Two Missing Person Cases Baffling Police
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Seventeen-thousand – that's how many people go missing in Chicago every year. Ninety-eight percent of them are located, but CBS 2's Bill Kurtis reports on two cases that have baffled police.
Kathy Teague's daughter, Vinyette, disappeared on June 15, 1983.
An age progression has been done to show us how she might look today.
"I cry every day," Kathy said.
It was a hot night when Vinyette went missing. Kathy's mother was babysitting. About 50 neighbors and family members were gathered on the outside gallery of the Robert Taylor Homes when Vinyette simply vanished.
Police Cmdr. Robert Hargesheimer of the Youth Division explained what happened next.
"We brought in more police officers," he said. "We did grid searches, we had police dogs there, everything, but we never found Vinyette."
Police also have never found 19-year-old Jesse Ross from Missouri, who went missing on Nov. 21, 2006.
His mother described what it has been like.
"We still know nothing. it's a parent's worst nightmare," Donna Ross said.
Jesse was at a mock United Nations conference at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel.
"He was a wonderful young man with bright red hair that sticks out. He was last seen at the hotel around 3 a.m. He disappeared without a trace," said Belmont Area Special Victims Unit Police Lt. Kevin Dillon.
The search for Jesse was massive.
"They had cadaver dogs, 21 detectives, they had boats, divers, sonar, coast guard ... and nothing," Donna Ross said.
This week, Donna Ross and her husband Don were back in Chicago to talk to police, hoping that some witnesses could be re-interviewed.
"We have no choice. We have to keep pursuing this," Don Ross said.
Questions also still haunt Kathy Teague
"I just want to believe that someone just saw a pretty baby and just wanted a pretty baby," she said.
Chicago Police said they have not stopped looking for either child.
"We never close a case. It can be suspended, but the case is never closed until we locate someone," Hargesheimer said.
Donna Ross said she hopes her son is still alive, "but we need answers."
Both families are thankful for the Internet, because of all the pictures posted of Jesse and Vinyette.
"Maybe she'll see a missing childrens poster and say this looks like me," Kathy said of her daughter.
Chicago police were not planning to do any re-interviews of witnesses in the Ross case, but they said they will pursue any new leads that come in.
That's why, if you know anything that could help investigators in either of these cases, it's important that you call Chicago Police at 312-744-8266.
