It’s October 19th again and it’s the 7th year of searching for answers. How do 7 years go by so quickly while also feeling painstakingly slow at the same time? The past few weeks I’ve been thinking about what I’d write this year and if I’m being honest, the dreary weather outside is a reflection of my inner feelings about your case. The simple truth is that there isn’t much movement on the case lately. The newest detective assigned to your case wants to find the answer, but he is also stymied by the passage of time, the lack of forensic evidence, and the fading memories and deaths of people who may hold clues that they do or do not realize could help fill in the missing parts of the story of your disappearance 54 years ago. My continued prayer is that if there are people know who ended your life, that they will free their consciences of the horrible truth and finally bring some closure to those who loved you when you were here on earth. I recently discovered more newspaper articles related to your disappearance and death and I found myself scouring every word, every quote, every detail in the hopes that something new might jump up from the page, but all that I ended up with was a sick pit in my stomach and a painful sort of self-torture about your cruel death that made me close my computer and say a prayer instead. I’ve been slow to open my emails and read comments from those who care about you because I’m distraught that we haven’t found more answers. Quite simply, I’m sick about it and it makes me sad too.

There are so many people who care about you, Cheryll. Friends of yours still reach out and take care of each other. People still visit your grave and lay flowers and momentos. People from the community reach out to me to ask about your case and what they can do to help. Many who know your story feel strongly that your death not be in vain and that something positive comes from what you brought to the world so that no other child suffers the fate you did. I do a continuous searching of my soul as to how to channel that desire and to shape it into something in your name. And I know you still have an army of people who will join the cause in your honor.

The older I get, the more I think about Heaven. I sometimes wonder if it even exists. Maybe we are here, we enjoy our lives, and then our earthly bodies fail and we die, returning to the earth. If that’s really it, I’m okay with that. But my faith compels me to believe that there is more to life than we can see and we are moving toward an eternal life in Heaven wherever or whatever that is. If you’re there, are you still ten years old? Will I recognize you when I get there? But if we don’t have our earthly bodies in Heaven then how do we know each other? Someone once asked me who the first person would be that I’d look for in Heaven. Though I have a group of beloved family there, I’d look for you first. My earthly desire would be for you to tell me who ended your life, but I also think that that probably is of no matter in Heaven. I’d just like a few moments to “be” with the girl I never knew in life, but feel strongly connected to nonetheless.

Happy Birthday, Cheryll. Happy Birthday, Tom. We miss you and we think of you often. Keep helping us find answers here on earth as you watch over us from Heaven.

If you have any information about the death of Cheryll Spegal, please contact the Kentucky State Police, Post 6 at 859-428-1212.