Unfortunately, it’s common to hear about children going missing, but thanks to investigators and the police, many cases are solved. However, a four-year-old boy has been missing for two years and the Police were at a loss. Nonetheless, they got a tip about the kid’s whereabouts. That’s when, in September, police officers went to check on a house where they thought that the kid was being held. There was no sign of the boy was inside the house, but then they enter a room and finally solve the case. Let’s see Ricky’s strange disappearance and who was behind it.
Unfortunately, it’s common to hear about children going missing, but thanks to investigators and the police, many cases are solved. However, a four-year-old boy has been missing for two years and the Police were at a loss. Nonetheless, they got a tip about the kid’s whereabouts. That’s when, in September, police officers went to check on a house where they thought that the kid was being held. There was no sign of the boy was inside the house, but then they enter a room and finally solve the case. Let’s see Ricky’s strange disappearance and who was behind it.
The young boy’s name is Ricky (Richard) Chekevdia, and a few years ago he went missing. At that time, his mother Shannon Wilfong and father Michael Chekevdia were separated and agreed to share custody of the boy. In 1982 Michael joined the Army and was deployed to Iraq shortly after his son was born.
The young boy’s name is Ricky (Richard) Chekevdia, and a few years ago he went missing. At that time, his mother Shannon Wilfong and father Michael Chekevdia were separated and agreed to share custody of the boy. In 1982 Michael joined the Army and was deployed to Iraq shortly after his son was born.
In 2004, Michael returned to Illinois, but still continued to have issues with his ex-wife. She didn’t let Ricky go visit his father, which wasn’t fair considering they had joint custody. But it was in 2007 when things went south!
In 2004, Michael returned to Illinois, but still continued to have issues with his ex-wife. She didn’t let Ricky go visit his father, which wasn’t fair considering they had joint custody. But it was in 2007 when things went south!
In fall 2007, Michael was going to see Shannon in the court to discuss his visitation rights. But she didn’t show up that day and the judge had to take a decision. He gave Michael temporary custody of his boy, but when he went to get Ricky, he and Shannon were not at home.
In fall 2007, Michael was going to see Shannon in the court to discuss his visitation rights. But she didn’t show up that day and the judge had to take a decision. He gave Michael temporary custody of his boy, but when he went to get Ricky, he and Shannon were not at home.
Believe it or not, but the mother took her son and disappeared. Michael listed the two as missing people when he realized that the two vanished. Then in December, the police issued a warrant for Shannon’s arrest. Meanwhile, Shannon’s mother had a different story, where Michael was the evil character… Believe it or not, but the mother took her son and disappeared.
Michael listed the two as missing people when he realized that the two vanished. Then in December, the police issued a warrant for Shannon’s arrest. Meanwhile, Shannon’s mother had a different story, where Michael was the evil character…
In the past, Shannon and her mother, Diane Dobbs said that Michael would abuse the boy. Did the mother run away to protect her son? Diane defended her daughter and while the police was searching for the two, she even wrote signs in front of her house, accusing Michael of being a child abuser.
In the past, Shannon and her mother, Diane Dobbs said that Michael would abuse the boy. Did the mother run away to protect her son? Diane defended her daughter and while the police was searching for the two, she even wrote signs in front of her house, accusing Michael of being a child abuser.
Diane lived three miles away from Michael’s house, and he saw her placards. He grew suspicious that she was hiding the two, but the grandmother allowed the police to search her property. They found absolutely no sign of the missing mother and son, but two years later the police officers get one essential tip...
Diane lived three miles away from Michael’s house, and he saw her placards. He grew suspicious that she was hiding the two, but the grandmother allowed the police to search her property. They found absolutely no sign of the missing mother and son, but two years later the police officers get one essential tip...
Two whole years passed and nobody found Ricky or Shannon. It was like earth swallowed them, but then the police received a tip-off that led them to a familiar place. This time, the police officers had an ace up their sleeves.
Two whole years passed and nobody found Ricky or Shannon. It was like earth swallowed them, but then the police received a tip-off that led them to a familiar place. This time, the police officers had an ace up their sleeves.
The police officers went back to the grandmother’s house. It might sound unbelievable, but the investigation led them to a room where an odd dresser was pushed up against a wall. Taking a closer look, one of the officers gasped!
The police officers went back to the grandmother’s house. It might sound unbelievable, but the investigation led them to a room where an odd dresser was pushed up against a wall. Taking a closer look, one of the officers gasped!
There was indeed a secret hole into the wall. Turning on their flashlights and shining some light into that hideout, the officers saw Ricky and his mother in that small place, which was only 12 feet long and five feet wide, and only four feet tall. They had so many questions, but taking the boy out was of high priority… There was indeed a secret hole into the wall.
Turning on their flashlights and shining some light into that hideout, the officers saw Ricky and his mother in that small place, which was only 12 feet long and five feet wide, and only four feet tall. They had so many questions, but taking the boy out was of high priority…
In a statement from Master Sergeant Stan Diggs from the Illinois State Police Department, we learned that the boy was very happy to go out: “We let him out of the [patrol] car, and he ran around like he’d never seen outdoors.” Did the boy stay hidden inside that small space all the time?
