TX TX - Deanna Merryfield, 13, Killeen, 22 July 1990 - #1

[MissieMt]

Guys, you are awesome! I hope that it is okay with everyone if I am here.

Hi Missie. No worries. Your memory is fine. I imagine in time you may recall more, and the key to that may be to stay as mentally relaxed as you can and don't pressure yourself. I hope that this was not too painful for you to recall and post it. The information you provided is very helpful. And, it is not far off from what I thought may have happened. I may have lots more questions, and I hope it doesn't overload your brain lol. If it does, please let me know that you need to take a break.

I need to leave StarBucks and head home to care for my animals. Then I need to train. I should be back on later tonight. Best to you Missie, and I will do what I can to help you to find dear Deanna.

Lion

Thank you SO much Lion. My brain is definately not overloaded thus far. It's so nice to finally be doing something about this.

This must be so hard for you Melissa--you are so brave! I am curious to what exactly was said the night Deanna went to see her twin. Maybe she planned on leaving and wanted to say goodbye? Is there any chance that your stepfather is responsible for your sisters disappearance, especially in light of the fact that the sexual abuse case may have had to do with her? Is there a chance it was not Deanna but her twin that was abused? Does Deanna's twin want to find her?

As far as our stepfather goes, your guess is as good as mine. He doesn't seem like he'd be capable of such a thing, but he didn't seem capable of what he was charged for too. Deanna's twin definately wants to find her. I'm not sure hwo it was that was abused (could've just been her, or more-i don't know)

Your stepfathers last name is Hawaiian I believe, and his nickname is pineapple. Is there any chance Deanna was sent to live with his relatives in Hawaii? I wish you had access to the files on the sexual abuse case--they may have alot of answers.

Your right Julessleuther, great job! He is Hawaiian. I never heard anyone call him "pineapple" but maybe thats from when he was younger. I don't think she would have been sent to Hawaii, ever since I could remember he had very little contact with his family in Hawaii. We never even met them until a few years after our Mom died.
I will definately be on the phone on Monday. By then my sisters should have more info and pictures for me. Does anyone have a preffered website to look up ssn activity? I know there are tons out there, but has anyone used one?

 

[Jaded]

Holy cheetah! Hi Jaded. Since when have we been told not to post pics in the forum anymore? When did this happen? I have been posting a bunch of pics lately, and now I feel bad. Is this a new rule? I hope so, or else I when against the rules posting lots of pics. I am sorry that I didn't know that.

Lion

The button for the image link is missing so I am assuming that the function has been turned off. Anyone know if the powers that be have removed this feature?

 

[Julessleuther]

Take a look at her ears in this pic, and the color of the eyes. Hair looks as though it might be dyed.

http://a874.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00967/37/84/967334873_l.jpg

(just realized that you can't put pics in the forum anymore?)

I am REALLY thinking that this is NOT Deanna. First of all, she lists her hometown as Wildomar, California. Also, she got some of her tattoos done in Germany, so I am guessing her husband is military, so they are stationed at Ft Hood. Finally, she is a Pisces, and Deanna would be an Aquarius, as her birthday is right around mine.

 

[Jaded]

I think you are right JS. I went on to read her blogs, and it can't possibly be DM.

 

[Julessleuther]

Thank you SO much Lion. My brain is definately not overloaded thus far. It's so nice to finally be doing something about this.


As far as our stepfather goes, your guess is as good as mine. He doesn't seem like he'd be capable of such a thing, but he didn't seem capable of what he was charged for too. Deanna's twin definately wants to find her. I'm not sure hwo it was that was abused (could've just been her, or more-i don't know)


Your right Julessleuther, great job! He is Hawaiian. I never heard anyone call him "pineapple" but maybe thats from when he was younger. I don't think she would have been sent to Hawaii, ever since I could remember he had very little contact with his family in Hawaii. We never even met them until a few years after our Mom died.
I will definately be on the phone on Monday. By then my sisters should have more info and pictures for me. Does anyone have a preffered website to look up ssn activity? I know there are tons out there, but has anyone used one?

I found the Pineapple reference at the link you provided with his offender information. Pineapple was listed as a nickname or alias. I googled his last name and almost all references came up as Hawaiian names. I do not have info on the SSN--I would love to know a site for that as well! I wonder if she was hanging with a "bad crowd" if she had any arrest warrants? Since she would have been a minor though, those records would have been sealed. Just thinking out loud, I do that alot!

