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

[LionRun]

Thank you Missie:blowkiss:. I will be here for you as long as you need me to. And, boy do you have a nice group of caring, supportive people with dogged determination, like Christine, KT Can, sloane, and so many others who truly care and want to help. We have some of the best, most giving people on WS, and I love just being a part of this group!

I am glad your internet is back up! Do you have the link for Deanna's myspace? I cannot find it. Thank you in advance, friend.



Lion

 

[MissieMt]

This is why I love websleuths! I'm so glad I found all of you!!

Lion, Deanna's myspace link is in my siggy. The ex still hasn't written back, but I'm not sure how often she gets on so it may be a little while.

 

[LionRun]

This is why I love websleuths! I'm so glad I found all of you!!

Lion, Deanna's myspace link is in my siggy. The ex still hasn't written back, but I'm not sure how often she gets on so it may be a little while.

Brain surge! Duh! Now why didn't I think to look at your siggy? I think my brain was on hold:crazy:. Thank Missie.

Lion

 

[KOOL LOOK]

Sadly, if he ever threatened Deanna she may have been the only one besides him to ever know. Trust me, I speak from experience and research.

But, she may have truly run away and met with foul play. And, there is even a remote possibility that she is still alive. I hope and pray that is the case, but I want to help Missie and her family find Deanna and the truth of what happened.

Lion

Lionrun, I just feel some information is out there, and if missie keeps digging, and we keep motivating her, some answers will come.

Missie, keep asking questions, someone knows something. Have you ever thought about running an expensive ad in the local newspaper where she last lived for a couple of weeks asking for any information?

 

[LionRun]

Lionrun, I just feel some information is out there, and if missie keeps digging, and we keep motivating her, some answers will come.

Missie, keep asking questions, someone knows something. Have you ever thought about running an expensive ad in the local newspaper where she last lived for a couple of weeks asking for any information?

This is what we are hoping for and working towards. I like your idea about an ad. I suggested that in the Roxanne Paltauf case, but it wasn't done. I think taking a large color ad out in the major Sunday paper might not be a bad idea at all.

Lion

 

[MissieMt]

You know guys, that is a great idea. Finances should be better once we move (we'll save $350 a month buying ) so I will certainly look into that. But what contact info should i put in it? Probably just Sgt. Davis-huh? Bet that will get him moving again,

 

[MissieMt]

okay-you guys got the wheels in my noggin turning. I'm thinking that I should write to the local paper (Killeen Daily Herald) and see if they are interested in her story. Only problem-I suck at this kind of stuff. Can someone help me with what to say? Any suggestions would help!

 

[LionRun]

okay-you guys got the wheels in my noggin turning. I'm thinking that I should write to the local paper (Killeen Daily Herald) and see if they are interested in her story. Only problem-I suck at this kind of stuff. Can someone help me with what to say? Any suggestions would help!

Hi Missie. I will be glad to help if you want me to. I had a really bad day, and I think it would be really good to focus on helping my friends where I can to help me to get out of myself. You can read my long story on the jury forum to get an idea of why I am feeling like this. But, anyway, I would love to help you:blowkiss:.

Lion

 

[MissieMt]

Thank you Lion! I have no experience with sort of thing. I need advice on what to tell them? How do I convince them that her story needs to be reported? Should I tell them everything? I think some specific details need to be left out, like the specifics of the abuse. Our stepdad still lives there, and as much as I may dislike him, lynch mob showing up at his door won't help.

 

[LionRun]

Hi Missie. You might want to focus on things like your family was having difficultiesn and that somehow she may have fallen through the cracks (i.e. Our family was struggling back then, and my sisters and I were too young to know what to do. We never realized until recently that Deanna's case seemed to all but fall through the cracks. We want more than anything to find her no matter the outcome. We love her and miss her, and we need to bring her home.).

How exactly did she fall through the cracks, anyway? It seems not much was done after the initial report was filed. Was it a combination of family struggles and LE missing the boat?

