On February 22, 1985, eight-year-old Cherrie Mahan got off her school bus just 150 yards from home. It was an ordinary afternoon in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Her family expected her to walk up the driveway and come through the front door. She never arrived.
More than four decades later, Cherrie is still missing, and the question of what happened to her remains unanswered.
Her case is one of seven missing-child disappearances that continue to haunt families and challenge investigators. From children who vanished on their way home from school to a toddler who disappeared from a holiday apartment, these cases reveal how quickly an ordinary day can become a lifelong search. Here is what happened, where each investigation stands in 2026, and what families can learn about child safety.
Quick answer
Unsolved missing children cases are disappearances where the child was never found and no one was convicted. Among the best known are Cherrie Mahan (1985), Sabrina Aisenberg (1997), Sarah Kinslow (2001), Madeleine McCann (2007), Adji Desir (2009), Kyron Horman (2010) and Lisa Irwin (2011). All seven remain open in 2026.
How Often Do Missing Children Stay Missing?
Most missing children come home. In 2025, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) assisted with 32,167 cases of missing children, and 90% of those children were recovered.
The cases that stay open are a small share, but they never close for the families living them. NCMEC's Team Adam, a network of retired law enforcement professionals, supported 296 cases in 2025, including 275 long-term missing child cases, according to NCMEC's 2025 impact data.
That is the gap this article is about: the children who were not found in the first hours, days, or years, and the people still looking for them.
What Helps Bring Missing Children Home
Every case below is different, but the same few things keep showing up in the ones that do get solved.
- Speed: The first hours matter most. In Kyron Horman's case, his absence from class went unnoticed until he did not get off the school bus that afternoon.
- Public eyes: Cherrie Mahan became the first child featured on the nationwide "Have You Seen Me?" mailers, which put missing children's photos into millions of mailboxes.
- Science: DNA databases, genetic genealogy and age-progression images are reopening old files. NCMEC's forensic artists completed 187 age-progression images of long-term missing children.
- Persistence: Between 2021 and 2023, NCMEC found that 117 children were safely recovered after being missing for 10 years or more. In 2026, an Arizona girl who vanished in 1994 was found alive after a sheriff's cold case unit reopened her file.
For families, prevention comes down to the same ideas: notice fast, know where your child is supposed to be, and have a plan ready before you ever need it. We cover that plan later in this article.
7 Unsolved Missing Children Cases That Are Still Open
The cases are listed in the order the children disappeared. Each includes the latest update we could verify and the agency to contact if you know anything.
1. Cherrie Mahan (Winfield Township, Pennsylvania, 1985)
Cherrie got off her school bus on Cornplanter Road at about 4:10 p.m. on February 22, 1985. Witnesses saw her walk past a bluish-green 1970s Dodge van with a mural of a skier on a snowy mountain painted on its side.
When her parents searched the driveway, they found none of her footprints in the snow leading to the house. Neither the van nor Cherrie was ever found, and a judge declared her legally dead in 1998 at her mother's request.
Where it stands in 2026: Pennsylvania State Police treat the case as active. In 2024, a woman claimed online to be Cherrie, but police said an initial fingerprint review showed she was not. On the 41st anniversary in February 2026, her family said they had been in contact with a prison inmate they believe may hold key information, and a private investigator has offered a $100,000 reward.
Tips: Pennsylvania State Police, Butler barracks, 724-284-8100.
2. Sabrina Aisenberg (Valrico, Florida, 1997)
Sabrina was five months old when she vanished from her crib three days before Thanksgiving in 1997. Her mother, Marlene, said she checked on her around midnight. By the next morning, Sabrina and her blue and yellow blanket were gone, and the garage door was open.
Suspicion fell on her parents, who were indicted in 1999 on charges of conspiring and lying to investigators. In 2001 a judge found that investigators had misrepresented evidence to get wiretaps, and the couple was cleared of all charges. They were never charged with harming their daughter.
Where it stands in 2026: The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office calls the case active. Sabrina would now be 29. Her parents have their DNA on consumer genealogy sites and believe she may be alive and raised by another family.
Tips: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, 813-247-8200, or NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678.
3. Sarah Kinslow (Greenville, Texas, 2001)
Fourteen-year-old Sarah was dropped off at Greenville Middle School at 7:20 a.m. on May 1, 2001. She and her friends had planned to skip class and meet at a local cemetery, but her friends say she never showed up. Police dogs followed her scent two blocks from the school before the trail ended.
