Here's an UM segment that apparently never appeared on Lifetime: It was a segment about a little girl from Tennessee who was reportedly seen after she allegedly died.

Although I am certain that I saw the segment, my memory of it is vague. According to the episode guide at this site, the segment in question was broadcast on September 5, 1990.

Does anyone remember this particular segment? If so, what was the girl's name? What is the current status of the case?

Thank you in advance for any details.

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/170dftn.html


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MORE TIPS RECEIVED ON MARLENA CHILDRESS
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The Commercial Appeal-September 12, 1990
Author: The Commercial Appeal

Authorities investigating the Marlena Childress disappearance received another 50 tips in the case Tuesday, bringing to more than 200 the number of calls generated by last week's Unsolved Mysteries episode.
The NBC television show's producers passed along the roughly 50 new calls Tuesday to the Obion County Sheriff's Department, in addition to the 130 calls they passed along last week, said Chief Deputy Ken Hutchens.


The calls, generated by the show's toll-free number, have come in addition to the 35 to 40 calls the department has received directly from people who believe they have information on the case, said Hutchens.


However, despite the heavy influx of calls, Hutchens said few of the tips are likely to produce any solid leads in the search for Marlena, who was 4 years old when she disappeared from her Union City, Tenn., home on April 16, 1987.


Last Wednesday, Unsolved Mysteries aired a 15-minute segment on Marlena's disappearance and mentioned the $30,000 reward offered by LaWade Strickland, Marlena's maternal grandfather, in exchange for information leading to the safe return of the girl.


''We're getting a lot of calls . . . but about 75 percent of them are thrown out,'' said Hutchens.


''One person said that aliens picked her (Marlena) up and have her on some planet some where. That's the sort of thing we're getting,'' he added.

Edition: Tennessee
Section: News
Page: A16

Index Terms: MISSING
;
CHILD
;
TN
Record Number: 00256153
Copyright 1990, 1994 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN

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CALLS FOLLOW TV SHOW ON MISSING TENN. GIRL
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The Commercial Appeal-September 8, 1990
Author: The Commercial Appeal

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Marlena Childress were handed 130 potential new leads Friday by the producers of NBC's Unsolved Mysteries, which aired an episode on Marlena earlier in the week, officials in Union City, Tenn., said.
The show's producers sent the Obion County Sheriff's Department information from the 130 phone calls they received in the two days after airing the episode on the missing girl, said Chief Deputy Ken Hutchens.


The deluge of tips, generated by the show's toll-free number, are in addition to the 25 to 30 calls the Sheriff's Department has received since the 15-minute segment aired Wednesday at 7 p.m.


Hutchens said some calls will be disregarded but most will be tracked down in an attempt to locate Marlena, who has been missing from her Union City home since April 16, 1987.


''We've gotten calls from every part of the country. Some of them are so crazy we can throw them away right from the start, but we'll check out most of them,'' said Hutchens.


The show centered on the bizarre events surrounding Marlena's disappearance.


The program also repeatedly showed photos of Marlena, who was 4 when she vanished, and mentioned a $30,000 reward offered by LaWade Strickland, Marlena's maternal grandfather, for her safe return.


''I think a lot of people who have called are snatching at that $30,000 reward,'' said Hutchens.


Hutchens said many of the tips passed along by Unsolved Mysteries are improbable and several contradict one another.


''We had people seeing her in Florida and Ohio at the same time,'' he said.

Memo: Shorter version, Final B2
Edition: Tennessee
Section: News
Page: A13

Index Terms: MISSING
;
CHILD
;
TN
Record Number: 00252113
Copyright 1990, 1994 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN

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MARLENA PROGRAM PROMPTS TIPS
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The Commercial Appeal-September 7, 1990
Author: Jerry Huston The Commercial Appeal

A 15-minute segment on NBC's Unsolved Mysteries devoted to the 1987 disappearance of Marlena Childress has prompted several tips and sighting reports to Northwest Tennessee authorities, officials in Union City said Thursday.
''We've probably gotten about 20 calls already. I'm surprised at the response,'' said Chief Deputy Kenneth Hutchens of the Obion County Sheriff's Department, which is in charge of the investigation.


The show, which aired Wednesday night, centered on the child's mysterious disappearance from her Union City home on April 16, 1987. In the episode, several photos were shown of Marlena, who was 4 years old when she was reported missing.


