never come to fruition. 

The trial.

Demetric Hooper's murder trial began in early June 2025. It was noted during trial that no forensic evidence was ever found that linked Demetric to murder. In fact, there was no forensic evidence to prove that Brittany was no longer alive.

Prosecutors noted that, due to Brittany's age at the time of her disappearance, and due to the fact that her father was the last person to see her alive, it is probable that her father killed Brittany and hid her remains. However, investigators had never found Brittany's body, nor did they find any physical evidence that she had been harmed.

It appears that the prosecution was unable to present a case that proved Demetric's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury subsequently found him not guilty for Brittany's murder. As of today, Demetric Hooper is no longer facing any criminal charges related to his daughter's disappearance.

An unsolved disappearance.

Brittany remains missing today. Questions about her fate still remain. Though many believe that Demetric Hooper is, in fact, responsible for his daughter's disappearance, he can no longer face murder charges related to her case.

Brittany's disappearance is still considered an open and unsolved case. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-1700.

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Sources:
Al.com, (2)
Charley Project

Fox 10
News One

WKRG, (2)

The Disappearance of Moriah-Danielle Ludwig

Source: Facebook

Moriah-Danielle Ludwig was only 20 years-old when she vanished during 2014. The young woman was living in Gulfport, Mississippi at the time of her disappearance. Most sources regarding her case state that she was last seen in Gulfport as well. 

The events leading up to Moriah's disappearance are unknown. This is likely due to the fact that police did not begin investigating her case until 2018. At that point, Moriah's family members reported her missing after telling investigators that they had not seen or heard from her in over four years. 

Once the investigation began, it was determined that Moriah had contact with law enforcement on October 31st, 2014. The nature of her contact with police that day is unclear, but this encounter is the last documented trace of Moriah. It appears that nobody has seen or heard from her since that day. 

There are very few details available about Moriah's case. Her loved ones have been spreading awareness about her disappearance on social media. There have been a few comments indicating potential sightings of Moriah both in person and online, but according to her mother, the sightings were dead ends. 

Moriah is described as a biracial woman with brown eyes and black hair that is often dyed a lighter color. At the time of her disappearance, she was approximately 5'3" and 90-110 lbs. She has several tattoos and also may use aliases such as Danielle Kieper or Danielle Moriah Mitchell.

If you have any information that could help solve Moriah's case, please contact the Harrison County Sheriff's Department at 228-896-0664.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Facebook
MissingSippi
Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers
NamUs

The Disappearance of Alex Aleman

Source: NamUs

Alex Aleman has been missing since July 27th, 2005. The then-24-year-old was last seen in Dallas, Texas. On the day he vanished, Alex went to work as usual. However, at some point during his shift, he abruptly left the job after telling his coworkers he was going to California. Alex has never been seen or heard from again.

Alex's family members stated that he does not have any ties to California and it's unknown why he would say he was traveling there. He has ties to Arizona, but there does not appear to be any evidence that he went there either. Alex was also reportedly active in the Dallas gay community prior to vanishing, but no one in his inner circle has seen or heard from him since the day of his disappearance. 

Various sources indicate that Alex was going through a hard time at the time went missing. He was reportedly upset with family members and depressed after going through a recent breakup. He was also known to be a "heavy drug user" - although it is unknown if this plays a role in his disappearance. 

There are not many details available about Alex's case. Two decades have passed without any sign of him. Detectives in Irving, Texas have investigative agency over Alex's case. If you have any information that could help solve his disappearance, please contact authorities at 972-273-1030.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Count Every Mystery
NamUs
Track Missing
Uncovered

The Murder of Sade Robinson

 

Sade Robinson was only 19 years-old when she was tragically murdered following a first date on April 1st, 2024. Reports state that Sade met up with her date at a seafood restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin shortly before 5:30 PM that evening. She never returned home, nor did she show up for work the following day. A concerned friend reported Sade missing on the evening of April 2nd, 2024. 

The friend contacted the Milwaukee Police Department to report Sade missing around 9:00 PM. By this point, Milwaukee investigators had dealt with several suspicious crimes that day. Amongst those crimes was a burning vehicle found in a parking lot on the 1800 block of North 29th Street around 7:30 AM that morning. Later that evening, a severed human leg was found in Warnimont Park. 

