PI investigating Cherrie Mahan disappearance says he spoke with witnesses
A private investigator who is offering a $100,000 reward for information on the 1985 disappearance of Cherrie Mahan said he spoke with a man who claimed his family was involved.
Private investigator Steve Ridge said a credible witness pointed him to William “Buddy” Montgomery, of New Kensington, who was released from prison last week after serving an unrelated sentence, according to a news release from Ridge on Thursday, April 16.
Montgomery was convicted of corruption of minors in 2014, according to the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law website. Previously, he was convicted of sexual assault and two counts of incest in 2004 and aggravated indecent assault in 1993.
Ridge’s witness told him Montgomery confessed to involvement in the case years ago. Montgomery denied direct involvement in the disappearance when Ridge spoke with him by phone, but Montgomery reportedly said he has family members who were involved.
Cherrie Mahan disappeared in 1985 when she was 8 years old after getting off a school bus in Winfield Township. Witnesses pointed to both a van with a skiing scene on the side and a blue sedan reportedly following the bus that day, but the case remains open with no remains discovered.
Montgomery reportedly requested to be given a lie detector test on live television while telling his story before Ridge lost contact with him.
“I’ve made all of the preliminary arrangements for such an appearance, but now Montgomery has become elusive,” Ridge said Thursday. “However, my credible witness to the confession remains ready and willing to take a polygraph test and testify to a grand jury and in court as to what he was told.”
An April 1 post on the “Find Cherrie Mahan” Facebook page said Montgomery was a Tier 3 Megan’s Law offender with “a documented history of offenses against children.” The page is seeking information regarding him.
Ridge said he’s ready to facilitate an appearance by Montgomery but doubts it may happen. He said state police visited Montgomery in prison multiple times.
Ridge added he introduced his witness to Pennsylvania State Police when he was discovered.
State police could not be immediately reached for comment.
