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."

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[MizSterious]

Ignorance? More like GREED. According to the local news reports, Hood was paying the child's mother to spend time alone with her. No ignorance here. Just money-grubbing. It's not totally unfamiliar to those who have followed certain other cases.

[Jaded]

Probably Texas Children's.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Thanks for the ping...... what a sad case indeed!

[pinz-n-needlez]

Thanks for the ping, Miz.

There are some things in this world I'd rather not know about. :-/

But as patterns emerge in subsequent cases, some actions that were unthinkable earlier may become transparent -- too late.

I wonder if this poor girl's mother entertained friends at her home with pot and pizza, but still saw to that she wrote in her journal regularly....

Pinz

[John O]

Now let's not be too hard on our friend Mr Hood. He was just taking the girl to meet with the Texas Democrat delegation in Ardmore and got a little disoriented. < /sarcasm>

[BARLF]

Thanks for the ping.Shocking what some parents will do for money. Operation Hamlet,Candyman,etc.

[PlutoPlatter]

Anyone got a picture of these people, I have an image conjured up in my mind and I would like confirmation.

[El Gato]

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.

I'm sure that's were the federal district court is. I wish I could find it, but my daughter sent me a copy of a judge's denial of a change of venue from there. Seems the "New York City", party to the suit thought Galveston too far out in the sticks and too hard to get to for his tastes, wanted the trial moved to San Antonio or somesuch. Judge ripped his lawyer a new one, maybe several. :)

[El Gato]

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

Should have looked this up before I posted, but I was almost right. The Galveston Division of the Federal District court for the Southern District of Texas is indeed located at Galveston. The division covers Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, and Matagorda counties. The Southern District of Texas covers the area indicated below:

[spectre]

"Ignorance? More like GREED."

Ignorance? Oh, I guess that explains it all. Nevermind, let's move on...sigh.

(sarcasm off)

[I. Ben Hurt]

Man, oh man, just about the time you think you've heard it all, a story like this comes along. This little girl has a difficult future no doubt.

[Politicalmom]

Did you don your flame proof suit before you posted that??

: )

(Hi!!!)

[Jaded]

Hiya, stranger!!! Hope all are doing well.

[Krodg]

I haven't found one of the mother yet....I'll let you know if I do.

[Freedom2specul8]

Hi Spec! Don't tell me you've not seen some pretty stupid parents who fall for smooth lines..come one! It happens all the time.

[Freedom2specul8]

PS I didn't say Ignorance explains it all...I think someone else assumed that. :)

[Freedom2specul8]

"..come one! " LOL Should have said "come on".. forgive me, I've been up since 6am. I is tired. :)

[Amore]

Thanks for the ping, Kim. No matter how you characterize it, it's a horrible story. It's amazing what some people are capable of.

[Freedom2specul8]

Exactly!

[TheSpottedOwl]

Thanks for the ping.

This article is very interesting.