At the end of the program, Robert Stack, the show's host, urged viewers with tips to call the show's toll-free number or contact the Obion County Sheriff's Department.


However, Hutchens said the calls have not greatly increased hopes of finding Marlena.


''All the people we've talked to seemed to have good intentions, but it has been three years since she's been gone. Who knows what she looks like now?'' said Hutchens, adding that deputies will check out every tip they receive.


In Mayfield, Ky., meanwhile, Marlena's family hasn't given up hope that the program will provide clues to her whereabouts.


Knowing the story of their granddaughter's disappearance didn't make watching it any easier Wednesday night for LaWade and Catherine Strickland.


''I knew pretty much what they were going to have on, but just seeing the pictures of her, seeing it like that . . .'' said Mrs. Strickland, her voice trailing off as she wiped away tears.


The program shed no new light on the three-year-old mystery of Marlena's disappearance, but her relatives expressed hope Wednesday the publicity would spark new life in the search for the little girl.

Edition: First
Section: Metro
Page: B1

Index Terms: MISSING
;
PERSON
;
CHILD
Record Number: 00251115
Copyright 1990, 1994 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN

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TV SHOW FEATURES MISSING UNION CITY CHILD
-
GRANDPARENTS HOPE NEW LEADS RESULT
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The Commercial Appeal-September 6, 1990
Author: Jerry Huston The Commercial Appeal

Knowing the story of their granddaughter's disappearance didn't make watching it any easier Wednesday night for LaWade and Catherine Strickland.
Sitting in the den of their Mayfield home, the Stricklands watched silently as the strange saga of 4-year-old Marlena Childress's disappearance was played out nationwide in a segment of the NBC television series Unsolved Mysteries.


''I knew pretty much what they were going to have on, but just seeing the pictures of her, seeing it like that . . .'' said Mrs. Strickland, her voice trailing off as she wiped away the tears she knew would come.


The long-awaited national television spot shed no new light on the three- year-old mystery of Marlena's disappearance, but her relatives expressed hope Wednesday the publicity would spark new life in the search for the little girl.


Most of the 15-minute segment was devoted to a chronology of the case. Marlena disappeared from her Union City home on April 16, 1987.


A massive search was launched throughout northwest Tennessee in the weeks after Marlena was reported missing until Pam Bailey, Marlena's mother, confessed two months later to killing the girl and dumping her body in the Obion River. Mrs. Bailey, who was charged with second-degree murder but not indicted, later recanted that confession, but no widespread search was renewed.


However, there have been numerous sightings of children who look like Marlena, including one in Nevada this summer, which turned out to be false.


''If this show turns up a single good clue it will have been worth it,'' said Strickland, Marlena's paternal grandfather. ''I think it'll get things started again.''


The show included interviews with Mrs. Bailey, Strickland, people who claimed to have seen Marlena after she disappeared and area police.


Most of the interviews were taped last spring.


''They spent too much time talking about sightings that turned out to be nothing. They should have talked more about the more recent stuff,'' said Mrs. Bailey, who watched the show across town at the home of family friends.


Watching the show, which featured a girl who bore some resemblance to Marlena, wasn't easy for Mrs. Bailey, but she was glad the show was aired.


''It's hard to look at her face on TV like that. But I guess it's good that they have her face on there a lot because if people see her, maybe it'll get someone to call in,'' said Mrs. Bailey.


Clara Ann Wyrick of Mayfield, the chairman of the Find Marlena Childress Committee, which disbanded in the weeks after Mrs. Bailey's confession, said she fears the broadcast will ''cause a lot of false leads to smokescreen real clues.''


Within minutes of the 7 p.m. airing, there were signs the show could lead to new clues.


''We've already had three or four calls, including one from Kansas, just in the time since the show was on,'' said Chief Deputy Kenneth Hutchens of the Obion County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the case.

photo

Marlena Childress

Edition: Final
Section: Metro
Page: B1

Index Terms: MISSING
;
CHILD
Dateline: MAYFIELD, Ky.
Record Number: 00250202
Copyright 1990, 1994 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN

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LOOKING FOR MARLENA
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Fayetteville Observer, The (NC)-September 5, 1990
Author: LARRY CHEEK

By LARRY CHEEK




For the Anderson Creek woman, it is a long shot, this column I am writing about Marlena Childress. The little girl was abducted in Tennessee, after all, not Fayetteville or even North Carolina. But Marlena's former Bible school teacher feels there's a chance Marlena could be in this area - because we're right on the I-95 corridor - and she's looking for all the publicity she can get.