Eventually, it was determined that both the vehicle and the human leg belonged to Sade Robinson. Investigators also learned the identity of the person Sade had been on a date with on April 1st: Maxwell Anderson, a 33-year-old man residing in the 3100 block of South 39th Street. 

Anderson was arrested and taken into custody on April 4th, 2024. That same day, a search warrant was executed at his home. During the search, investigators found blood on both the walls leading to the basement and the walls of Anderson's bedroom. They also found several containers of gasoline.

On April 6th, a severed human foot was found near the area where Sade's car was found. Days later, a human torso and arm were found washed up on a beach along Lake Michigan. Reports state that those remains are thought to be Sade as well. 

Maxwell Anderson was held behind bars for several days before prosecutors finally announced charges. Anderson is currently charged with several counts: first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and arson of property other than a building. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

The brutality of Sade's murder has led to speculation that Anderson is not a first-time killer. This speculation intensified when it was determined that the blood found in Anderson's house does not belong to Sade. Many are left questioning if Anderson has other victims that have not been discovered yet. 

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Timeline surrounding Sade's murder.

Despite the blood in Anderson's house not belonging to Sade, there is still an abundance of other evidence that points to Anderson as her killer. A timeline built through both surveillance footage and cell phone data ultimately led to his arrest.

Maxwell Anderson in court. 

April 1st, 2024, 5:20 PM: Sade and Maxwell Anderson meet up at the Twisted Fisherman restaurant on Canal Street. 

6:30 PM - 9:06 PM: The two leave Twisted Fisherman and take Sade's car to a bar called Duke's on Water. While there, Sade sends a Snapchat to a friend.

9:24 PM: Sade's phone pings off of a tower near Anderson's home. Surveillance footage captures what appears to be two human figures arriving at Anderson's residence.

April 2nd, 2024, 12:48 - 3:02 AM: Sade's phone seemingly leaves Anderson's residence. Around 1:30 AM, the phone pinged near Pleasant Valley Park, along the Milwaukee River in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood. The phone left that area around 2:00 AM and appears to travel north.

At 2:45 PM, Sade's phone pinged near Warnimont Park - where her severed leg was found later that evening. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, surveillance cameras captured a car heading toward the pump house at Warnimont Park at 2:53 AM. At 3:02 AM, a human figure is seen headed towards the water. 

4:31 AM: Sade's car leaves the Warnimont Park area. Around the same time, her cell phone dies. 

7:31 AM: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, "surveillance cameras capture a white male walking away from a car fire burning in a parking lot on the 1800 block of North 29th Street. A witness later tells law enforcement he saw the male exit the vehicle and toss a lighter into it before walking away. The male was wearing a gray hoodie and a tan backpack."

7:32 AM: The fire department responds to the vehicle on fire. Clothing is found in the vehicle's trunk, along with pieces of a broken cell phone. It's later determined that the clothing and the phone belong to Sade; the clothing was actually part of the outfit she was wearing on her date with Anderson.

Investigators connect the dots.

As previously stated, Sade was reported missing later that evening after she did not show up for work. Eventually, investigators determined that the human remains and the burning vehicle they had already found belonged to Sade. From there, detectives learned that Sade had been on a date before her disappearance with a man named Maxwell Anderson. 

The evidence from both the phone records and the surveillance footage suggest that Anderson killed and dismembered Sade inside his house sometime between 9:30 PM and 12:48 AM. Then, it appears that Anderson used Sade's vehicle to dispose of her remains.

A question about other victims.

As also previously noted, there has been speculation about whether or not Anderson has other victims as well. Reports state that the blood found on the walls of his residence does not belong to Sade Robinson. Many are left questioning: is there another victim that has not been found yet? Is it possibly another missing young girl from Milwaukee?

There has been some online speculation about the blood possibly belonging to Joniah Walker - who vanished at the age of 16 on June 23rd, 2022. Joniah was last seen in the 400 block of West Brown Avenue. A write-up on her case can be found here. 

