Post by LadyBlue on Mar 22, 2006 21:53:54 GMT -5
A woman who disappeared from McKeesport a decade ago when she was 14 has been found living with a school security guard, police said today.
Tanya Kach, now 24, disappeared Feb. 10, 1996.
Joe Sparico, owner of J.J.'s Deli Mart, said the woman he's known for the past six months as Nikki Evans broke down in tears Tuesday and told him she is the missing Tanya Kach, and that a school security guard had kept her locked in a bedroom of his Soles Street house that he shares with his elderly parents.
"To be honest with you, I really didn't believe her at first," Sparico said. "I mean, who could believe that. It's been 10 years. It was just too much for me to believe."
www.doenetwork.us/nampn/cases/kach.html
But Sparico called the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which confirmed Kach's disappearance.
Since the day Kach walked into his store, she has been "pleasant, very friendly and just a true sweetheart," Sparico said. "She never had a bad thing to say about anyone."
But when she walked into his store Tuesday morning, she was shaking and crying.
"She said she had something to tell me. She begged me to believe her and help her and not abandon her," Sparico said.
Kach said that the guard never physically abused her, but threatened to kill her many times and brainwashed her into believing her family didn't love her, Sparico said.
"He told her everyone believed she was dead anyway," he said.
Sparico said the guard works at nearby Cornell Middle School. School officials were not immediately available for comment.
McKeesport police Chief Joseph Pero said charges might be filed later. Pero declined to comment when asked about the security guard's identity. He also would not say whether the woman was being held against her will, or whether she changed her identity or appearance.
Allegheny County Police also are investigating Kach's disappearance and recent reemergence.
The woman is now living with family in the Pittsburgh area, said Pero, who would not elaborate.
Tanya Kach, now 24, disappeared Feb. 10, 1996.
Joe Sparico, owner of J.J.'s Deli Mart, said the woman he's known for the past six months as Nikki Evans broke down in tears Tuesday and told him she is the missing Tanya Kach, and that a school security guard had kept her locked in a bedroom of his Soles Street house that he shares with his elderly parents.
"To be honest with you, I really didn't believe her at first," Sparico said. "I mean, who could believe that. It's been 10 years. It was just too much for me to believe."
www.doenetwork.us/nampn/cases/kach.html
But Sparico called the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which confirmed Kach's disappearance.
Since the day Kach walked into his store, she has been "pleasant, very friendly and just a true sweetheart," Sparico said. "She never had a bad thing to say about anyone."
But when she walked into his store Tuesday morning, she was shaking and crying.
"She said she had something to tell me. She begged me to believe her and help her and not abandon her," Sparico said.
Kach said that the guard never physically abused her, but threatened to kill her many times and brainwashed her into believing her family didn't love her, Sparico said.
"He told her everyone believed she was dead anyway," he said.
Sparico said the guard works at nearby Cornell Middle School. School officials were not immediately available for comment.
McKeesport police Chief Joseph Pero said charges might be filed later. Pero declined to comment when asked about the security guard's identity. He also would not say whether the woman was being held against her will, or whether she changed her identity or appearance.
Allegheny County Police also are investigating Kach's disappearance and recent reemergence.
The woman is now living with family in the Pittsburgh area, said Pero, who would not elaborate.