Marlena Childress disappeared from her Union City, Tenn., home on April 16, 1987. She was 4 years old. One moment she was playing in her yard. The next, she was gone.




"I was living in Mayfield, Ky., which is close to Union City, at the time," said the Anderson Creek woman, who came to Fayetteville with her Air Force husband. "LaWade and Katherine Strickland, Marlena's grandparents, went to the same church I did." A Car With Peeling Paint




Marlena was a shy child. At first, she wouldn't have anything to do with her Bible school teacher, but later warmed up.




The search for her has been intensive. There's a $30,000 reward for her return and if you're wondering why I haven't yet used the name of the Anderson Creek woman, it's because she's scared.




"When LaWade was following up some leads he got a threatening phone call," she told me. "The voice said, "You don"t know what you're doing by keeping up with the search. A lot of things could happen to you, your wife, Pam (Marlena's mother) and your children.' But he's not willing to give up."




Shortly after Marlena disappeared, a witness said she had seen the girl in a beat-up car with peeling paint. The car was traced to Clinton, Ky., but no charges were filed against the owner. No Proof Against The Father




In May of 1989, what could have been a break in the case occurred. A report of child neglect was filed in Alabama against a man and a woman who had 10 children in their company. A social worker went to the man's house. She talked with one of the little girls - who said her name was Marlena Childress.




The social workers had seen posters about Marlena. She knew the name and thought the girl looked like the picture on the posters. The next day, authorities went to the house. The "family" was gone.




When they were found two weeks later in Florida, Marlena was not with them. The man and woman claimed another girl was the one the social worker had talked to.




The Anderson Creek Air Force wife thinks the two children might have been swapped.




I asked her if Marlena's disappearance could be the result of a custody fight. "There's no proof her father (who is split from the child's mother) got mad and had somebody snatch her," she said. "We had reason to believe at one time it might have been possible. But she hasn't been seen at all with him." On TV, Marlena's Story




LaWade Strickland's car has been broken into, and his garage door opener stolen. He has received more than just the one threatening telephone call.




Are drugs involved? Child pornography? No one knows.




"It's rough," Mr. Strickland told a reporter. "I always said death was the worst thing that could happen to the family, but it's not. It's the uncertainty of it. It's harder today than when it first happened."




As I said, the odds are against Marlena Childress being in this area. But the Anderson Creek woman, who is concerned about the safety of her own four children, thinks it's possible.




"Marlena will be on Unsolved Mysteries tonight at 8 on NBC," she said. "Maybe somebody will recognize her."




If you do, call 502-247-6593.

Section: Local & State

Record Number: 548443
Copyright 1990, 2002 The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

''One person said that aliens picked her (Marlena) up and have her on some planet some where. That's the sort of thing we're getting,'' he added.

Jeez I guess Ed Walters called in that night eh? - LOL GO UM FANS GO!

Seriously though this case sounds intriguing, too bad Lifetime never broadcasted it :(

Edit: Here is the DOE NETWORK profile: Seems like the mother is a bit of a screwball and could've been involved in her child's death/disappearance

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/170dftn.html

I knew I had seen that segment. I just didn't remember the girl's name. But what I do recall was the mentioning of the name Strickland. I would imagine that LaWade Strickland (Marlena's grandfather) was interviewed in the segment.

When I saw that segment and heard the name "Strickland", I thought of Mr. Strickland, the high school principal from the Back to the Future movies. That is one of the few things that I remember about the segment.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Marlena Childress allegedly spotted at a store? Somehow, I remember something about a store (perhaps a retail store or a department store). But I could be misremembering.

Wow, I would love to see this segment. Very sad and the story about her brother in the cemetary was horrible! I agree with Dante that the mother is probably involved. Why would you confess to murdering your child if you didn't? Plus by the incident with the brother, its obvious she is capable of hurting her own children. Sad case. :(

The other segments that aired as a part of this 9/5/90 episode were repeats. I suspect that Lifetime did not purchase this specific episode for that reason. Over the summer (during repeat season), it was not uncommon for NBC to manufacture "new" episodes by splicing together repeat stories from other episodes and occasionally sticking in a brand new story as well. It looks like that is what happened here. I suspect this is also the reason we never got the Todd Mcafee story.