At this time, Anderson has not been charged with anything related to any other missing women. However, speculation about other victims remains active. 

Anderson's trial. 

Maxwell Anderson's murder trial began in late May 2025. During the court proceedings, the prosecution alleged that Anderson had been planning the murder for months. The presented evidence also indicated that, after Anderson met Sade for their date, he invited her back to his house. Once there, Anderson drugged Sade's beverage. After Sade had passed out due to being drugged, Anderson took pictures of her passed out, face down on the couch. Pictures were also taken on him groping her and taking off her clothes - all while she is unconscious. 

After assaulting, murdering, and mutilating Sade, Anderson then took a picture of himself holding her severed right breast. The prosecutors called this his "trophy". Anderson later disposed of Sade's remains and burned out her in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Anderson's defense, on the other hand, argued that the prosecution did not prove Anderson's intent to kill Sade. Despite this, it took the jury less than an hour to find Maxwell Anderson guilty on all counts. 

Anderson is expected to face a mandatory life sentence at his August 2025 sentencing.

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Sources:
CBS 58

CNN
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, (2)
TMJ 4

The Disappearance of Latisha Desiderio

Source: Facebook

Latisha Desiderio has been missing since July 16th, 2023. The then-33-year-old was last seen in Crownpoint, New Mexico. On the day Latisha vanished, a friend dropped her off in the parking lot of a Basha's store. She was then reportedly seen getting into a vehicle driven by an unknown individual. Latisha never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again. 

There are very few details available about Latisha's case. There is not any publicly shared information about the friend who dropped her off at Basha's. There also does not appear to be a lot of information about the vehicle Latisha was reportedly last seen getting into. Most reports describe the vehicle as a white pickup truck; while a few other reports have said the vehicle is black. 

Latisha is amongst several other missing individuals throughout New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Despite the lack of information about her case, social media posts have indicated that Latisha is missed. She is someone's daughter, mother, and friend - and those loved ones are still searching for answers.

Latisha is described as a Native American woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She was approximately 5'6" and 150 lbs. at the time of her disappearance. Latisha also has several tattoos, including one across her arm that reads "Desiderio". 

If you have any information that could lead to Latisha's whereabouts, please contact the Navajo Nation Police Department at the Crownpoint District at 505-786-2050.

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Sources:
Charley Project
KNAU
Justice for Native People
NamUs 

The Disappearance of William Chapman (aka Vanity Vuitton)

 

William Ray Chapman vanished in Wichita, Kansas on December 8th, 2008. 

Prior to his disappearance, the then-24-year-old reportedly had a very active social life. William enjoyed going to gay nightclubs - especially one particular club called Fantasy in Wichita. He occasionally wore wigs and used the drag name Vanity Vuitton. William was also pursuing both music and video blogging. 

In 2008, social media was still in its early stages. YouTube had only been introduced to the internet three years prior; the term "video blogger", or it's shortened version, "vlogger" was not anywhere near as widespread as it is today. William had the potential to become one of the first established vloggers - but he unfortunately vanished before he ever had the chance. 

Many reports state that William's family and friends do not believe he vanished on his own accord. Other than that, though, there are very few details available about the events leading up to his disappearance. It's known that he was last seen in Wichita. Some reports note that William "may be" driving a 2002 black Ford - but the model of said vehicle appears to be unknown. Further details about William's disappearance have not been publicly shared. 

Several years have passed without any updates in William's case. His disappearance has been labeled as a cold case by the Wichita Police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. If you have any information that could lead to William's whereabouts, please contact authorities at 316-268-4387 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
ABC KAKE
Annette Lawless
Charley Project
The Doe Network
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Missing Persons in America
NamUs

The Disappearance of Zachary Anderson

Source: NamUS

Zachary Michael Anderson has been missing since January 10th, 2017. The-then-27-year-old was living in Kansas at the time of his disappearance. Zachary is originally from Wichita, but he was last seen in Topeka.

On the evening of his disappearance, Zachary and some friends went to the Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta. Their plan was to gamble at the Prairie Band before spending the night at a Ramada Inn in Topeka. However, the plan never fully came to fruition, as Zachary was denied entrance to the casino.