In a statement from Master Sergeant Stan Diggs from the Illinois State Police Department, we learned that the boy was very happy to go out: “We let him out of the [patrol] car, and he ran around like he’d never seen outdoors.” Did the boy stay hidden inside that small space all the time?
“It was actually very sad. He was very happy to be outside. He said he never goes outside,” added Diggs. Everyone present at the moment of discovery was heartbroken seeing that the boy was indeed hiding there all that time, in a small room. For two years! Shannon was arrested on the spot, being charged with felony child abduction and Diane’s charges of aiding and abetting ended with her going out on bail. Then, she appeared on Good Morning America!
“It was actually very sad. He was very happy to be outside. He said he never goes outside,” added Diggs. Everyone present at the moment of discovery was heartbroken seeing that the boy was indeed hiding there all that time, in a small room. For two years! Shannon was arrested on the spot, being charged with felony child abduction and Diane’s charges of aiding and abetting ended with her going out on bail. Then, she appeared on Good Morning America!
Interviewed, Diane told her side of the story at Good Morning America. She explained that the secret room was there when she bought the house 14 years before hiding her daughter there. She added that it was used for storage and only used it to hide Ricky and Shannon when the police came to investigate the house.
Interviewed, Diane told her side of the story at Good Morning America. She explained that the secret room was there when she bought the house 14 years before hiding her daughter there. She added that it was used for storage and only used it to hide Ricky and Shannon when the police came to investigate the house.
Diane added that the boy only spent around 5 minutes in that room and he actually had the run of the house, adding that: “My grandson had the run of the house,” Diane continued. “When we were outside, we would go fishing. We would do weenie roasts. We’ve done fireworks on the 4th of July. He’s helped me plant my flower garden in the back. He’s got his own garden in the back.” But then, the reporters went to interview Diane’s neighbors!
Diane added that the boy only spent around 5 minutes in that room and he actually had the run of the house, adding that: “My grandson had the run of the house,” Diane continued. “When we were outside, we would go fishing. We would do weenie roasts. We’ve done fireworks on the 4th of July. He’s helped me plant my flower garden in the back. He’s got his own garden in the back.” But then, the reporters went to interview Diane’s neighbors!
When speaking to the neighbors, the reporters learned that nobody saw the boy outside. And the police agreed to the neighbors. When he was taken outside, the boy seemed to be extremely happy, Diggs adding: “Surprisingly, Ricky is in good spirits. For someone who’s been isolated in that house with no other outside beings, he is a very social, very polite, very talkative little boy.” When speaking to the neighbors, the reporters learned that nobody saw the boy outside.
And the police agreed to the neighbors. When he was taken outside, the boy seemed to be extremely happy, Diggs adding: “Surprisingly, Ricky is in good spirits. For someone who’s been isolated in that house with no other outside beings, he is a very social, very polite, very talkative little boy.”
After the show, Diane was arrested again after the truth about her and her daughter was finally revealed. That also meant that Michael’s abuse was only a lie. Later, Shannon also pleaded guilty… After the show, Diane was arrested again after the truth about her and her daughter was finally revealed.
That also meant that Michael’s abuse was only a lie. Later, Shannon also pleaded guilty…
In September 2011, Shannon pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500, and had to be in probation for two years after abducting Ricky. Michael won the permanent custody, and in 2012 he retired from the military. The single father wanted to focus on his kid welfare and hoped that together they will have a peaceful life.
In September 2011, Shannon pleaded guilty and was fined $1,500, and had to be in probation for two years after abducting Ricky. Michael won the permanent custody, and in 2012 he retired from the military. The single father wanted to focus on his kid welfare and hoped that together they will have a peaceful life.
He was finally going to be able to hug his son without being called an abuser. It turned out that he one with a bizarre behavior was the mother! What about Ricky? Was he affected by the entire ordeal?
He was finally going to be able to hug his son without being called an abuser. It turned out that he one with a bizarre behavior was the mother! What about Ricky? Was he affected by the entire ordeal?
Although living in isolation for this long, Ricky didn’t seem changed at all. He was as energetic, talkative and bright as Michael knew him and the father was relieved that his son wouldn’t be forever marked by his mother’s actions… Although living in isolation for this long, Ricky didn’t seem changed at all.
He was as energetic, talkative and bright as Michael knew him and the father was relieved that his son wouldn’t be forever marked by his mother’s actions…
Although it’s a shame that the police didn’t discover the boy the first time they investigated Diane’s house, this story has a happy ending. It really is strange that the mother and grandmother went through so many troubles for temporary full custody – their actions made the mother lose the custody altogether!
Although it’s a shame that the police didn’t discover the boy the first time they investigated Diane’s house, this story has a happy ending. It really is strange that the mother and grandmother went through so many troubles for temporary full custody – their actions made the mother lose the custody altogether!
Shannon and Michael were in a toxic relationship and after this, Michael’s little trust in his ex-wife completely vanished. While parents should lean on each other and help raise their children, even if they’re separated, this wasn’t the case.
Shannon and Michael were in a toxic relationship and after this, Michael’s little trust in his ex-wife completely vanished. While parents should lean on each other and help raise their children, even if they’re separated, this wasn’t the case.