Years ago, Lifetime used to show half hour installments of UM around 2am. Sometimes these "misfit" stories ended up there.

Seems like the mother is a bit of a screwball...
That's the understatement of the year. What the heck is wrong with this woman??

I don't remember this segment at all. Crystaldawn, I can't believe that there are segments you haven't seen!

Crystaldawn, I can't believe that there are segments you haven't seen!

I know...:lol: I would kill to see some of these old ones but they're proving all but impossible to find. Hardly anyone back then taped UM off of NBC and if they did they didn't keep the tape.

Lets hope this psycho didn't have any more kids.

Hey my name is Casey Bailey im one of the only people that has the type and imone of the only people that knows the true story about it all i hate getting on this websites and seeing **** thats not true but if yall would like to know the true true about it all you can emailme at caseyb89@hotmail.com

I wonder why this only made the UM rotation once. So is this the only segment that you haven't seen and/or don't have access to, Heather?

So is this the only segment that you haven't seen and/or don't have access to, Heather?

No, I wish. The segments on this thread I don't have and I'm sure there are others.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=223839

Yes it is strange they wouldn't keep reairing that one considering she is still missing.

Her name was Marlena Childress and she was from my home town. I don't really remember much because I was 7 at the time. But the general idea is that her mother killed her and dumped her in the Obion River (which is really a large creek unless its flooded) Anywhoo, Marlena's mother reportedly confessed but later recanted. To this day they have never found anything as far as remains go. However, her mother took her 12 year old son to a graveyard up in Kentucky about 7 or 8 years ago and tried to stab him. He got away and she's in prison now. That has pretty much sealed the deal for her in public opinion here but they haven't charged her for Marlena's death or disappearance because of lack of evidence. In a town our size (a little over 10,000), She's kind of an urban legend now that it is 21 years later.

Her name was Marlena Childress and she was from my home town. I don't really remember much because I was 7 at the time. But the general idea is that her mother killed her and dumped her in the Obion River (which is really a large creek unless its flooded) Anywhoo, Marlena's mother reportedly confessed but later recanted. To this day they have never found anything as far as remains go. However, her mother took her 12 year old son to a graveyard up in Kentucky about 7 or 8 years ago and tried to stab him. He got away and she's in prison now. That has pretty much sealed the deal for her in public opinion here but they haven't charged her for Marlena's death or disappearance because of lack of evidence. In a town our size (a little over 10,000), She's kind of an urban legend now that it is 21 years later.

Talk about someone with a mental condition. Thanks for posting.

i found an e-mail address for Marlena Childress' brother, but egads, I wouldn't feel comfortable contacting him: I get the impression that he and the rest of his family just want to put the whole thing behind him: apparently Marlena's mother, who is strongly suspected of killing her, also tried to kill her son. The mother sounds very messed up.

i found an e-mail address for Marlena Childress' brother, but egads, I wouldn't feel comfortable contacting him: I get the impression that he and the rest of his family just want to put the whole thing behind him: apparently Marlena's mother, who is strongly suspected of killing her, also tried to kill her son. The mother sounds very messed up.

Actually the person who posted above with the screen name Bailey 720 is her brother. The reason I mention this is he seems willing to speak about his sister giving out his email address and when he first posted this I exchanged a few emails with him. He would probably be willing to talk about the case Wiseguy if you wanted to contact him.

i found an e-mail address for Marlena Childress' brother, but egads, I wouldn't feel comfortable contacting him: I get the impression that he and the rest of his family just want to put the whole thing behind him: apparently Marlena's mother, who is strongly suspected of killing her, also tried to kill her son. The mother sounds very messed up.

I have some info on this. Sending PM.

this entire thing sound sad and creepy.

hope you guys find something out.

this entire thing sound sad and creepy.

hope you guys find something out.

I saw the preview for it recently (not the segment though) and it looks pretty damn bizarre.

Since her brother has been kind enough to offer to talk about it, why don't they update the segment on the new series and interview him?

I finally found this elusive UM story and watched it semi-recently. The details of the case are as follows:

4-year-old Marlena Childress vanished one afternoon in 1987 while allegedly playing in her front yard in Union, Tennessee. Marlena's mother, Pam Bailey, called the police after she heard what sounded like a car pulling away from the property in a hurry and then noticing that Marlena was not outside. A massive search was conducted but nothing was ever found. The stress of the situation overwhelmed Pam Bailey and she voluntarily checked in to a mental institution for evaluation/treatment.