Sarah had been seeing an 18-year-old, who was arrested a week later on a charge related to the relationship because she was underage. He told police they had talked about running away together but were not serious. Sarah left her purse, her toothbrush, and her spare clothes behind.
Where it stands in 2026: She is still classified as an endangered runaway. There were possible sightings in Oregon and British Columbia in 2004, but none were confirmed. Sarah would now be 40.
Tips: Greenville Police Department, 903-457-2900.
4. Madeleine McCann (Praia da Luz, Portugal, 2007)
Three-year-old Madeleine was asleep in her family's holiday apartment in the Algarve while her parents ate at a restaurant nearby on May 3, 2007. Her father checked on her at 9 p.m. By 10 p.m., she was gone. Her case became one of the most covered missing child investigations in history.
In 2020, German prosecutors named Christian Brückner, a convicted sex offender who lived in the area at the time, as their main suspect. He denies any involvement and has never been charged in the case.
Where it stands in 2026: Brückner was released from a German prison in September 2025 after serving a sentence for an unrelated rape. German prosecutors say a lack of evidence has stopped them from charging him, and investigators in Portugal, Germany and the UK continue to work the case.
5. Adji Desir (Immokalee, Florida, 2009)
Six-year-old Adji was playing outside his grandmother's home in the Farm Worker Village at about 5:15 p.m. on January 10, 2009. About half an hour after she last saw him, he was gone.
Adji has a developmental disability. He functioned at about the level of a 2-year-old and was almost nonverbal, so he may not have been able to ask anyone for help. Investigators do not consider any family member a suspect and believe he either wandered away or was taken by someone outside the family.
Where it stands in 2026: The Collier County Sheriff's Office has vetted about 22,500 leads, all without result, including a 2023 report of a boy in Texas who turned out not to be Adji. Adji turns 24 in October 2026.
Tips: Collier County Sheriff's Office, 239-793-9300.
6. Kyron Horman (Portland, Oregon, 2010)
On June 4, 2010, seven-year-old Kyron stood beside his science fair poster about red-eyed tree frogs at Skyline Elementary School. Police say he was last seen near his classroom door at about 8:45 a.m.
He never made it to class, and no one realized he was missing until he did not get off the school bus that afternoon. The first 911 call came at 3:56 p.m. His then-stepmother, who took him to school that morning, is the last person known to have seen him. No one has been charged or officially named a suspect.
Where it stands in 2026: The search became the largest criminal investigation in Oregon history. In 2026, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said it had digitized the entire case file, added staff, and is using new technology on the case, which still draws hundreds of tips a year.
Tips: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office tip line, 503-261-2847.
7. Lisa Irwin (Kansas City, Missouri, 2011)
Ten-month-old Lisa was put to bed in her crib on the night of October 3, 2011. Her father came home from an overnight shift at about 4 a.m. to find her gone, the lights on, a window tampered with and three of the family's cell phones missing.
Her mother, Deborah Bradley, later told interviewers she had been drinking that night and may have blacked out. Police searched woods, sewers, and a landfill, and more than 100 officers worked the case in the first days.
Where it stands in 2026: The case is still open. NCMEC has released an age-progressed image showing Lisa at 15, the age she is now.
Tips: Kansas City Police Department, 816-474-8477.
The 7 Cases at a Glance
| Child | Missing since | Age then | Last seen | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherrie Mahan | Feb 1985 | 8 | Walking home from the school bus | Active; new inmate lead reported |
| Sabrina Aisenberg | Nov 1997 | 5 months | Asleep in her crib at home | Active; family relying on DNA matches |
| Sarah Kinslow | May 2001 | 14 | Dropped off at middle school | Open; classified as endangered runaway |
| Madeleine McCann | May 2007 | 3 | Asleep in a holiday apartment | Open; main suspect uncharged, released 2025 |
| Adji Desir | Jan 2009 | 6 | Playing outside his grandmother's home | Open; about 22,500 leads checked |
| Kyron Horman | Jun 2010 | 7 | At his school science fair | Active; case file digitized, more staff |
| Lisa Irwin | Oct 2011 | 10 months | Put to bed in her crib | Open; age progression to 15 released |
What These Cases Teach Parents
None of these families did anything unusual. That is the hardest lesson, and the most useful one. A few patterns stand out:
- Short gaps are where it happens: A 150-yard driveway, a few minutes of play outside, a hallway between a science fair and a classroom. Most of these children were within reach of an adult who expected to see them again shortly.
