Woman claims to be Cherrie Mahan, missing since 1985, but fingerprints don't match: police

BUTLER, Penn. (NEXSTAR) — Authorities in Pennsylvania say that despite a woman's claims, she is not Cherrie Mahan, who disappeared at the age of 8 in 1985. State police, however, continue to investigate.

Nearly 40 years ago, Mahan was last seen getting off a bus about 100 yards from her home in Cabot, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Authorities believe a bright blue 1976 Dodge pickup truck with a mural of a mountain and a skier may have been involved in her disappearance, but Mahan was never found.

In May, a woman posted in a Facebook group dedicated to finding the little girl that she called Mahan. However, Mahan's mother, Janice McKinney, said in the same group that she contacted the Pennsylvania State Police to report the post as fraudulent, according to USA Today.

“I have spoken to the police, they are investigating,” McKinney wrote in “Memories of Cherrie Mahan,” the outlet reported. “It’s very hard for me, so know that I see everything.”

Pennsylvania State Police were investigating the woman's allegations, Myles Snyder, the agency's communications director, told NewsNation last week. However, they were unable to get in touch with the woman, who was also removed from the Facebook group.

On Thursday, Trooper Bertha Cazy of the Pennsylvania State Police released a statement saying the agency was still unable to make contact with the woman. Cazy noted that the woman also left a voicemail, but calls returned to the woman went unanswered.

“Pennsylvania State Police were able to obtain fingerprints of the name left by the caller,” the statement continued. “An initial examination of these fingerprints indicates that she is not Cherri Mahan [sic].”

Should the woman “make herself available to the Pennsylvania State Police or any other law enforcement agency, her complaint will be investigated,” Cazy said.

Three other women have claimed to be Mahan over the years.

Mahan, who would now be 47, was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue denim skirt, blue leggings and beige boots. She has dark hair, brown eyes and pierced ears.

Anyone with information about Mahan's disappearance or his current whereabouts is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Missing Persons Unit at 724-284-8100. Tips can also be submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children online or by calling 1-800-843-5678.

A $5,000 cash reward is still being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case or the discovery of Mahan, KDKA reported in February.

NewsNation's Cassie Buchman contributed to this report.