Various reports state that Zachary was dropped off at the Ramada Inn after he could not get into the casino. Despite this, there are no records of him checking into the hotel. Zachary also never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

The friends that Zachary traveled to the casino with eventually returned to Wichita without him. They had some of his personal belongings - including his cell phone - but stated they did not know the location of Zachary himself. Zachary was reported missing a few days later.

Zachary was reportedly struggling with substance abuse at the time of his disappearance. According to his mother, Zachary was battling an addiction to heroin. His mother believes that, due to this, police did not treat his disappearance with urgency.  

Although Zachary was facing these struggles, he still kept in touch with his family, especially his young daughter. His mother does not believe that Zachary would purposely lose contact. During a 2025 interview, Zachary's mother stated "[Zachary] had every intention of coming home. No matter his struggle, he was always there for his daughter."

Zachary remains missing today. There are very few additional details available about his case. If you have any information that could lead to Zachary Anderson's whereabouts, please contact the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9247.

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Sources:
Annette Lawless
Charley Project
Missing Persons in America
NamUs 

The Disappearance of Thomas 'TJ' Nigro

Source: Facebook

 
Thomas 'TJ' Nigro has been missing since January 5th, 2018. The then-31-year-old lived in Columbus, Georgia at the time of his disappearance. Many of TJ's personal belongings that he usually carried with him were left behind in his Columbus home - including his passport, car keys, cell phone, sunglasses, wallet, and a photograph of his daughter. TJ's loved ones have never seen or heard from him again.

After TJ was reported missing, a woman came forward, stating that she saw TJ hitchhiking in Columbus on January 23rd, 2018 - a few weeks after his disappearance. The woman explained that she picked him up and drove him to Franklin, Georgia. She dropped him off near the West Point Wildlife Management Area. 

TJ reportedly told the woman that he was meeting up with a friend in that area to go camping for a week. The woman noted that TJ had camping gear with him. She also said he had a cell phone - which indicates that he had a second phone in addition to the one that was found at his home. This encounter is the last known sighting of TJ.

Prior to disappearing, TJ was a ranger in the US Army. His training gave him the skills to survive in the woods for an extended period of time. However, TJ had also sustained head and back injuries during a previous deployment - and said injuries prevented him from traveling too far on his own. Due to this, TJ's loved ones were immediately concerned for his safety when they discovered that he had vanished.

Years have passed, and TJ still remains missing. Police in Columbus, Georgia have investigative agency in his case. If you have any information that could help solve TJ's disappearance, please contact the Columbus Police Department Special Victims Unit at (706) 653-3449.

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Sources:
ABC 9
Charley Project
Finding TJ
Missing Persons Center
Missing Persons in America
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Yesenia Castillo

Source: Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Yesenia Castillo has been missing since July 30th, 2006. The then-27-year-old was last seen leaving the La Estrella Nite Club in Chicago, Illinois. She has never been seen or heard from again. 

The nightclub where Yesenia was last seen is located in the 2500 block of north Milwaukee Avenue. While most reports about her disappearance note that Yesenia was last seen leaving the La Estrella, there does not appear to be any information about how she left the nightclub - whether it was on foot or in a vehicle. In fact, there appears to be very little reporting on Yesenia's case in general. 

At the time she vanished, Yesenia had brown hair, brown eyes, and facial piercings. She is described as approximately 4'8"-5'0" and 90-100 pounds. Yesenia's case is listed as a cold case by both the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Office. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact the Chicago PD at 312-744-8200 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
Cook County Sheriff's Office
Illinois Missing

The Disappearance of Stefanie Damron

 

Stefanie Damron has been missing since September 23rd, 2024. The then-13-year-old was last seen at her family's home in New Sweden, Maine. According to the family, Stefanie walked away from the home and into the woods after an argument with her older sister. She never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

Stefanie is the Damron's middle child. She has five siblings; at the time of her disappearance, they ranged from the ages of 8 to 21. The Damron family lives an "off-grid" lifestyle - their New Sweden home is a yurt-like structure that does not have any indoor plumbing or running water. The home is also located on 26 acres of land and is surrounded by vast woods. 

