Crime Junkie: "MISSING: Cherrie Mahan"

Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Ashley Flowers with Britt Prawat

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of Crime Junkie revisits the infamous and heartbreaking case of Cherrie Mahan, an 8-year-old girl who vanished after getting off her school bus in rural Cabot, Pennsylvania, in 1985. Forty years later, new leads are emerging—including a prison exchange with a possible witness and local rumors implicating neighbors. Ashley and Britt unravel the enduring mystery, examine the continued impact on Cherrie’s family, and call for public help to finally find answers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Disappearance: Setting the Stage

• [02:06] On February 22, 1985, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan was dropped off by her school bus at 4:10 pm. The one day her parents weren’t at the bus stop, Cherrie disappeared within the 500 feet between the road and her front door.
  • “And somewhere in the 500 ft between the road and her home, Cherrie disappeared. And she hasn’t been seen in over 40 years.” —Ashley Flowers [04:11]
• Immediate searches—by family, police, volunteers with bloodhounds and helicopters—yielded no clues, evidence, or personal belongings.

Early Investigation: Missteps & Suspicions

• [06:56] Initial police response treated Cherrie as a runaway, then focused on her parents, Janice and Leroy, given their struggles and Leroy’s motorcycle gang connection.
• Both parents passed polygraph tests, but remained under suspicion.
• Cherrie’s biological father, connected to a different motorcycle gang, was also investigated and ultimately ruled out.

Cherrie’s Fear & Neighborhood Suspicion

• [12:01] Months before her disappearance, Cherrie became fearful, telling her mother she thought someone was watching her from her bedroom window. Janice took it seriously, moving her closer and buying blackout curtains, but Cherrie remained scared, sleeping on the floor.
• “She was afraid like this up until she disappeared.” —Ashley Flowers [12:36]
• This fear led police to finally interview children on Cherrie’s bus, revealing sightings of a distinctive blue-green van with a painting of a skier and mentions of a small blue car.

The Infamous Van & Elusive Evidence

• Both kids and adults (including a local mom, Debbie Burke) reported seeing the van, but the only similar vehicle—owned by a nearby woman, Donna Patterson—was cleared after her brother-in-law established an alibi for the van’s location.
• The van became a fixation for police but was never found or definitively tied to the case.
  • “But I go back to, they never found the van and they never found Cherrie, even despite some pretty big campaigns.” —Ashley Flowers [20:20]

Nationwide Awareness & Cold Trails

• Cherrie’s face was among the first featured on “Have You Seen Me?” mailers and milk cartons. Her information was also distributed internationally.
• Police tracked leads involving similar vans in other abductions, but nothing directly linked back.

New Leads: Letters & Local Whispers

The ‘Pastor Justice’ Letter

• [22:22] In 2018, Janice received an anonymous letter alleging Cherrie was killed by associates of her biological father, part of a supposed “Quaker cult,” for reasons related to child support.
  • Gave details for the location of Cherrie’s remains, prompting a police search with no results.
  • “But unfortunately nothing comes of it. So it is another dead end.” —Ashley Flowers [23:42]

Possible Sighting: Cherrie as an Adult

• Also in 2018, a caller claimed to be Cherrie, but fingerprints disproved this, renewing the family’s pain.

The Montgomery Connection: A Disturbing New Angle

A Bombshell at the Bar

• [27:08] In 2023, Janice encounters a childhood acquaintance at her local VFW, who claims John Montgomery—a neighbor at her mother’s house—and another man had been molesting Cherrie and other local children.
• No signs of abuse were noticed by Janice, except Cherrie’s fear after moving away from the Montgomery house.

Details Emerge, Police Unresponsive

• The source attempted to report this to police years earlier; allegedly, police set up a wire to confront John Montgomery, but he denied involvement and shifted blame.
• John Montgomery died in 2022. His son, “Buddy” (William Montgomery), is a registered sex offender, currently incarcerated.
• Despite no previous charges against John or the other named man, locals recall “Buddy” being present in the area at the time.

Community Action: Cherry’s Angels

• Janice’s friend Bailey forms “Cherry’s Angels,” working with a private investigator and promising a $100,000 reward for credible information.
• Bailey investigates connections, discovering Buddy’s sex offender status, his 2004 abuse conviction, and his presence in the neighborhood during the time Cherrie vanished.

