Community members join awareness walk for Scott County’s Cheryl Anne Scherer missing persons week

SCOTT CITY, Mo. (KBSI) – Friends, families and community members came together for an awareness walk, not just to walk, but to raise remembrance and awareness for missing persons like Cheryl Anne Scherer. 

19-year-old Cheryl Ann Scherer went missing from the Rhodes gas station in Scott City where she worked on April 17, 1979. Her family and community have been searching ever since. Her younger sister Diane Scherer-Morris shares that although the hope is to find Cheryl and keep her face and name alive for anyone who may have answers that it’s more than that, it’s about remembering all those missing.

“That we want all missing persons found. If you see a Facebook post of a missing person that you share that because that’s how people are found and the word gets out now. I mean, you know, that’s where we need to make sure that people are in tune with that and make sure that they are sharing things” Scherer-Morris.

The remembrance walk took place on April 17, 2026, at 11:40, the date and time she was believed to have went missing. After years of searching and detectives with the Scott County sheriff’s department following lead after lead, a proclamation marking missing persons week was named by Scott County leaders. 

Cheryls friends and family hangup yellow ribbon and banners and raise awareness through multiple events all week long.  

“This all started from a proclamation being made in memory of Cheryl for missing persons week the week of April 17th to bring awareness. But the proclamation started with Scott County and then, the city of Benton also recognizes that and the city of Scott City” shares Cheryls younger brother Anthony Scherer.

Scott County Detective Michael Williams is actively working the case and says over the years the department has developed a great relationship with Cheryl’s family. Meeting each month to discuss any new tips or reports. Him, and other detectives, members of the k9 Unit and Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley attended the walk today showing their unwavering support and dedication to the case. 

“We don’t have the privilege of modern-day technology of cameras and cell phones and all that stuff back then to capture all the information that we can now, but we have that now to try to get the information pulled from back then from people. So, call us, write us, email us, whatever you can do. Just give us the information. Give us that one thread to unravel this” says Detective Williams.

Anyone with information nig or small is urged to contact the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and talk with detectives.

Detective Williams shares those with information can choose to stay anonymous as they just want to solve this case for the family that never stopped searching. 

To contact the Scott County Sheriff’s Department-(573) 471-3530.