Stefanie's parents, Lisa and Christopher 'Dale' Damron told police that they were not home at the time Stefanie vanished. They explained that they were in town to fill out a job application, and they brought two of their children with them. Four of the other children, including Stefanie, stayed behind. At some point, Stefanie and her older sister got into an argument over chores. The family stated that the argument prompted Stefanie to storm off into the woods.

Lisa Damron explained that her oldest daughter sent her a text message about Stefanie being missing around 3:00 PM. She said that it was not unusual for Stefanie to want to take time to herself when she was upset. The family said that they looked around the woods for her, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Stefanie's parents contacted police the following day to report their daughter missing. 

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What happened to Stefanie?

Source: NBC News

As noted above, Stefanie seemingly vanished into thin air after being seen walking into the woods near her family's New Sweden, Maine home. The family stated that she was familiar with the woods and had ventured through the area several times in the past. Stefanie also reportedly had run off before during times of frustration, but according to family, she was always found within a few hours. 

Most reports indicate that Stefanie did not have a cell phone at the time of her disappearance. The Damron family's "off-grid" lifestyle gave Stefanie and her siblings very little access to electronic devices and social media. While the oldest Damron sibling seemed to have a phone, it does not appear that the other children had regular access to such items. 

More about the Damron family.

Two years before Stefanie's disappearance, the Damron family moved from Rusk, Texas to New Sweden, Maine. The move occurred after an incident in Texas in which the parents - Lisa and Christopher 'Dale' Damron - were arrested after they were found to be intoxicated at a local McDonald's while two of their children were left in their car. Lisa Damron later pleaded guilty to a charge of deadly conduct and received a deferred sentence.

Some of the Damron children were temporarily removed from their parent's custody following this incident. Once custody was restored, the family moved to Maine. The family moved with a man named Richard, who the children refer to as their grandfather, but is actually a lifelong associate of Dale Damron. After moving to Maine, the family befriended a man named Andrew - who the children refer to as 'Uncle Andrew'. The yurt structure that the family moved into is on Andrew's property.

Stefanie and her siblings were reportedly homeschooled and "taught the basics". After Stefanie was reported missing, her parents told police that they planned to send their children to the government program Job Corp, which would help them gain qualifications to obtain GEDs. Reports state that Stefanie's older brother attended one of their classes, but there are no known records of any of the other Damron children doing so. 

Stefanie's access to a support system outside of her immediate family was very limited. She did not attend school and was not involved in any community activities such as sports or clubs. According to her family, she had "no friends" at the time of her disappearance.

More about Stefanie's disappearance.

As previously stated, Stefanie was reportedly home with a few of her siblings at the time of her disappearance. The Damron parents were not home, but the "grandfather", Richard was present. According to Richard, he was working at a maintenance project at the home when he saw Stefanie storm out of the house with tears in her eyes. 

It appears that Richard and possibly the older sister with whom Stefanie had argued witnessed Stefanie walking into the woods. Although the woods are vast, there is also reportedly a path through the area that leads to a main road. According to NBC News, "the family heard a vehicle pass by shortly after Stefanie ran off, although nobody saw it. They do not know if it was a vehicle, a four-wheeler, a motorcycle or something. By the time anybody got up there, the vehicle was already gone.”

The search for Stefanie.

The Damron family reportedly searched for Stefanie themselves around the area before contacting police. Stefanie was formally reported missing on September 24th, 2024. She turned 14 on October 6th, 2024 - about two weeks after she vanished.

Initial searches for Stefanie were extensive. Lt. Darrin Crane from the Maine State Police told Dateline, “Several K-9 teams went very early on. We’ve also gone back with cadaver dogs. We have talked to neighbors repeatedly — just seeing if they remember anything, or have heard anything, or saw anything suspicious that day or around that time frame.” A large-scale search of the dense wooded area took place for several days. Unfortunately, nothing was found.

Weeks stretched on without any updates in the case. Then, in December 2024, the FBI announced that they would be joining the Maine State Police on their investigation into Stefanie's disappearance. A $15,000 reward in exchange for information was announced as well. 

