Police say missing soldier unharmed

[CommunityEditor]

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah-Chatham County police were searching Wednesday for an Army soldier who was reported missing after she failed to pick up her teenage daughter from school.

Sgt. Charlana McKenzie, 32, was last seen by her 14-year-old daughter Sunday night, police spokeswoman Judy Pal said. The daughter told police she normally goes to school after McKenzie heads to work at nearby Fort Stewart, but her mother picks her up every afternoon, which she failed to do Monday.

Although police aren’t saying they suspect foul play, Pal said the circumstances were alarming enough to launch an intensive search.

“Our biggest concern is that she’s very dedicated to her child and this is completely out of character for this woman,” Pal said. “She’s never gone missing like this. It’s very strange.”

Pal said investigators were interviewing some of McKenzie’s relatives who rushed to Savannah after they found out she was missing. They were also trying to track down the soldier’s husband, who they believe lives in Florida or North Carolina.

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said McKenzie had been assigned as a health care specialist to a support battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat team since November. She lived in a house on Savannah’s suburban south side, about 30 miles from Fort Stewart’s main gate.

McKenzie was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds. She has dark hair and gray-green eyes. Police said McKenzie has also gone by the last name Reese.

Police were also searching for the woman’s car — a light green 2008 Toyota Camry with a North Carolina vanity tag that reads “FRVNILA.”


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_missing_soldier_011409/

[CommunityEditor]

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah police closed their search Friday for a missing Fort Stewart soldier after investigators found she had tried to check into a hotel unharmed and alone in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The whereabouts of Army Sgt. Charlana McKenzie, 32, were still unknown Friday evening, four days after she failed to pick up her daughter from school and police launched an intensive search.

But Savannah-Chatham County spokesman Gene Harley said police were closing their investigation because they were confident McKenzie left of her own free will and had no criminal warrants against her.

“It’s not against the law for her to just up and leave,” Harley said. “She appears to be fine and to have left of her own free will. Whatever reason she has opted to leave is still unknown to us.”

Police traced McKenzie to a West Palm Beach hotel where she had tried to check in Monday using an Army-issued credit card that was declined, West Palm Beach city spokesman Chase Scott said.

Scott said Savannah authorities contacted West Palm Beach police Thursday after they discovered the transaction. Officers interviewed the hotel clerk, who identified McKenzie from a photograph. Scott said they also found surveillance video of her car in the hotel parking lot Monday.

Scott said authorities were checking all area hotels for McKenzie’s car, but she remains missing.

“We’re still looking for her,” Scott said. “The clerk did tell officers that the woman was not under duress. She never requested any help.”

Harley said police were urging McKenzie to contact her family and the Army, which could pursue charges against her for being absent without leave.

McKenzie was reported missing after she didn’t report for duty Monday at Fort Stewart, where she’s an Army medic. She also left her 14-year-old daughter, who was waiting for her mother to pick her up at school Monday afternoon.

Deborah Scott, McKenzie’s mother, said was relieved her daughter was alive but hoped police would still track her down.

“They should talk to her,” said Scott, who rushed to Savannah from Cleveland, Ohio, after her daughter was reported missing. “She’s never done this. Why would she just leave?”

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said the Army now considers McKenzie to be AWOL, but has not taken out a warrant for her arrest in hopes that she returns on her own.

It will be up to McKenzie’s commanders to determine whether she faces some form of administrative discipline or a court-martial, Larson said.

“The hope is she comes home, comes back to her family and back to work,” Larson said.

Harley said Savannah police have also notified the state Division of Family and Children Services of McKenzie’s case because she left her daughter behind when she went to Florida. McKenzie is married but is separated from her husband, who lives in another state.


Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_gamissingsoldier011609/

[mel44]

This still seems strange. I am surprised they just decided to stop looking for her what if she was in distress. The evaluator of her stress was a hotel clerk? Come on - something smells here

[Sarah.LostinNY]

Agreed Mel. That doesn't seem like tight police coverage, usually a reported missing person is searched for until they are found if it is not in their personality to up and leave. She was reported a missing person and should be treated as one until she is in custody of the police.

