Missing Stillwater girl found safe; man faces charges

The Daily Oklahoman Online ^ | 2003-05-16 | Mark Taliaferro

[MizSterious]

Missing Stillwater girl found safe; man faces charges

2003-05-16
By Mark Taliaferro
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER -- A Stillwater girl missing since May 9 was found safe and in good condition early Thursday, according to FBI officials.

Shawnda Marie Cheney, 10, was rescued from a home in Pearland, Texas, where authorities also arrested Presley Earl Hood, 56, of Branson, Mo., on a federal kidnapping warrant.

"A family member thought of some additional people that (Hood) might know and sent someone over there to see if they knew anything," FBI agent Sam Macaluso said. "When they got there, they saw the car."

Cheney was taken to a hospital for a series of examinations and was reunited with her family afterward. Investigators did not know whether Cheney was abused, but Macaluso said she appeared to be physically fine except for a sunburn.

The home the two were found in belonged to a distant relative of Hood. They were in a trailer, separate from the relative's home but on the same land. Macaluso said the relatives were cooperative in the investigation.

"We believe that they were at that house for at least a day or two," he said, "but we don't believe that the relatives had any idea at that point that he was involved with anything like that."

The FBI would not comment on the possibility of sexual abuse or child pornography being involved, but did confirm that several search warrants were executed and several items were taken as evidence.

Macaluso said Hood has a lengthy criminal record, but did not go into detail about whether he had been involved with any similar crimes.

Hood was scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled for a detention hearing Tuesday in Galveston, Texas, before returning to Oklahoma City, where he will face federal kidnapping charges.

After meeting Cheney at a relative's birthday party in Stillwater about three months ago, Hood began taking the girl to Branson on weekends. Hood's relationship with Cheney was based on his promise to "put her in some shows there and introduce her to several talent scouts," Macaluso said.

"Recently, Shawnda's mother began to become suspicious of this story and indicated that she was going to be unwilling to let Hood continue with these trips," Macaluso said.

Cheney left her home about 7:30 p.m. May 9 to walk to a friend's home and spend the night, but never arrived. Cheney's mother realized she was missing about 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The FBI was notified Monday after the Payne County sheriff's office determined it was an abduction case.

"Any time there's a juvenile involved, there's a presumption of interstate travel, so there's no 24-hour waiting period like there used to be," Malacuso said. "That wasn't the reason for the delay. The reason was they weren't sure if they had an abduction or a disagreement or miscommunication.

"We all had a feeling that Shawnda was still going to be OK until it got to be where he was really running and she might be slowing him down and drawing attention to him. The sooner we can get all the tools to bear on this thing, the better off we are."

---

[MizSterious]

Just awhile ago, our local ABC affiliate added that the man ("Hood"--aptly named?) had been paying the mother to let the child stay with him, but that there had been some dispute over the amount, so he grabbed her and ran. Shawnda is now in the custody of children's services as a result of that. They're not saying it in so many words, but it appears the mother was pimping her little daughter!!

[cgk]

After meeting Cheney at a relative's birthday party in Stillwater about three months ago, Hood began taking the girl to Branson on weekends. Hood's relationship with Cheney was based on his promise to "put her in some shows there and introduce her to several talent scouts," Macaluso said.

Any mother who lets her 10 year old daughter go off for the weekend with a 56 year old man should be charged with negligence at the very least. Criminal!

[MizSterious]

Pinging a few folks from another topic who might see some possible similarities between this situation and that "other" one. I do not discount the possibility those "other" people might have done the same thing with their daughter.

[ChemistCat]

But they gave her back to them?? I can't believe they'd give her back to her mother if that's the case. I hope they wouldn't!

[MizSterious]

I suspect this story is going to get a lot uglier before it's done, too. I hope charges are brought against this "mother." When they interviewed her on local teevee, you could just sense that there was a lot more to the story--and some of it is coming out now.

[MizSterious]

Did you see my comment below the article? The child is in state custody for now.

[JustAnAmerican]

"Cheney left her home about 7:30 p.m. May 9 to walk to a friend's home and spend the night, but never arrived.

This one little statement tells me all I need to know about the mother and why this happened.

[Texas Mom]

Thought Pearland was Brazoria County. Wonder why the hearing is in Galveston.

I know it's not that important but that struck me a bit strange.

[MizSterious]

No, not all. According to the local (OKC) news, the man was paying the mother for time spent with the child. It's even worse than it looks.

[MizSterious]

The story on channeloklahoma.com mentions that the hospital was in Houston, if that helps.

[ChemistCat]

Thanks, I see it now. I "read" too fast sometimes.

[Krodg]

Miz,

Please add me to your ping list.

[MizSterious]

I'll try--I haven't had one in quite awhile, and I just picked a few names from some recent commentary on "that other" topic. Maybe Jaded will freepmail hers to me?

[Krodg]

No problem...she'll probably ping me anyway.

I still find it amazing that the media decides which way to spin a story, and many of the 'free' thinkers here fall right in line. Had the media not come out with the tidbit about the money now, no amount of arguing would have convinced some people later.

[ican'tbelieveit]

For shame on this mom, how could a parent do such a thing. Of course, there are some who would just blame the perpetrator, what mom did in her parenting styles has no bearing on the crimes committed against this child. Tsk Tsk.

[Freedom2specul8]

You've got to see this .... no further comment.

[MizSterious]

Oklahoma seems to have its fair share of bad parents, but this one really does take the cake, if this morning's news reports are true.

(Hmm, is there an echo in here? )

;)

[ican'tbelieveit]

Blows me away, but parents "selling" their kids sexuality for money is not new.

[Jackie-O]

I instantly thought the same thing cgk!
Thanks for the ping Kim!

[Freedom2specul8]

"After meeting Cheney at a relative's birthday party in Stillwater about three months ago, Hood began taking the girl to Branson on weekends. Hood's relationship with Cheney was based on his promise to "put her in some shows there and introduce her to several talent scouts," Macaluso said. "

Isn't it sick! Obviously the mom's not too smart.., and predators prey on ignorance and stupidity.