Meanwhile, as news about Stefanie's disappearance began to circulate around news outlets and social media, speculation began to build as well. Many people had questions about the Damron's family chosen off-grid lifestyle - especially as it seemingly kept their children isolated from the outside world. Many also questioned whether or not the children were receiving a suitable education.

There were also inevitable concerns about the arrest/CPS incident that had occurred just two years prior to Stefanie's disappearance in Texas. There has been speculation that the Damron parents chose to move the family to such a remote area in Maine to avoid further incidents involving CPS from occurring. Concerns about the parent's alcohol and possible drug use has been big topic as well. 

Despite all of this, police have publicly stated that they do not believe Lisa or Dale Damron are directly responsible for Stefanie's disappearance. However, they have not completely ruled out foul play as a factor in the case either. The fact that a vehicle was heard passing by shortly afterward Stefanie left her home makes it possible that she was picked up - but at this time, police have not been able to determine anything of the sort. 

It's also possible that Stefanie succumbed to an accidental death in the woods. However, there have not been any direct signs of that, either. In May 2025, another search took place for Stefanie that lasted over three days. The search included "personnel from the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, FBI, numerous volunteer search-and-rescue organizations and support teams using drones, K9s and horses." The search ended unsuccessfully; nothing of interest was found. 

Still missing.

At the time of her disappearance, Stefanie was approximately 5'0" and 130 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots.

The MSP and FBI are continuing to investigate Stefanie's disappearance. If you have any information that could help solve the case, please contact the Maine State Police at 207-532-5400 or submit a tip online with the FBI.

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Sources:
ABC 8 Maine
FBI
NBC News
Team Stefanie

The Disappearance and Homicide of Mayuko 'Mayu' Kawase

Mayuko 'Mayu' Kawase vanished at the age of 21 on August 20th, 2001. The young woman was living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the time of her disappearance. Originally from Japan, Mayu came to the United States as a foreign exchange student. She lived with a host family and was enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College.

According to reports, Mayu attended classes as usual on the day she vanished. There is very little additional information about the events leading up to her disappearance. What is known is that after August 20th, Mayu never attended her classes or contacted her loved ones ever again. She was reported missing on August 27th, 2001.

Mayu's fate remained a mystery for nearly six years. Then, in April 2007, human remains were found in a wooded area near the Boy Scout Camp Kickapoo in southeast Oklahoma City. In August 2007, DNA confirmed that the human remains were that of Mayuko 'Mayu' Kawase. The case then shifted to a homicide investigation.

What happened to Mayu?

More about Mayu.

It's known that Mayu came from Japan to the United States as part of a foreign exchange program. According to Oklahoma Cold Cases, she graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma English Institute. Afterwards, Mayu opted to enroll in a two-year program at Oklahoma City Community College. She had the option of enrolling into a four-year program at UCO but chose the two-year program so she could sooner return to Japan and be with her fiancé. 

When Mayu came to Oklahoma, she moved in with a host family. She became particularly close with her host mother, Jean. Jean described Mayu as "shy and gullible but very much wanted friends and could have been swayed into the wrong crowd." 

Mayu also often kept in touch with her family members in Japan. Her relatives quickly grew worried when she seemingly fell out of touch following August 20th, 2001.

Mayu's disappearance.

Oklahoma Cold Cases notes that Mayu's friend Brenda saw Mayu on the day of her disappearance. The two were classmates, and they reportedly drove to class together on August 20th, 2001. It appears that none of Mayu's loved ones saw or heard from her again after that day. As previously noted, she was reported missing on August 27th, 2001.

Oklahoma Cold Cases also reports that Mayu's last bank transaction occurred on August 23rd, 2001. It was reportedly a charge for $105.29 at an Albertson's located on 7000 S. May Avenue. It's unknown if any witnesses saw Mayu herself at the store. It was also noted that, once Mayu was reported missing, police found several faxes stacked up in her machine at her home - indicating that she had been missing for a few days.

A cold case disappearance.

Mayu's disappearance soon faded into a cold case. Years passed without any sign of the young woman. In 2006, Mayu's family members in Japan traveled to Oklahoma with a film crew for a Japanese crime show to search for Mayu's body near Lake Overholser. The search was prompted after a British psychic told Mayu's family that her body was buried in that area. Unfortunately, the investigative efforts did not turn up any evidence related to Mayu's disappearance.

