Missing Monday: Unsolved reports of missing children in 2002
August 12, 2024
Missing Monday
Shawn White
Wilmington, Delaware
Shawn White was born on November 6, 2002 and by December 8, 2002, Shawn disappeared. The exact date of his disappearance and the circumstances of what might have happened to him is still unknown almost 22-years later.
Shawn was with his father, Thurman White, when he disappeared. Thurman did not report his disappearance to law enforcement and instead returned to the child’s mother without Shawn with him and claimed that a woman would later bring Shawn back. When Shawn was not returned an argument took place between Thurman and Shawn’s mother that ended in a violent assault that Thurman would later be sent to prison for committing against Shawn’s mother.
Thurman was also charged for endangering the welfare of a child, no evidence of what happened to Shawn was ever revealed by law enforcement or Thurman White. Shawn is still missing.
At the time, Thurman drove a 1989 Chevrolet GM4 pickup truck with the Delaware license plate number C48428.
If you have any information, please contact: Wilmington Police Department 302-571-4525
NCMEC
Case brief and age progressed photo
CHARLIE PROJECT
The Charley Project profiles over 16,000 “cold case” missing people mainly from the United States.
UNCOVERED
Police suspect foul play in Shawn’s disappearance and searched Thurman’s home, boat, and landfill for the baby’s remains but found no evidence.
Kynande Kalehje Bennett
Conway, South Carolina
Kynande Bennett was reported missing on September 29, 2002 when her mother alleged that she disappeared at a Whiteville, North Carolina Kmart store.
Law enforcement could not find any evidence that Kynande was ever at the store with her mother that day. Kynande’s parents were eventually charged with homicide. The evidence against her father, Kevin Bennett, was not sufficient and his charges were dismissed. Her mother, Vartasha McCullough White, was convicted and sentenced to prison. Vartasha was released in 2023.
Kynande is still missing. If you have information that can assist in finding her, please call the Conway Police Department at (843)248-1790 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 and reference case number: 946349.
NCMEC
Basic case information
CHARLIE PROJECT
Paula’s mother and sister spoke with WCTV’s Katie Kaplan..
WECT NEWS 6
McCullough was accused of killing her four-year-old daughter, Kynande Bennett. Kynande disappeared from a K-Mart in Whiteville in 2002. Her body has not been found.
Brandon Wade
Valdosta, Georgia
In October of 2002 life was busy for Brandon and his mother, Paula Wade. They were preparing to move out of state and closer to family when Paula suddenly and uncharacteristically stopped showing up at work, stopped communicating with family, and disappeared from their apartment in Valdosta, Georgia.
Almost 22 years later, Paula and Brandon are still missing. Last year the FBI joined the search for Paula and Brandon. Their story was featured on international media outlets and their family is still searching for answers over two decades later.
Anyone with information on the Wades disappearance is asked to contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at 770-216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov
FBI PRESS RELEASE
Anyone with information on the Wades disappearance is asked to contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at 770-216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov
NCMEC
Case brief and age progressed photo
USA TODAY
Paula’s sister speaks to USA Today about the disappearance of her sister and nephew
Logan Lynn Tucker
Woodward, Oklahoma
Logan Tucker’s disappearance could easily be an example for where the gaps are within our judicial and mental health systems. Sadly, over two decades later we still routinely see the same issues within foster care, convictions, and mental health assistance.
Logan Tucker disappeared in the summer of 2002. The exact date is unknown. Logan’s grandparents reported him missing in July of 2002 after not being able to find any proof that Logan could be located. Once law enforcement began searching for Logan it became very obvious that they had a lot of catching up to do.
In as early as April of 2002, Logan’s mother, Katherine Pollard, was exhibiting disturbing behavior. Katherine called law enforcement and claimed she wanted to hurt her children. Prior to 2002 Katherine was saying disturbing things about harming her children all the way back to at least 1998. For a brief time her children were removed from the home and within a few days they were returned to Katherine’s care.
During the summer of 2002, Katherine made multiple admissions about what happened to Logan. She claimed social services took him, and then he was out of state with a family member. When law enforcement confirmed her stories to be lies, she would simply create a new story every time.
Witness testimony suggests that Logan disappeared sometime around June 23, 2002. Just days before he was scheduled to be taken by social services at the request of Katherine. They were unable to place him immediately and Katherine was told she would have to wait four days.
Logan is still missing. If you have any information please contact the Woodward County Sheriff at (580)256-3264.
NCMEC
Case brief and age progressed photo
CUE
If you have any information please contact CUE Center For Missing Persons using the contact form below or contact Cue Center at (910) 343-1131 24 hour tip line (910) 232-1687. All information submitted to CUE Center For Missing Persons is confidential.
THE OKLAHOMAN
More than five years after Logan disappeared, Katherine went on trial in Alva for murder.
Jersey Arnett
Ignace, Michigan
The disappearance of Jersey Arnett was over two decades ago in August of 2002. Jersey was born in January and was quickly removed from her mother due to mental health concerns.
By the summer of that year, Jersey’s mother began to make many improvements with caring for her mental health and began to meet the goals she needed to in order to regain custody of Jersey.
Jersey and her mother were able to spend time together in August at the home of a family member who was caring for Jersey. After the family briefly left Jersey alone with her mother, they returned to find that they were both missing from the home.
A day after their disappearance, law enforcement located the vehicle that Jersey’s mother was driving. The car was parked near the Mackinac Bridge and all of their belongings were found inside the vehicle.
It is believe that she jumped off the bridge with Jersey. They are both still missing over two decades later.
If you have information please contact the Michigan State Police at (906)643-7582.
NCMEC
Case brief and reporting options
THE CHARLIE PROJECT
Jersey was last seen in St. Ignace, Michigan on August 14, 2002.