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

http://www.ajc.com/cherokee/content/metro/stories/2009/01/16/missing_georgia_soldier.html

I am repeating post number 2 lol

FORT STEWART
Missing Georgia soldier found in Florida
Associated Press

Friday, January 16, 2009

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A missing Fort Stewart soldier was found unharmed in South Florida on Friday, four days after police launched an intensive search after she failed to pick up her daughter from school.

Sgt. Charlana McKenzie, 32, was found by police in West Palm Beach. Officers didn’t detain McKenzie because she committed no civilian crimes, said Gene Harley, spokesman for Savannah-Chatham County police.

“It’s not against the law for her to just up and leave,” Harley said. “She appears to be fine and to have left of her own free will. Whatever reason she has opted to leave is still unknown to us.”

Harley said police were urging McKenzie to contact her family and the Army, which could pursue charges against her for being absent without leave.

McKenzie was reported missing after she didn’t report for duty Monday at Fort Stewart, where she’s an Army medic. She also left her 14-year-old daughter, who was waiting for her mother to pick her up at school Monday afternoon.

Deborah Scott, McKenzie’s mother, said Friday afternoon she still had not heard from her daughter.

“It’s not only uneasy, I don’t even understand,” said Scott, who rushed to Savannah from Cleveland, Ohio, after McKenzie was reported missing.

Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said the Army now considers McKenzie to be AWOL, but has not taken out a warrant for her arrest in hopes that she returns on her own.

It will be up to McKenzie’s commanders to determine whether she faces some form of administrative discipline or a court-martial, Larson said.

“The hope is she comes home, comes back to her family and back to work,” Larson said.

Harley said Savannah police have also notified the state Division of Family and Children Services of McKenzie’s case because she left her daughter behind when she went to Florida. McKenzie is married but is separated from her husband, who lives in another state.

IM SUCH A GOOD COP ;)

[Sarah.LostinNY]

yes but anyone can say they are fine, returning to their families and showing it is a different story OIF :)

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

true Sarah but the article stated about a missing soldier. The soldier is no longer missing; has committed no civilian crime but has violated the UCMJ under article 86 and perhaps another in relation to the child but again that will be another story.

[Sarah.LostinNY]

No its just not in that news article, its all part of the same story. She needed to be brought back to her home as per Army protocol (what ever that is), face child abandonment and what ever else made her run in the first place.

[mel44]

No its just not in that news article, its all part of the same story. She needed to be brought back to her home as per Army protocol (what ever that is), face child abandonment and what ever else made her run in the first place.


I agree Sarah all they really have is a sighting, not really a verification hummm doesn't really make any since. Something is fishy.

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

well if her immediate leaders knew where she was it, they will go and get her but MPs dont leave the base to go get AWOL soldiers. There is a team for that but usually its for soldiers over 30 days awol and dropped from the rolls.

I remember a soldier that showed up to Fort Campbell after a year of being AWOL. NCIC does have in their databases AWOL soldiesr so if he gets in a traffic stop, he is done. Anyway, the soldier showed back up because his pay stopped lol. Should of been cut off for the longest but it finally happened a year later lol. funny.

Anyway, moving on for personal reasons lol. I hate to debate things that I have been involved in personally and get contradicted lol.

[Sarah.LostinNY]

That still isn't addressing the child endangerment laws. If her daughter lived with her and she had custody 14 is not even the age you can be emancipated from a gaurdian, that is 16. Still seems fishy to me like mel said.

[mel44]

That still isn't addressing the child endangerment laws. If her daughter lived with her and she had custody 14 is not even the age you can be emancipated from a gaurdian, that is 16. Still seems fishy to me like mel said.

Well since she is in the military she cant have custody of her child. Since she is divorced her ex probably does but that doesn't exclude her from child endangerment. The fishy part is they can't determine if that happened until they speak with her. I would think they would have brought her in for questioning for the most part to make sure the video ID was in fact her and she infact is not just a good actor and is not in some kind of abduction situation. Got to be some other details here that they haven't eluded to.