Remains found.

Over a year after that search, on April 14th, 2007, a human skull was found in a wooded area near the Boy Scout Camp Kickapoo in southeast Oklahoma City - located approximately four miles north of Lake Overholser. A group of boys were hiking in the area when they spotted the skull. Police were called, and while they searched the scene, they found more human remains that matched the skull.

A forensic anthropologist concluded that the remains belonged to "an Asian or Hispanic female between the ages of 18 and 25," and that the female had been deceased somewhere between 2 and 10 years. As such, speculation that that the remains belonged to Mayu quickly began to build.

It took months, but in August 2007, DNA confirmed that the human remains were, in fact, that of Mayuko 'Mayu' Kawase. The case was then shifted to a homicide investigation, though the anthropologist was unable to determine an exact cause of death. 

Still unsolved.

Several years have passed since Mayu's remains were found, but the investigation into her death remains unsolved. No suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly identified. The Oklahoma City Police Department is the investigative agency in this case.

If you have any information that could help solve the homicide of Mayuko 'Mayu' Kawase, please contact authorities at 405-297-1126.

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Sources:

Charley Project
NBC News
News on 6
Oklahoma Cold Cases
The Oklahoman
Pioneer

 

The Disappearance of Siphat Chau

 

Siphat Chau vanished during the early morning hours of December 24th, 2005. At the time, the 19-year-old was visiting his family in Portland, Maine for the holidays. Siphat was last sitting on the couch at his parent's house between 12:30 and 1:00 AM. Hours later, when his family woke up, they noticed Siphat was gone. He has never been seen or heard from again.

Siphat left many of his personal belongings behind, including his wallet, car, and keys. It's believed that he was wearing jeans, a red sweatshirt, and Timberland boots at the time he went missing. Other than that, there are very few details available about the events leading up to his disappearance.

Loved ones of Siphat noted that his sudden absence was incredibly uncharacteristic. Friends described Siphat as charming and smart. He graduated with honors from Portland High School and earned a partial scholarship to University of Maine in Orono. 

However, like many recent high school graduates, Siphat was unsure of his future. He reportedly waited until the last minute to decide to enroll at the university for the fall 2005 semester. Siphat majored in business and finished his first semester, but did not register for classes for the spring semester.

 

Several reports note that Siphat was having financial difficulties at the time due to online gambling. His family reportedly asked him to come back to Portland indefinitely to be closer to his support system. Siphat's friends and family also noted that he did not often talk to them about his personal issues. Despite this, they have never believed he would voluntarily stay out-of-touch. 

Both Portland Police and Bangor Police have investigative agency in Siphat's disappearance. If you have any information that could help solve Siphat's case, please contact the Portland Police Department at 207-874-8575 or the Bangor Police Department at 207-947-7384.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Portland Police
Tapatalk
Websleuths
WGME 1

The Disappearance of Haneul Oh

Source: fbi.gov

Haneul Oh has been missing since December 2021. The then-21-year-old was last seen in Davie, Florida. Haneul is originally from South Korea but was living in Florida at the time of her disappearance. Reports state that she was both studying and working at a study abroad institute. 

Haneul was reported missing on January 28th, 2022 - her 22nd birthday. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that the last confirmed sighting of Haneul occurred over a month earlier, on December 20th, 2021. Further details about the events leading up to her disappearance are unknown, but investigators have said that she is missing under suspicious circumstances. 

The FBI got involved in the search for Haneul early into the investigation. It was then reported that Haneul might be traveling in a gray 2005 Toyota Corolla with the New Jersey license plate number L20NAZ. She reportedly has ties to both New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland - but the extent of those connections has not been disclosed. 

Source: fbi.gov

Years have passed since Haneul vanished, and no updates have been provided on her case. The FBI remains involved in the investigation. If you have any information that could lead to Haneul's whereabouts, please contact the Davie Police Department 954-693-8200 or submit a tip with the FBI online. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
FBI
Investigation Discovery
Korean article
Websleuths