First post here, I had to sign up to weigh in on this.
As someone who lived in Dubuque, IA for 14 years, I have to say I am not surprised that it took them 2 years to find her.
Dubuque is right across the bridge from East Dubuque, IL and is covered by the same news stations. As a news junkie, I never once heard about Cheyenne, and I lived there during the time she first went missing. There also wasn't anything mentioned on radio stations, so I was surprised when I saw this post on Websleuths the other day.
Even though I now live in Los Angeles where I attend college, I still keep tabs on what goes on the area. For months, news stations had things set up for Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook, but nothing about Cheyenne, and I am disgusted, but like I said, not surprised.
I have went to LE in that area regarding putting a restraining order and filing harassment charges against an ex who tried breaking into my house, sent me threatening messages saying he was going to kill me, and nothing was done. They dismissed me as an overdramatic girl going through a breakup that wanted to 'punish' the guy. Despite having tons of saved evidence and my parents vouching for me, and our landlord that had to change the locks and put reinforcements on our windows, nothing was done. Thankfully, he was sent to rehab out of state before he could harm me or my mother.
I never disrespect LE, as I have a ton of family that are part of it (although in different areas) but the people there don't seem to care much, with the exception of a few. This is not false or here say, I can give records if people want to know that I actively tried to do something about my issue.
This is why it's sadly unsurprising that she was found in her own backyard. They don't do things thoroughly around there, as with most LE the home and around it is the VERY first place they check. Because she seemed troubled and from a bad home, and people said they saw her, I can almost bet they dismissed her completely because of the note. There really is no other excuse.
My mom called me in as a runaway when we were up in Minnesota visiting and she couldn't find me anywhere and my cell was off. She called the police, and first thing they did was look through the house for indicators of anything beside what was reported and around it. I was found in my bed sleeping with my phone that had died
I feel if this had been done ASAP, we would have known... I'm just so, so sad.
I'm so, so sickened by this story, and the fact that I had not even heard of it mentioned when I lived there. I would have been out there helping, but there wasn't even anything organized.
Dearest Cheyenne, I am so sorry it took justice this long to catch up to what happened to your beautiful soul. We all will keep you in our thoughts, forever. This shouldn't happen to anyone, let alone in their own home -- a place where someone should feel safe no matter what.
MOO, of course.