The Prison Correspondence: Buddy’s Statements

• Janice writes to Buddy in prison; Buddy replies hesitantly, demanding to tell his story on live TV for protection, and dodges requests for in-person meetings.
  • "He says he wants his story televised for his own protection." —Ashley Flowers [39:30]
• The Crime Junkie team also contacts Buddy, who emphatically denies any involvement and claims ignorance about Cherrie’s disappearance or her whereabouts.
  • “I also want to make it very clear to you… that I may have had anything to do with the disappearance of Cherrie Mahan to go straight to the enslavements of hell.” —Buddy, as quoted by Ashley Flowers [42:54]
  • Buddy also claims only “the right questions asked to those within his father's little circle” will reveal the truth, asserting he was never part of it.
• Buddy insists on being interviewed on live TV with a polygraph but remains evasive.

Other Leads: The Backpack Hint

• A local tip suggests a backpack believed to be Cherrie’s was submerged on the Montgomery property post-disappearance, but details are unclear and it’s not known if the property was ever searched.

Alleged Confession: A Friend’s Story

• A man named Mike claims to have overheard Buddy implicate his father (John Montgomery) in Cherrie’s disappearance. Mike says he tried to share this with police, but Crime Junkie could not confirm police action.

Law Enforcement & Final Thoughts

• Police declined to speak with Crime Junkie, citing the ongoing investigation.
• The episode closes with appeals for anyone holding information to come forward, and reminders about the importance of vigilance against both strangers and known individuals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I mean, what could possibly happen in your own driveway?” —Ashley Flowers [03:24]
• “She was afraid someone was watching her from her bedroom window…she was sleeping on the floor. No pillows, no blankets.” —Ashley Flowers [12:21]
• “That van could theoretically have pulled off into a driveway or something before Cherrie got off and waited until Debbie left…the circle around Cherrie is now infinitely wide.” —Ashley Flowers [17:24–17:32]
• “Cherry was the first missing child to have her picture printed on a postcard and sent around the country…one of the first missing children whose missing person’s poster was placed on a milk carton.” —Ashley Flowers [20:25]
• “Anonymous tips, letters, dead ends…but every so often, a new ripple in the case emerges—reminding us never to say never, even after 40 years.” —Ashley Flowers [25:24 summary]
• “He wants to do this [tell his story] live — on television, hooked up to a polygraph.” —Ashley Flowers [44:25]
• “What I hope that we can take away…is that we need to protect our kids from strangers, from the people they know.” —Ashley Flowers [45:35]

Important Timestamps

• [04:11] — Cherrie’s disappearance after stepping off the bus
• [12:01-12:36] — Cherrie’s growing fear and behavioral changes
• [13:58-15:59] — Discovery of van and blue car by witnesses
• [20:25] — Nationwide efforts: Milk cartons, postcards
• [22:22-23:34] — The ‘Pastor Justice’ letter and tip
• [27:08-31:33] — New allegations concerning the Montgomerys
• [33:12-36:02] — Community-driven investigation and Bailey’s involvement
• [38:15-44:25] — Janice and Buddy’s prison correspondence; Crime Junkie’s attempts to contact Buddy
• [45:35] — Final thoughts on the importance of vigilance and resources for abuse survivors

Tone & Style

• The episode maintains a balance between empathetic, methodical investigation and emotional storytelling. Ashley’s tone is determined, compassionate, and occasionally frustrated with dead ends and institutional silence. Britt provides support and asks clarifying, sometimes skeptical, questions, reflecting listener curiosity and concern.

Call to Action & Resources

• Crime Junkie asks anyone with information about Cherrie Mahan or the Montgomerys to reach out via their tip line: tips@audiochuck.com
• For anyone affected by child sexual abuse, the episode spotlights the RAINN sexual assault hotline and urges listeners to seek support if needed.

Listenership is encouraged to stay vigilant, support cold case efforts, and never lose hope in seeking justice and closure for Cherrie’s family.

For sources, blog posts, redacted letters, and further updates, visit: crimejunkie.com

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