About three weeks after Marlena disappeared, Pam confessed to a private investigator whom she had hired that she in fact killed Marlena. Pam told the PI that she was disciplining Marlena and that Marlena died suddenly. Bailey claimed she panicked and disposed of Marlena's body in the nearby Obion River. The river was dredged, but nothing was found. Despite the lack of a body, Pam Bailey was charged with Marlena's murder and the judge ordered her to be permanently confined to the mental hospital until her trial.

After she returned to the mental hospital, Pam's story changed drastically. She now claimed that the PI coerced her into confessing. He allegedly told her that the police had found physical evidence against her and that she would probably be convicted and get the death penalty unless she cooperated. Pam Bailey also claimed that she was on psychiatric medication at the time she made this confession. The PI countered by playing audio recordings of Pam's vivid confession to the press. The charges against Pam bailey were ultimately dropped.

The UM report suggested that Marlena may still be alive and presented re-enactments of two sightings of Marlena that took place after she disappeared.

In the first sighting, two hair stylists reported that two women had come into their salon with a young girl and boy. One of the women was in her twenties, and the other was in her fifties or sixties. The little girl was given a haircut during which she repeatedly cried "I want my mommy!" The woman the hair stylist assumed to be the girl's mother did nothing to comfort the girl. Then, the older woman allegedly said to the girl "be a good girl, Marlena, and we'll take you to the movies". One of the hair stylists would later see a newspaper article and photo of Marlena Childress and recognized her as the girl who had been in the beauty salon. Marlena's grandfather, who was investigating the case at the time, believed that a local waitress had taken Marlena (why he thought this was not revealed and her name was never disclosed). He went to the restaurant with the two witnesses and they identified the waitress as the woman who had been at the beauty parlor with "Marlena". They also identified her son as the little boy who had been there as well. The police interviewed this woman and she denied everything and claimed she had no knowledge of Marlena'a whereabouts. She also took and passed a polygraph test. However, the two witnesses from the beauty parlor maintain that the woman called and harassed them repeatedly after this incident.

The second sighting was more benign. A woman and her young son were shopping at a department store. The woman momentarily lost track of her son but found him in the toy aisle talking with a little girl. The woman began talking to the girl at which point an unidentified woman came over and whisked the little girl away and admonished her for wandering off. The woman later recognized the girl as Marlena Childress and claims her son did too when they saw her on a missing persons flyer that came in the mail.

That was basically it.

Considering that Pam Bailey is currently incarcerated for the attempted murder of her son Casey (who posted earlier on this thread) and because she confessed, I think it's reasonable to assume that Pam Bailey probably did kill her daughter and dispose of her body.

I think the sightings were interesting (specifically the first at the beauty salon), but probably erroneous. We know from other UM cases that eyewitness sightings of missing persons are often anything but accurate. I also find it odd that in both these sightings, "Marlena's abductors" would take her out into public and risk being caught with her.

Interesting case, but I just can't buy that the mother had nothing to do with it.

The 25th anniversary of Marlena's disappearance was a few weeks ago. Its nice to know she's not been forgotten:

http://www.wbbjtv.com/news/local/Marlena-Childress-Missing-For-25-Years-147693805.html

Hi there- long time reader, first time poster. Never imagined the case that would get me to finally post would be one I've never watched and only read about!

Just went through this thread and was wondering if anyone emailed Marlena's brother/Casey Bailey. I saw his post from a few years back and it seemed as if one or two members may have contacted him? Would love to hear what he had to say and his take on what happened to Marlena. Thanks in advance.

Bit of a random place to say this, but as a first time poster I want to mention how grateful I am this site exists and that you all are dedicated to discussing the cases. It's been a year since I rediscovered watching UM since my childhood, and this message board has been amazing for additional info, discussion, and generally not feeling alone in having cases stick with you. It's been nice to feel part of a community that cares about and is captivated by these cases, as well as the scariness (and sometimes silliness) that is Unsolved Mysteries.

Is this the one where the father suspected the mother of killing the daughter because of a drug problem? Or am I getting this confused with another case? IIRC, the father was adamant that the mother was involved, but the mother swore her innocence on the segment and there was some children that saw her get into a stranger's car?