If you need help composing or editing or what to include, I am here for you, friend.

Lion

 

[KOOL LOOK]

Hey guys, I didn't mean expensive ad in my earlier post, I meant in-expensive, dohhh.

Now we know who doesn't need to help write the article about Deanna, :dance:

Missie, definately contact a reporter, anyone at that newspaper, someone will be interested. The reason why: Newspapers need to sell newspapers and mysteries always sells period.

I agree about not slamming the step father, especially in the beginning, it wouldn't serve a purpose. Maybe he will be willing to reveal information if he sees this isn't a witch hunt about him too.

If we can get them to run the story, it would be free. A local specific section to peak the publics interest, then continue for weeks until something breaks. People are always interested in these types of things.

It wouldn't be hard to write this story section by section. We need to get as much details in as possible in order to move someones memories and desires to help even if their not involved. Maybe even ask for volunteers, etc...

I'm gonna say it again, someone knows something. You may even want to contact the local prison, criminals do talk, and if she met with a bad fate, sometimes people want to clear their conscious when given an opportunity.

Sheila

 

[MissieMt]

okay, this is great info so far. You guys are helping probably way more than you realize-keep it coming please!

 

[MissieMt]

Hi Missie. You might want to focus on things like your family was having difficultiesn and that somehow she may have fallen through the cracks (i.e. Our family was struggling back then, and my sisters and I were too young to know what to do. We never realized until recently that Deanna's case seemed to all but fall through the cracks. We want more than anything to find her no matter the outcome. We love her and miss her, and we need to bring her home.).

How exactly did she fall through the cracks, anyway? It seems not much was done after the initial report was filed. Was it a combination of family struggles and LE missing the boat?

If you need help composing or editing or what to include, I am here for you, friend.

Lion

Lion-were you posing this question to me or as something to put in the letter to a reporter? Because I wish I knew the answer to that. Maybe if I could ever get those elusive reports I would know exactly how much and what was investigated. From what I've heard, the cops didn't question anyone.
As we see far to often, she was assumed a runaway by everyone and now we can assume she is not. All of this is really starting to bother me. I wonder who I should write about taking more action when kids runaway. I really think if people and LE took runaways more seriously, kids would see that and runaway less often. I'm trying to word this correctly, but it's not working. I think maybe if the ones who runaway just to be little rebellious boogers actually got in trouble for it, it wouldn't happen as often. Is anyone following what I'm saying:waitasec:

 

[SadieMae]

Many reporters will do investigations and interviews on their own if pointed in the right direction to get the story.

 

[KOOL LOOK]

Lion-were you posing this question to me or as something to put in the letter to a reporter? Because I wish I knew the answer to that. Maybe if I could ever get those elusive reports I would know exactly how much and what was investigated. From what I've heard, the cops didn't question anyone.
As we see far to often, she was assumed a runaway by everyone and now we can assume she is not. All of this is really starting to bother me. I wonder who I should write about taking more action when kids runaway. I really think if people and LE took runaways more seriously, kids would see that and runaway less often. I'm trying to word this correctly, but it's not working. I think maybe if the ones who runaway just to be little rebellious boogers actually got in trouble for it, it wouldn't happen as often. Is anyone following what I'm saying:waitasec:

The first two places to contact is Law enforcement and the department of social services. They both should have reports. She would have been their legal charge as well as your parents. Contact her school, past students and administration at the time. Even a current employee maybe willing to help if you can reach them on a personal level.

Contact the last known person to have been with her prior to the two unknown/known guys in the brown car.

Also, placing a personal classmates page on what would have been her last known location, that will cost a little, but she may well be checking as it's become more and more popular these days to do.

Have you checked the county and local surrounding counties to see if they have any un-identified female remains? I don't feel she would have gotten very far if she was harmed.

The local newspaper ad is your best bet. The reason why: Someone had to know something about the two guys in the brown car in and around the time of her disappearance.

