Mystery Caller May Be Missing Girl

A woman has contacted the family of a 6-year-old girl who vanished in 1986, saying that she may be the girl, authorities said.

Shannon Marie Sherrill was 6 when she disappeared Oct. 5, 1986, as she played outside her mother's mobile home in Thorntown, about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis. She would now be 22 years old.

Hundreds of officers and volunteers searched for the girl, but no trace of her was found.

The original missing persons poster of little Shannon still hangs in the town hall.

On Sunday, state police released a statement saying new information had surfaced in the nearly 17-year-old case and that their investigation was at a "critical juncture."

State police have been in contact with the woman, police 1st Sgt. David Bursten said Monday. He declined to answer reporters' questions about the case, including whether DNA tests were planned, saying only that it is "an active, ongoing investigation."

The woman, a married mother of two, said she had recovered some memories of childhood in therapy, reports CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

Bursten also read a statement from two of Shannon's aunts, Jody Ames and Beverly McKinney, who held hands and fought back tears. Their statement said the family was "hoping beyond hope" that the caller was Shannon, but cautioned against media speculation that could hamper their ability to maintain contact with the woman.

Sherrill's parents, Dorothy Sherrill and William Michael Sherrill, were divorced at the time of their daughter's disappearance but were not involved in any custody dispute.

The father told Bowers that not a day goes by that he doesn't think of his missing daughter.

"I'm just ecstatic over the whole thing. I'm at a loss for words, you know," William Sherrill said. "It's been a long time. It's OK for everyone to be excited."

He said Monday that police had asked him not to discuss the case.