Cars, I saw that one, and for the life of me can't remember the name of the missing child or mother in that case. But I also remember how adamant the father was in blaming the mother. There's no mention of that in Marlena's case wiki, so I'm inclined to believe they're separate cases. Maybe someone else on here remembers better? Tried a few Google searches, but couldn't pinpoint that case (sad to discover how many children have been abducted from their front yard).

Wanted to post Marlena Childress' UM wiki page for extra info, but I haven't posted enough on the board to include a URL. But you can certainly find it online.

Is this the one where the father suspected the mother of killing the daughter because of a drug problem? Or am I getting this confused with another case? IIRC, the father was adamant that the mother was involved, but the mother swore her innocence on the segment and there was some children that saw her get into a stranger's car?

That was Lauren Jackson. Marlena Childress' case involved her mother claiming she killed and threw her in the Obion River near their home in Union City, TN a short time after she disappeared and then retracting her confession, saying she was taking much medication from a recent stay in the hospital for exhaustion when she made it. There were also two weird reported sightings of Marlena in Memphis and Lenoir City, respectively.

That was Lauren Jackson. Marlena Childress' case involved her mother claiming she killed and threw her in the Obion River near their home in Union City, TN a short time after she disappeared and then retracting her confession, saying she was taking much medication from a recent stay in the hospital for exhaustion when she made it. There were also two weird reported sightings of Marlena in Memphis and Lenoir City, respectively.

Thanks, I knew it was a UM segment I had saw.

Thinking about Marlena Childress lately. I noticed on her CP page that the car that sped away from the Childress home the day of Marlena's disappearance reportedly had McCracken County, KY plates. Pam Bailey moved to Kentucky shortly after Marlena's disappearance, and by the time of the 2002 stabbing of her son she was living in Graves County, KY. Graves County sits directly south of McCracken County. Not sure if that really means anything, but I did find it interesting.

I have never known what to ultimately make of Pam Bailey, but no matter how many times I watch her interview, it always kind of gives me the creeps.

I would love to watch this segment, but have only seen the preview for it. It seems like a really creepy case, particularly because of the mother.

I don't think I've seen this one.

News story dating from shortly after Pam Bailey's confession. I'd never heard she named an accomplice in that confession before.

http://youtu.be/bNWDCQmHrfw

The more I think about this case, the more I think the ladies in the beauty shop identified the correct child as Marlena. I'm not too much on eyewitness testimony--especially when it involves a missing person--but I do think these women probably had it right.

We don't know how Wade Strickland had the women identify the "waitress in the area" suspected of being involved in the disappearance (that is, did he point out the woman ahead of time and ask the ladies if that was the woman they saw that day with the child, or did he wait for them to independently identify her), but by all accounts, we know he presented a photo lineup and asked the women to identify a young boy who was present with the alleged kidnappers that day. Both pointed out the waitress's son. I'm aware that there are methods to deliberately throw a photo lineup, but whether Mr. Strickland was aware of these, I have no way of knowing.

Provided that the women identified not one, but two individuals present that day (without being unduly influenced, that is)--coupled with the account they gave of the child that day crying for her mother, being directly addressed as 'Marlena' by one of the suspected kidnappers, and one of the ladies being so moved by the photograph of Marlena on the newspaper in the convenience store that she immediately called the police--I lean toward the sighting being legitimate.

Why Marlena's supposed captors would tote her about in public is a mystery to me, though. Or what the motive for such a kidnapping would even be.

Pam Bailey's interview still gives me vague willies, but as far as her confessing to killing Marlena and recanting is concerned, that's actually not a particularly abnormal response to extreme stress. I have no way of knowing whether Bailey was involved, and while there is a history of disturbing and violent behavior on her part, her confession testimony was not substantiated by a body (or any other evidence for that matter) when the Obion was dragged.

I would be more apt to believe Pam Bailey probably knows what happened to her daughter, but didn't physically harm nor kill her. My feeling is that if she IS involved, she actually probably knows who took her daughter quite well, and may have even facilitated it.

The more I think about this case, the more I think the ladies in the beauty shop identified the correct child as Marlena. I'm not too much on eyewitness testimony--especially when it involves a missing person--but I do think these women probably had it right.

