Vigil remembers 3 Missouri women missing 20 years

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Twenty years after a Springfield woman, her daughter and her daughter's friend disappeared from her home, relatives, friends and law enforcement officers say they are haunted by the case and are still grieving the loss.

About 75 people attended a rally Thursday morning at the Victims Memorial in Springfield to remember 47-year-old Sherill Levitt, her daughter, 19-year-old Suzanne Streeter, and Streeter's friend, 18-year-old Stacy McCall. They disappeared from Levitt's house in Springfield on June 7, 1992, the day after the two younger women graduated from Kickapoo High School.

Police believe they were abducted because they left behind purses, money, clothing and the family dog, The Springfield News-Leader reported (http://sgfnow.co/L5saS4 ).

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said police have not given up on the investigation.

"This case will not be forgotten," Williams told the crowd at the rally.

Family members thanked those who attended for remembering the women for 20 years.

"It was amazing for a family to see what you guys did," said Deb Schwartz, the sister of Sherill Levitt. "Thank you, thank you for everything."

Darrell Moore, who was Greene County prosecutor when the women disappeared, said he still hopes for justice in the case.

"I don't know how many leads we looked at throughout the years," Moore told the News-Leader. "This one still weighs on me that I wished we would have resolved in my 10 years as prosecutor."

Moore said he still remembers receiving a call about when the women disappeared.

"Obviously, it was one of the most frustrating cases," Moore said. "Still pray every day that there will be resolution of it."

A lead in the early 2000s prompted Moore to read all of the original investigative reports again.

"I believe there's someone out there that can still provide a piece of information," Moore said.

The Springfield Police Department said in a news release Wednesday "that someone, be it a former girlfriend, a past friend or associate, or a relative of the suspect, has information that can help solve the case.

"Around the time of the crime, the suspect may have spent a considerable amount of time in, or may otherwise have been familiar with, the area of the crime, and he may have frequently been out and about at odd hours," the release said. "The suspect also may have developed an interest in the victims."

The news release said the suspect might not have a history of committing violent crimes.

In April, police reviewed the case with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va. The review process began in late 2010. Investigators researched were nearly 25,000 documents, as well as physical evidence from the Levitt home.

A $42,000 reward is offered in the case.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com