"This is an open and active case, which needs all the attention it can get. And that is what all of our crime junkies are all about, making a difference. And together, I think we can make a difference with this case." — Ashley Flowers
"The rumor mill in Gallup is running wild. I mean, this is a small town and in typical small town fashion, it seems like everyone has an opinion on what happened." — Britt
"This whole thing is a shock, but if it really is Anthenet, then it gives both officers and her family a lot of hope. I mean, if the caller is telling the truth, she is alive and she is only two hours away." — Britt
The episode details the baffling disappearance of nine-year-old Anthenet Kaedeeto from her Gallup, New Mexico home on April 6, 1986. Her mother, Penny Kaedeeto, discovered Anthenet missing after she had slept in the same bed with her two younger sisters. The unlocked doors and the absence of Anthenet from the house initiated a frantic search by family and later, law enforcement. Initial police response was delayed due to the eight-hour waiting period for filing a missing person report, a common protocol at the time.
The investigation uncovered a crucial witness account from Anthenet's younger sister, Sanita, who recalled hearing a loud knock on the door followed by a man and woman claiming to be their aunt and uncle. Later, Anthenet reportedly went to investigate a second knock. While there were no signs of forced entry, a neighbor reported seeing an older model brown truck with New Mexico plates at the house around the time of the disappearance, a lead that did not immediately yield a suspect. The case took an unexpected turn when a 62-year-old man, Wesley Daniels, was arrested for sexual assault charges involving other neighborhood boys. While he was in the area, investigators did not find strong evidence linking him to Anthenet's disappearance, as her profile did not align with his typical victimology.
A significant development occurred a year later with a distressed phone call to the Gallup Police Department, allegedly from Anthenet, stating she was in Albuquerque. Her mother, Penny, was certain it was her daughter's voice. This call, however, was too brief to trace, but it reignited hope and redirected the investigation. Further leads, including a report of a girl matching Anthenet's description in Seattle, Washington, and a cryptic note from a waitress in Carson City, Nevada, offering "Please help me call the police," proved to be dead ends. A breakthrough came years later when Anthenet's sister, Wendy, then five years old, recalled Anthenet opening the door for two men who identified themselves as "Uncle Joe" and forcibly took her to a brown van. This account, while providing more detail, still did not lead to definitive suspects or Anthenet's location. The case remains a poignant example of an enduring mystery, highlighting the challenges of cold cases and the unwavering hope for answers within the affected community.