Left and Center: Cherrie circa, 1985
Right: Age Progressed to age 38
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: February 22, 1985
Missing From: Cabot, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: August 14, 1976
Age: 8 years old
Height and Weight: 4’2″ and 68 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Hazel eyes, Cherrie previously broke her left arm below her shoulder hit the injury had healed by the time she disappeared, she has a dog bite scar on her left arm, Cherrie has a cowlick on the right side of her hair, and her ears are pierced
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white leotard, a gray coat, a blue denim skirt, white stockings, blue leg warmers, beige soft ankle boots with no heals, Brown Cabbage Patch earmuffs, Cherrie was carrying a blue backpack with two straps and a cream colored top and was decorated with a blue and red heart
NCMEC Number: 601805
Details of Disappearance
Cherrie Mahan was last seen on February 22nd 1985 in Cabot, Pennsylvania. She disappeared after getting off the school bus from her elementary school at approximately 4:05 pm. Three other children got off the bus at her stop.
She was approximately 100 to 150 yards along the dirt driveway from her family’s residence on Cornplanter Road. Cherrie never arrived home and has never been seen again. Her stepfather reported her missing when he couldn’t locate her.
Authorities believe that Cherrie was kidnapped and possibly murdered afterwards. A bright blue or green 1976 Dodge Van is believed to possibly be involved in Mahan’s abduction. 
The van was seen following the school bus that Cherrie got off of that day. It was described as having a snow capped mountain and skier mural painted on both of its sides. The skier of the mural was wearing red and yellow clothing and was depicted skiing down the mountain. The vehicle has never been located or identified and it’s unclear if it was the vehicle used to abduct Mahan.
A small blue car was also seen in the area at the time of Cherrie’s disappearance but its unknown is this vehicle was involved either. According to her mother, Cherrie was conceived through rape when she was 16 years old. Cherrie’s mother did tell the police but they didn’t believe her and her biological father was never charged with any wrongdoing.
Her mother believes that people who had connections to Cherrie’s biological father were involved in Cherrie’s presumed abduction. He maintains his innocence in his daughters disappearance.
Cherries family legally petitioned to have her declared legally deceased and the action was granted in 1992. They donated the life insurance policy to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and put a car accident settlement they had given to Cherri to her brother for a trust fund.
Cherries abduction remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made in her case and no suspects have been identified in the case.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Pennsylvania State Police 412-284-8100
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children