This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence against children.

Some of it is really hard to hear. In Akron, Ohio, Ohio, two little girls went missing.

The first disappeared in January of 1995.

Then, almost exactly a year later, the second girl was taken.

The response was almost identical in both cases.

The family searched for hours, believing the girls might have taken a wrong turn or lost

track of time at a friend's house. Eventually though, they had to admit their worst fears and call the police to report the girls missing.

From A&E, this is cold case files.

I'm Brooke, and here's the Alessia. This is cold case files.

I'm Brooke and here's the illustrious Bill Curtis with a classic case

abandoned houses. When she made me that promise in the look in her eyes to tell me that she would be back before it got dark. I believed her.

On a winter's night, 13-year-old Melissa Thomas

promises her mother she'll be home before dark.

Darkness falls, and there's no sign of Melissa.

Family and friends hit the streets of West Akron.

Just certain looking, you know, ask some questions, stopping people on the street, you know, doing whatever

we could to try to find her.

After hours of searching, Sonia Merchant calls police.

Actually, I got to report from her.

The next day, Officer Bertina King gets the case and recognizes the name immediately.

She stops first at the home of Melissa's sister, the last person to see Melissa.

We're at 710 Westerly Road, Department F.

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