We don't know how Wade Strickland had the women identify the "waitress in the area" suspected of being involved in the disappearance (that is, did he point out the woman ahead of time and ask the ladies if that was the woman they saw that day with the child, or did he wait for them to independently identify her), but by all accounts, we know he presented a photo lineup and asked the women to identify a young boy who was present with the alleged kidnappers that day. Both pointed out the waitress's son. I'm aware that there are methods to deliberately throw a photo lineup, but whether Mr. Strickland was aware of these, I have no way of knowing.

Provided that the women identified not one, but two individuals present that day (without being unduly influenced, that is)--coupled with the account they gave of the child that day crying for her mother, being directly addressed as 'Marlena' by one of the suspected kidnappers, and one of the ladies being so moved by the photograph of Marlena on the newspaper in the convenience store that she immediately called the police--I lean toward the sighting being legitimate.

Why Marlena's supposed captors would tote her about in public is a mystery to me, though. Or what the motive for such a kidnapping would even be.

Pam Bailey's interview still gives me vague willies, but as far as her confessing to killing Marlena and recanting is concerned, that's actually not a particularly abnormal response to extreme stress. I have no way of knowing whether Bailey was involved, and while there is a history of disturbing and violent behavior on her part, her confession testimony was not substantiated by a body (or any other evidence for that matter) when the Obion was dragged.

I would be more apt to believe Pam Bailey probably knows what happened to her daughter, but didn't physically harm nor kill her. My feeling is that if she IS involved, she actually probably knows who took her daughter quite well, and may have even facilitated it.

I still need to rewatch this segment, I haven't seen it in quite a few years. The main thing I remember from it is getting the feeling that Pam Bailey was a complete psychopath. Given that she tried to kill her son, I don't think it's a huge leap to think she probably tried to kill Marlena too.

Just went through this thread and was wondering if anyone emailed Marlena's brother/Casey Bailey. I saw his post from a few years back and it seemed as if one or two members may have contacted him? Would love to hear what he had to say and his take on what happened to Marlena. Thanks in advance.
Just wanted to echo this question. :)

To answer the question, Justin did contact Marlena's brother many years ago. Somewhat surprisingly, the brother (Casey Bailey) is very defensive of his mother Pam despite the fact that, you know, she tried to kill him. Casey stated that the family didn't want the segment to be reran, so that is a good hypothesis as to why it never surfaced on Lifetime.

Of course, when it comes to a missing child, the more exposure the better, so this makes me believe Pam is guilty all the more. I feel bad for Casey, his mother is obviously insane and that's no doubt had an effect on him over the years.

Come to think of it, I think there is a strong possibility Pam Bailey did give Marlena away. I say that based on a reviewing of the segment as well as rereading the Charley Project page.

Perhaps the best eyewitness sighting of Marlena came out of Lenoir City, TN. This was not some quick, far away glance at nighttime, but rather, somebody who literally came face-to-face with the child, as if they were nose-to-nose. That one of her sons also identified Marlena seems to bolster the claim even farther.

I also think the threatening phone calls the beauticians received is indicative that it was Marlena. As the beauticians theorized, I think they were getting close and somebody didn't like it.

I'm also disturbed that the women that had Marlena apparently weren't treating her very well and definitely didn't appear to be pillars of society.

These were all things from the segment, and the CP page has some additional details of what sounds like a kidnapping.

But I still can't dismiss the possibility that Pam did kill her by throwing her in the river, as she claimed. That someone Pam hired was able to draw this information out of her, and the audio tape played on the segment had Pam adamantly stating she "threw her in" makes me believe this is still a strong possibility also.

But whatever happened, I believe Pam played a part in it somehow.

FWIW, on the site that shall not be named there's a video of two local news stories on the case that look to date to about the time shortly after the disappearance. One involves Pam's confession, and her claim that she had an accomplice in the disposal of her daughter's body. This man is named and he is briefly interviewed. The other involves Pam recanting, from what I can recall.

I don't think it would be out of the realm of possibility that Stan Cavaughness inadvertently (or even intentionally) coaxed Pam into falsely confessing during his interviews with her. It has happened to interviewees with established innocence before. Coupled with the sightings in Memphis (which I personally think are the strongest), I tend to think Marlena's disappearance is probably related to an abduction (or "abduction" facilitated by Pam perhaps) and not a murder.

Pam has the shiftiest and coldest eyes I've ever seen on anyone. They were literally all over the place.