It may take you personally meeting with this officer to put some fire and determination under his hiney. Heck, how much does a billboard sign cost for that area? You could take up donations, etc...

Have you contacted America's most wanted? I would at least get my name in the hat for a future segment, you just never never know.

 

[MissieMt]

Thank you Kool Look for your very good ideas. I've filed requests for the records, I just haven't recieved them. I don't live in the area anymore-it's about a 10 hour drive from here, so it's hard for me to get a face to face visit in with Sgt. Davis. So I have to wait until our next visit to that area, which I don't know when that will happen. Who knows, maybe there will be a hurricane evacuation this season and we will go there. I have made her a myspace page and posted bulletins on the high school bulletin boards there.

 

[LionRun]

Lion-were you posing this question to me or as something to put in the letter to a reporter? Because I wish I knew the answer to that. Maybe if I could ever get those elusive reports I would know exactly how much and what was investigated. From what I've heard, the cops didn't question anyone.
As we see far to often, she was assumed a runaway by everyone and now we can assume she is not. All of this is really starting to bother me. I wonder who I should write about taking more action when kids runaway. I really think if people and LE took runaways more seriously, kids would see that and runaway less often. I'm trying to word this correctly, but it's not working. I think maybe if the ones who runaway just to be little rebellious boogers actually got in trouble for it, it wouldn't happen as often. Is anyone following what I'm saying:waitasec:

Hi Missie. It seems Deanna did fall through the cracks. Do you know if LE ever questioned Bekki or your grandmother after Deanna was reported missing? Over time, when your grandmother check in with LE to see if they knew anything, were they receptive to her questions? I was never sure that Deanna ran away. She was very close to Bekki and never shared her plan. I think she would have contacted at least Bekki had she run away. I agree that it is a huge problem when LE thinks a person ran away and they do little if anything to find them. The same thing happened with Roxanne Paltauf. She is in my siggy, and I pray for her every day. We all know, and I think LE realises now that Roxy did not run away.

I do think that in most if not all cases where a child truly runs away it is a sign that something is very wrong within the child, with the child's relationship with the parent(s), or within the whole family. It doesn't always mean that the family is a, "bad" family--just that some problem may not be being addressed. I don't know if the child getting in trouble will help, in fact it may hurt. The child is more likely to try harder not to get caught. If they get in trouble they are likely in many cases to shut down and not try to make it work in the family even more. I think the runaway and the whole family should be required to get counseling to get to the bottom of things and to work it out. The runaway may be manifesting family problems when actually the family unit is unstable or troubled.

And, sometimes the child runs away due to sexual and/or physical or mental abuse. So, I think an advocate for the runaway might be helpful. But, all of this costs money. And, it is money that the taxpayers would not be willing or able to agree to spending. This of course is just my opinion, but I sure wish we could do more to help our runaways and the missing that LE has falsely assumed to have run away.

Lion

 

[MissieMt]

I agree Lion. I was thinking that the runaway getting in trouble may do more harm than good.
As far as I know not my grandmother or Bekki were ever questioned after Deanna was reported missing. And from what I was told when my grandmother called they always just blew her off, and told her there was no new info.
I've been foloowing Roxanne's thread since it began. It is down right heartbreaking and a perfect example of why things need to change. She reminds me a lot of one of my sisters friends, but that is a whole other story, and they did find her body faster than most

 

[MissieMt]

Okay-my sweet husband is gonna help me write a letter to the Killeen Daily Herald. Hopefully we can get that done tomorrow evening.
OT: That killeen daily herald message board I linked to is giving me heartache. I've tried to register twice now, and neither have gone through. I'm waiting for a moderater to approve, not sure what the deal is since they've approved others since I tried.

 

[MissieMt]

I sent out about 45 emails last night to local reporters. Thanks to LionRun for basically recreating my letter so that it made since, you did a great job!!! Now I'm playing the waiting game-I'm very excited!