Police report new lead on long-missing Pa. girl

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pennsylvania State Police say a person who knew an 8-year-old girl last seen 26 years ago has provided the most specific information about her disappearance in years.

Trooper Robert McGraw says the new information leaves little hope Cherrie Mahan is still alive. He won’t detail what that information is.

Cherrie has been missing since Feb. 22, 1985. She was last seen stepping off a school bus near her home outside Cabot, Pa.

She is perhaps best known as the first child featured on the “Have You Seen Me?” direct-mail advertisements developed later that year. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says more than half of 2,100 children pictured on the fliers have been found — but not Cherrie.

McGraw says he’s optimistic that’s about to change.