- Late discovery costs time: Kyron's case changed Oregon law. The next year, lawmakers passed House Bill 3197, which requires school districts to tell parents when a student is unexpectedly absent by the end of that school day.
- Some children cannot ask for help: Adji was nearly nonverbal and tended to hide when scared. Babies, toddlers, and children with disabilities depend entirely on the adults around them.
- Hope is realistic: Children have been recovered decades later. Families like the Aisenbergs keep their DNA on genealogy sites for exactly that reason.
A Simple Family Safety Plan
You cannot watch a child every second, and you should not have to. What you can do is shorten the time between "where are they?" and knowing the answer. Here is a five-step plan most families can set up in an afternoon:
- Keep a current photo and description: Take a clear photo every few months and note height, weight, and any marks. Investigators asked for these details in every case above.
- Agree on check-in times: A text when they arrive at school, practice, or a friend's house. A missed check-in is your cue to act, not to wait.
- Ask the school how absences are reported: Find out whether you get a same-day alert if your child misses class, and how fast.
- Teach a meeting spot and a trusted-adult rule: Pick a place to go if separated at a park, mall, or event, and practice what to say to a store employee or police officer.
- Use a location tool your child knows about: Talk it through together so it feels like a safety habit you agreed on together. A small GPS tracker in a backpack can show you where they are when a check-in doesn't come.
If your child ever goes missing, call 911 right away, then call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Do not wait to see if they turn up.
Choosing a Location Tool for Your Child
| Option | How it finds location | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth item tag | Nearby phones that pass by report it | Keys, bags, luggage | Shows where it was last seen, not live location; no SOS button |
| Child's own phone | GPS, Wi-Fi and cellular | Older kids and teens | Can be switched off, lost or left behind; not practical for young kids |
| Cellular GPS tracker | GPS, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE | Younger kids, kids with special needs | Needs a data plan and regular charging |
For kids and families
Tracki GPS Tracker
Know where your child is, right now, from your phone. Tracki is a small 4G LTE GPS tracker that clips to a backpack or slips into a pocket.
- Live location with updates as often as every 5 seconds
- SOS button your child can press to send you an alert with their location
- Geofence alerts when they arrive at or leave school and home
- Wi-Fi location helps indoors, where GPS has trouble
- Up to 12 days of battery, depending on how often it reports
- 42 g, with clip, strap and lanyard options
How You Can Help Solve a Cold Case
Cold case missing children are often found because one person finally speaks up. You do not need to be a detective to help.
- Share official posters, not rumors: Use NCMEC posters or police pages. Online speculation has hurt families in several of these cases.
- Look at age-progressed photos: NCMEC updates them every few years. A face you know today may match.
- Report anything, even if it seems small: Call the agency listed for each case above, or NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678. You can stay anonymous through local Crime Stoppers lines.
- Encourage DNA testing if someone has doubts about their origins: Families like the Aisenbergs are waiting for exactly that match.
Conclusion
Cherrie, Sabrina, Sarah, Madeleine, Adji, Kyron and Lisa are still missing, and their families are still waiting. Their cases remind us that children usually go missing in ordinary moments, and that the time between noticing and acting matters.
Most missing children come home. You can help the ones who haven't by sharing official posters and reporting what you know. At home, a check-in routine, a current photo, and a location tool your child understands can turn a frightening hour into a quick answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous unsolved missing child case?
Madeleine McCann's 2007 disappearance in Portugal is among the most widely covered missing child cases in the world. In the United States, Cherrie Mahan, Kyron Horman, and Lisa Irwin are among the best-known unsolved child disappearances. All remain open.
Can children in cold cases still be found alive?
Yes. NCMEC found that 117 children were safely recovered between 2021 and 2023 after being missing for 10 years or more. In 2026, an Arizona girl missing since 1994 was found alive.
Is the Madeleine McCann case still open?
Yes. German prosecutors still consider Christian Brückner their main suspect, but he has never been charged and denies involvement. He was released from prison in September 2025 after serving time for an unrelated crime.
Who was the first "Have You Seen Me?" child?
Cherrie Mahan. After she disappeared in 1985, her photo became the first to appear on the nationwide "Have You Seen Me?" mailers sent to households across the U.S.
Can a GPS tracker prevent a child from going missing?
No device can prevent every situation. A GPS tracker your child carries, and knows about, can show you where they are in real time and send an SOS alert, which helps you act in minutes instead of hours.
Know where they are, right now
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