Christine Sheddy: Missing Mother Gone Two Years

[Delilah]

While going through the myriad of missing persons posts on the Facebook newsfeed yesterday, I happened to see a picture and link put up by Kelly Jolkowski of Project Jason.  The face of Christine Sheddy seemed to jump off the screen at me, I had to go to the link to read more of her and her case.  In all of her pictures one thing stands out, her beautiful, haunting eyes.  Her eyes draw the viewer in, seemingly asking to be found.

Christine Sheddy is the mother of three children, her two little boys, 2 and 4 were with her at the time of her disappearance from a home of friends in Pocomoke City, MD that she met through her boyfriend.  According to news accounts Christine and her two children stayed behind at the home while the other couple went to pick up their own children from school.  When they returned, Christine was gone, taking nothing with her, not her purse or any belongings, and her two boys were left in the home, alone.

As in so many cases of missing mothers, speculation runs rampant about the woman's character, her relationships and why she did what she did.  Many times law enforcement agencies don't appropriately respond, saying that the missing adult probably just walked away, maybe just wanting to start a new life.  All these familiar statements were heard by Christine's mother, Lynn Dodenhoff.

However, another familiar statement in missing mothers cases has also been said:  "She would never leave her children."  According to her mother, Christine was a loving mother, despite moodiness, and that she would never leave her children home alone, that was not in her character.

"All I want is my daughter so I can bring her home and put her to rest," Dodenhoff said. "I couldn't care less who was involved, I couldn't care less. I just want her home. That way her children could move on and not wonder why their mother left; because she would never leave them. It will come to an end, and we will find my daughter, and justice will be served. I have full confidence that will happen."

As with many police departments, it's been reported that the agency involved  was not seriously investigating this missing mother, speculating that her lifestyle choices put her into a certain category and that they were uncooperative in organizing searches and coming forth with information.  Key evidence tends to go cold very quickly in missing persons cases and if not thoroughly investigated, quickly the trail often leads to dead ends.

Certain protocals that every police department must follow are being introduced in a new bill, HR 3695, The Help Find the Missing Act (Billy's Law) that if passed will mandate that all information be entered into National data bases in a timely manner, thus speeding up the process for family members who are reporting a missing loved one.  I urge every citizen to write and support this important legislation.

Missing persons are victims and oftentimes, missing adults, especially, are not given proper attention.  Many, many families are finding that rather than idly sit by and wait for word, they must find the strength to take on several tasks that will help lead them to real evidence.  Our society and citizens must wake up and realize that it takes us all to help find the missing.

November 13 was the two year anniversary marking the day that Christine Sheddy vanished.  Small searches for her were conducted and earlier this year a large scale search was organized, yet turned up no positive results on her whereabouts.  Her children deserve answers.

Missing Person: Christine Sheddy
Date of Birth: 12/22/80
Missing Since: 11/13/07
Missing City: Pocomoke
Missing State: MD
Age at time of disappearance: 26
Gender: Female
Race: White
Height: 5 ft 4 in
Weight: 100 lbs
Hair Color: DK Blonde
Hair (other): Short
Eye Color: Blue
Complexion: Fair

Characteristics: tattoo on lower back

Clothing: jeans, white shirt

Jewelry: rings

Circumstances: Christine was staying at a friend's home and when the friends left to pick up children and then returned, Christine was missing. Christine's children were found at the house alone. Christine took no possessions with her.

Agency Name: Worcester County Bureau of Investication
Agency Phone: [phone]

[Delilah]

Mothers Are Vanishing
(An Article from the Pocomoke Tattler)

This week marked the 2 year anniversary of Christine Sheddy’s disappearance. Save but a few outside of her circle of her family and friends, not many really noticed.

How many mothers disappear and are never heard from again.

There is a blog called Mothers are Vanishing dedicated to changing the way missing persons reports are handled from the very begining.

The writer states that because of the lack of communication between agencies and the assumption that if an adult disappears it is simply because they want to get away from their lives is the reason that over 40,000 bodies are found across the United States each year that remain unidentified. Unidentified because there is no procedure in place every agency around the country follows when an adult is reported missing.

There is currently a bill before the house that would help streamline the process and you can let your representative know that you want to see this changed it is HR3695 Billy’s Law and you can do your part in seeing that this sad sad chain of events never happens to your loved ones.

Our prayers go out to Christine and her family, and also to the thousands of missing persons around the country.

Lets do what we can to never allow this to happen again.

posted on: Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 @ 1:47 pm

[Delilah]

If you get a chance, please go to the link and leave comments.

If we can get as many newspapers and other media outlets to see how important getting this bill passed, it can only help many of you here.

[Marcia Duning]

http://angelsthatcare.homestead.com/AwarenessAngelsNetwork.html

http://projectjason.org/awareness.shtml

I am a member of Awareness Angels. There are 2 pages that Kelly has sent me.

[Delilah]

Thank you, Marcia! I'm also a member of Awareness Angels and I think it's such a great way to get information out.

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

So glad to see this! Many thanks to the Pocomoke Tattler for posting!

[judy]

i hope you get justice, and can put this to rest, i feel your pain. and i hope you find peace, your friend judy,