 

[LionRun]

The button for the image link is missing so I am assuming that the function has been turned off. Anyone know if the powers that be have removed this feature?

Good question. I have not been using the, "insert image" button. I have just using copy and paste. But, it looks like that button is gone, just like you said. Hmmm. I wonder hat that means.

Lion

 

[Jaded]

Good question. I have not been using the, "insert image" button. I have just using copy and paste. But, it looks like that button is gone, just like you said. Hmmm. I wonder hat that means.

Lion

Not sure, but this seems to be the only forum in the missing section that the button is not activated. *shrugs*

 

[MissieMt]

I talked to my oldest sister and she said she's going to try to start answering some of your questions over the weekend.

Also, I thought I already posted this info, but now I can't find it.
While Deanna's twin and my oldest sister were sharing an apartment they recieved a collect call from someone claiming to be Deanna. When they accepted the call the person hung up. When Deanna's twin recieved the phone bill the collect call was placed in Cave City, Kentucky. I think this call was placed in 1992.

 

[Julessleuther]

I talked to my oldest sister and she said she's going to try to start answering some of your questions over the weekend.

Also, I thought I already posted this info, but now I can't find it.
While Deanna's twin and my oldest sister were sharing an apartment they recieved a collect call from someone claiming to be Deanna. When they accepted the call the person hung up. When Deanna's twin recieved the phone bill the collect call was placed in Cave City, Kentucky. I think this call was placed in 1992.

Very interesting... Any family in Kentucky? I will look at this further for you...

 

[JDB]

Very interesting... Any family in Kentucky? I will look at this further for you...

I tried Cave City Nothing

 

[Julessleuther]

Some info on Cave City--it is a small community, so if she was there, it may not be difficult to find her.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Cave-City-Kentucky.html

If she attended high school there, she would have gone to Caverna High School.
http://www.caverna.k12.ky.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=4565

OK--not to get too many hopes up, but if Skipper White was a serious enough boyfriend, she may have taken on his last name if she ran away with him. I did find a DM White near Cave City, KY --I do not know if I should post the info here, but I can PM it to whomever would like it or thinks we can use this.

 

[MissieMt]

Some info on Cave City--it is a small community, so if she was there, it may not be difficult to find her.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Cave-City-Kentucky.html

If she attended high school there, she would have gone to Caverna High School.
http://www.caverna.k12.ky.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=4565

OK--not to get too many hopes up, but if Skipper White was a serious enough boyfriend, she may have taken on his last name if she ran away with him. I did find a DM White near Cave City, KY --I do not know if I should post the info here, but I can PM it to whomever would like it or thinks we can use this.

Good work again Julessleuther. I was thinking she would have gone to Barren County High School. I think within the next few day I will start a myspace age for her and join the school groups for schools she did or may have attended. I'm pretty certain Skipper did not run away with her. Family and myself have seen him in Killeen here and there in the years following her disappearance.

 

[Julessleuther]

Good work again Julessleuther. I was thinking she would have gone to Barren County High School. I think within the next few day I will start a myspace age for her and join the school groups for schools she did or may have attended. I'm pretty certain Skipper did not run away with her. Family and myself have seen him in Killeen here and there in the years following her disappearance.

Why do you think she may have gone to Barren County High? Did she like school, did she do well in school do you know? Do you think she would have finished school, or would she have dropped out if she had run away? Thanks for the info on Skipper--is that his real name? I could not find a Skipper White listed in TX. Did anyone ever ask Deanna's friends what happened to her? Perhaps since they would be adults now, they would be more willing to talk than they did ask angst teenagers??

 

[MissieMt]

Why do you think she may have gone to Barren County High? Did she like school, did she do well in school do you know? Do you think she would have finished school, or would she have dropped out if she had run away? Thanks for the info on Skipper--is that his real name? I could not find a Skipper White listed in TX. Did anyone ever ask Deanna's friends what happened to her? Perhaps since they would be adults now, they would be more willing to talk than they did ask angst teenagers??

The only reason I thought Barren County High was because Cave City is in Barren county. I'm not sure if she would have finished school, but I was just hoping that maybe someone who did go to school there might have known her. Skipper is his real name. I'll have to work on tracking down her friends.