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

Sarah, yes that is an issue not being mentioned in the article. She has custody and responsible for her child. (as an example in my link, also here in Europe, across the street from me is a divorced female E-7 that lives alone with her daughter on-post) there are many single parents (obviously women) that live on post with their children. Since the child attends school off-post vice still didnt negate family advocacy from getting involved. The child was immediately in good hands not left alone in a home but again the military will handle that matter.

http://www.bragg.army.mil/DPW-HSG/single.htm

Priority 4. Geographical Bachelors. Married or have custody of dependents and entitled to receive BAH w/dependent. If temporarily or permanently unaccompanied for personal convenience, compassionate or hardship will have to obtain an exception to policy (ETP) to reside in the barracks. The first MG or delegated staff principal grade of Colonel or above in their chain of command must approve the ETP

A single parent has to release custody of their child when they attend BCT/AIT/deployment and after/during enlistment needs to have a family care plan in place. But when a single parent is in garrison and their children live with them, they are the custodians of their children.
http://www.parentdish.com/2008/01/15/military-deployment-and-child-custody/2
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/documents/TG/TECHGUID/TG281January2007-1.pdf

[Smeghead]

Well since she is in the military she cant have custody of her child.

Where'd you get that misinformation from? There's plenty of single parents. One of them is typing this.

[mel44]

Where'd you get that misinformation from? There's plenty of single parents. One of them is typing this.

I know I know thats not what I ment. I ment that she had just gotten back custody would have been with the dad (article stated that) so I am sure they just returned her to him. He could call in CPS but probably didn't. they could press charges but most states have an age she can be alone at home and she could call dad so no case here. I realize if Dad wanted to press it he could but not likely. my B was thinking more than writting. I am aware many soldiers have custody of their children. We have a daughter in the Military that is a single parent. I was thinking about her custody issues while writting and didn't articulate that on paper/keyboard. K

[AIRFORCEAGGIE]

Oh, well, I guess Will Powers will have a new article for his military corruption blog.

[FatCat40]

She must be black. We all know if she were a blue-eyed blond ala Jessica Lynch, this would be front page CNN newsworthy and wold be broadcast around the clock untill she was recovered.

[Sarah.LostinNY]

OIF i love you haha. it does, and Fat Cat, yes that prolly is exactly the reason it isn't splashed across mainstream america news stations and papers. Sadly we still have such bad sterotypical tendancys in America these days :(

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

Ok my anal joke wasnt deleted but inquiring if a name falls under a specific nationality/race/gender gets deleted lol. I am 1/3 black so now I am being racist against my own people lol.

thanks Sarah for the kind words!!!

[Sarah.LostinNY]

Welcome OIF, I feel like people on here dont understand that you are who you are and you are a NYer and thats just how we are lol.

[OIFCOMBATVETNYC]

Exactly. Tell some Italian soprano to type on here with sweet tact and with religious fanaticism. fuggetbauit!!! It be virtually impossible lol. But I did tone it down a bit to the requests of the soft skin and other happy campers who did an exodus. I didnt want to be blamed for an empty forum. Thank goodness for people like Variable Wind to be around and to tell it how it is as well lol. I dont have nothing against anybody on here but I just got one mom and dad, God rest his soul.

Is Laquisha an "african-american" name? lol.

[Sarah.LostinNY]

haha i do believe i Laquisha should be an Af-Am. name, though there is a girl at my college who is whiter than me with bright red hair named Laquisha...to top it all off she broke her back...by getting hit by a moped...yes a moped. HA.

[charlanareese]

This is the soldier that was considered missing in back in January. That is not like me to just leave my daughter or the my unit in the army for that matter. I have been very depressed but hiding it very well and suicidal as well. I attempted the nite b4 I left that monday mornin and the weekend after i had been considered missin already. I was having problems in my relationship and problems with my daughter because of my relationship. After so long of letting stuff build up and not gettin help, that is what happens.

And, oh, it is a very real thing especially when you r the one going thru it.

I was on the psych ward for about a week and a half after i admitted myself initially thru the ER.

I have been going to mental health and alcohol group programs every week since i have been out of the hospital.

Currently, after all that time has passed, I am facing a summary court martial.

Thats all i have rite.