Left and Center: Heather circa, 1999
Right: Age Progressed to age 25
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: July 15, 1999
Missing From: St. Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: March 9, 1987
Age: 12 years old
Height and Weight: 4’11” and 75 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Hazel eyes, Heather has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and requires two injections of insulin daily to keep her condition stable, she also needs to test her blood sugar 4 times a day and sugared foods and drinks can sustain her for a short period of time if she doesn’t have her insulin, if Heather doesn’t receive medical assistance she will slip into a diabetic coma, she has a birthmark on her inner right thigh and her ears have been pierced multiple times, Heather also attempted to pluck her eyebrows in a home makeup experiment but ended up shaving them both off
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A dark blue t-shirt and a pair of green/blue plaid shorts
NCMEC Number: 867123
Details of Disappearance
Heather was allegedly abducted by an unknown person from an apartment in St. Louis, Missouri on July 15th 1999. She was staying with a couple, Dana Madden and Christopher Herbert at the time of her disappearance. She was also known to be babysitting their 2 month old baby. She was living there for about a week by the time she disappeared.
The apartment was located in the 1600 block of Yale Avenue in Richmond Heights. According to multiple reports, Madden was working the night shift and Herbert was reportedly not at home during the time and sis she was partying with friends by the river. At some point after 4:00 am, Herbert called Madden at work to say he returned home and discovered Heather missing and the baby screaming.
Authorities were called to the scene and discovered that a white floral comforter was also missing. A neighbor who was taking their dog for a walk saw a unidentified man leaving the apartment Heather was staying at 2:00 am. He was carrying a child who appeared to be Heathers age in that comforter. The child’s upper body was covered by this and appeared to be sleeping.
Investigators found almost no signs or Heather in the apartment. They did, however, recover a small amount of blood that was matched to Heather via DNA. She has never been seen or heard from since the day she was allegedly taken.
Investigators believe that Heather was attacked by someone who knew her family or the family she was staying with at the time of her abduction. It’s possible her disappearance could be linked to illegal drug activity at the time. The investigation centered and focused on a methamphetamine ring in Missouri.
A drug paraphernalia was discovered in the basement of the Madden and Herbert apartment. Madden denies knowing anything about the paraphernalia. Heather might have witnessed something she wasn’t meant to see such as illegal activity and was abducted over it and murdered. They have an unnamed person listed as a suspect in her case. His identity remains unknown to the public.
In March of 2002, the body of a female child were located in an area not far from where Kullorn was abducted. The remains were thought to be hers for some time until testing subsequently ruled her out as being the deceased girl.
Heathers mother, Christine Kullorn, was arrested in April of 2000 after she had a verbal confrontation with Dana Madden. She was arrested from the 7-11 store she worked at the time. She stated she believes that Madden and Herbert know more about what happened to Heather than they are letting on.
Investigators have noted that Herbert has given many conflicting statements regarding Heathers disappearance and his whereabouts at the time cannot be accounted for. Since Madden was at work at the time, her whereabouts have been accounted for. Christine and Heathers other relatives are not considered suspects in her disappearance.
Christine continues to actively seek her daughter and hopes to get justice for her. She stated that while Heather and her had their ups and downs, they became closer to each other after discovering Heather had diabetes. Heather was somewhat rebellious prior to her disappearance and was previously caught smoking. She fears her daughter was killed after her disappearance.
At the time of Heather’s disappearance, she shared a home with Christine and her brother, Matthew, in the 5400 block of Vermont Avenue. She was described as East going and a well behaved girl. She loved to wrestle with her uncles and cousins and loved the Mr. Freeze ride at Six Flags in St. Louis. She had a season pass and visited the park twice before her disappearance.
Heather had recently completed the 6th grade at Blow Middle School but she had to repeat the grade since she missed several weeks of school while being treated for her diabetic condition. Christine remains hopeful that she’ll see her daughter again someday and that she’s alive.
Heathers disappearance remains unsolved and foul play is strongly suspected. There’s been a group of people who have been monitored in connection to Heathers disappearance but they haven’t been officially labeled as suspects. No arrests have been made in the case.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Richmond Heights Police Department 314-645-3000
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 07/17/1999
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 07/24/1999