 

[Julessleuther]

Ok--I checked Barron County High(On classmates.com) --there is a Deanna Bennett who attended 1992-1996. She now lives in CA. Also a Deanna Cole 92-96, a Denna Holbrook 93-97, Dina Minor 89-93, a Donna Michele Slayton 92-96 (caught my eye because of the middle name). Deanna Bennett is the only one with a profile:
http://www.classmates.com/cmo/user/...41&source=schoollist&site=schools&communityId

There is also a Glasgow High school. I will check that next. You are lucky--I am home sick today so have more free time than usual! Usually I am pretty busy.

 

[LionRun]

Yes, I live in Killeen. The closest "big" city is Austin. Anyone needing someone to go knock on doors let me know. We are expecting heavy storms today, so I will put off going to the library to search for newspaper articles until tomorrow.

I am in the Austin area. Once we figure out what neds to be done, I am here and can help.

Lion

 

[Jaded]

Good work again Julessleuther. I was thinking she would have gone to Barren County High School. I think within the next few day I will start a myspace age for her and join the school groups for schools she did or may have attended. I'm pretty certain Skipper did not run away with her. Family and myself have seen him in Killeen here and there in the years following her disappearance.

Should we contact Skipper? I think that we should compile the list of people who were her friends, and send emails inquiring of their last contact with her just to get some base info.

 

[LionRun]

Missie, do you know what your sister meant by this? Who's friends were in the brown car? Were they Deanna's friends, or your sister's friends, or who's? I am confused. Thanks in advance

G called Jimmy & he said that Deanna was there (to talk to Becky I think) around 3:30 AM in a brown car, w 2 guys that she said were my friends.

Do you or your sister who may be joining us feel any bond or have you ever been close with your stepfather? If so, I will be more careful of words I choose when speaking about him. If not, I will just speak my mind.

Can you tell me the exact area from which Deanna disappeared form, for example the street name from where she disappeared?

Jaded, the Texas Sex Offender Site is down for its typical maintenance. Can you tell me the stepfather's full name?

My gut feeling so far is that something went wrong in young Deanna's emotional and psychological development as a result of extreme family dysfunction and possibly sexual abuse. It appears she became, "tough" and began associating with less than desirable people because that was who she could best relate to.

At that point in her life I doubt she would have continued with school if she ran away, although ITA that every school should be checked in case she continued with school. If she ran away it is possible she continued on a downhill spiral into a drug filled life. But, she also could have changed her life for the better. The problem I have with that is that I would think she would have contacted someone in her family like a sister whom she would have had no problem with in the past. If your grandmother still lives in the same place I would think she knows where to find family. She could still be alive, but be homeless and troubled. And, unfortunately, she may not be with us anymore.

The two in the brown car she was reportedly last seen with--I would like to know a lot more about them. I would also love to confirm that story in a cement like manner. Is it possible she actually went back home that night and a a run in with the stepfather? What if your grandmother never knew? I would also like to know a lot more about the step father.

I have a feeling that either Deanna's case slipped through the cracks in LE or for reasons we can only speculate at this point, one or more of the adult family members at that time did not put forth the effort to find Deanna that we would expect. It may have been a combination of both.

However, we have at this time a surprising amount of seemingly good information and at least 3 people willing to trace back in their minds to that time period and Deanna's disappearance. That is more than we get in many cases.

What I say here is my own speculations for the most part, and I hope that I have not been insensitive. I believe that the only way to find the truth is to face the truth and the facts of what may have lead up to Deanna's disappearance. Some of this can be dang hard to take, and I can see that. You seem to be an outstanding person, Missie, and I admire your courage, your strength, and your motivation to do the next right thing.

Lion

 

[LionRun]

Should we contact Skipper? I think that we should compile the list of people who were her friends, and send emails inquiring of their last contact with her just to get some base info.

Hey Jaded. Great idea. Maybe we can help to organize this the best way we can to afford the best chance of finding Deanna and the truth of what happened to her?

Lion

 

[Jaded]

Hey Jaded. Great idea. Maybe we can help to organize this the best way we can to afford the best chance of finding Deanna and the truth of what happened to her?

Lion

Sounds like a plan. I've started a subforum for Deanna over at someoneknowsme to keep our facts straight.