Cherie Nicole Barnes

• Missing Since 12/01/1986
• Missing From St. Louis, Missouri
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race Biracial, Black, White
• Date of Birth 07/30/1984 (39)
• Age 2 years old
• Height and Weight Unknown
• Distinguishing Characteristics Biracial (African-American/Caucasian) female. Brown hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance

Cherie's mother and stepfather, Elizabeth Ann Turek Vasser and Larry Vasser, had custody of her in 1986. They moved from Nashville, Tennessee to St. Louis, Missouri that year. Elizabeth, who was also known as Sissy, disappeared from their home in St. Louis on December 1, 1986. She was discovered in the Mississippi River over two months later in February 1987 as the victim of homicide. There was no trace of Cherie at the scene.

Authorities know that Elizabeth worked as a prostitute for her husband on Independence Avenue in St. Louis; she remained unidentified for seven years, until her family members contacted authorities and reported Elizabeth and Cherie as missing persons. The investigation into Cherie's case began at that time.

Cherie was apparently last seen in Kansas City, Missouri with Larry on January 7, 1987. She disappeared from that location and has never been heard from again. Investigators located Larry in prison for armed robbery in the mid-1990s; he will be incarcerated until at least 2028.

Larry told authorities that he knew where his stepdaughter was located. He has stated Cherie is "being looked after" by his family members and living under another name in the Kansas City area. She may not even know she is a missing child. At one point, Larry offered to give Elizabeth's mother photographs of Cherie and a recording of her voice, if she paid him $500.

Cherie was supposed to remain in the custody of other relatives after her mother's death. Due to the complexities in this case, Cherie's disappearance is classified as a non-family abduction, although her stepfather claims to know her whereabouts. Her case remains unsolved.