Really????????

I was just rewatching this segment and I am now trying to find some update on this case. This case is about a woman who admitted to killing her daughter only to recant later. She was interviewed by Unsolved Mysteries and made the most bizarre excuses. This woman reminds me of Susan Smith. Pamela confessed to throwing her daughter in the river. Marlena has never been found. According to the wiki case files, http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Marlena_Childress Pamela was sentenced to prison for stabbing her son in a cemetery. Does anyone know how long her sentence was for and if she is still in prison? If you go to Tennessee offender locater, the only information I can find is that her supervision status is "absconded" – meaning did she run? Is she in hiding? Does anyone have any updates on this woman? She really seems like a dangerous person. I think her confession was the truth.

Hmm I've never seen the Marlena Childress segment. Apparently it was only shown 1 time in UM history.

Yeah, I only found one discussion about this case on this thread

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=218554&highlight=marlena+childress

still there is no update on where she is now.

I recently saw the segment for the first time (not on YT) and it's been on my mind ever since... my impression is that it's definitely possible that her mother accidentally killed her and disposed of the body. Watching how Pam conducted herself, she seemed like a child herself and not all that stable. Doing the math, she was only 17 or 18 when Marlena was born, and it's pretty clear that the father wasn't around. Single motherhood is certainly not easy by any stretch, so the scenario of her losing her temper and somehow killing her daughter seems plausible. However, how did she get Marlena to the river without being seen? Who helped her, if anyone? Did the police test for any blood in their house? Maybe she wasn't thrown in the river and was disposed of in some other way.

One article I read about Marlena and Pam (it was years old, at least 10) had a comment from someone who said that she was babysitting in the building across the street and did not see Marlena outside playing at all like Pam had claimed.

I recently saw the segment for the first time (not on YT) and it's been on my mind ever since... my impression is that it's definitely possible that her mother accidentally killed her and disposed of the body. Watching how Pam conducted herself, she seemed like a child herself and not all that stable. Doing the math, she was only 17 or 18 when Marlena was born, and it's pretty clear that the father wasn't around. Single motherhood is certainly not easy by any stretch, so the scenario of her losing her temper and somehow killing her daughter seems plausible. However, how did she get Marlena to the river without being seen? Who helped her, if anyone? Did the police test for any blood in their house? Maybe she wasn't thrown in the river and was disposed of in some other way.

One article I read about Marlena and Pam (it was years old, at least 10) had a comment from someone who said that she was babysitting in the building across the street and did not see Marlena outside playing at all like Pam had claimed.

I read that too. I think it was on topix.

I believe she's definitely guilty and yeah, it could have been accidental or possibly premeditated. It makes me happy to see the brother that was stabbed seems happy and has a family (at least that's what I perceived from facebook).

Bump.

Any thoughts that Pam may have sold Marlena? It's a sick thought, but it happens....

I just saw this segment for the first time ever. Anyone know why it was only shown once? Also, this segment had such a different feel to it compared to other segments.

I just saw this segment for the first time ever. Anyone know why it was only shown once? Also, this segment had such a different feel to it compared to other segments.

The family requested it be pulled.

I too think the segment has a distinct feel to it.

Also, I was born in Knoxville, but raised in Lenoir City, TN. When I heard my own (small) hometown named on that segment, I just sat there mouth agape and rewound it twice to make sure that's what Stack said.

I just saw this case today on the forbidden site, first time for me.
At first I thought the mother could easily have been coerced into the false statement (several such cases have occurred) and especially when there were those odd sightings, however eyewitness accounts are so often inaccurate.

Reading up on her I also found out about her stabbing her son in a cemetery near a tombstone marked 'son' :
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Marlena_Childress

'In April of 2002, she was arrested for stabbing her twelve-year-old son in a cemetery. She allegedly told him that she had a "surprise" for him. She blindfolded him, put him in their car, and drove him to the cemetery. She then had him sit next to a cemetery marker inscribed "son" and stabbed him. Fortunately, he survived and was sent to live with his father.'

Crazy... Now I do feel she could definitely have been involved in her daughters disappearance/murder be it accident or deliberate.

I also just saw this for the first time in a long, long time... If we go with Occam's Razor, Pam killed Marlena. It makes the most sense since she confessed to it and later stabbed her son. I suspect she has some serious mental health issues.

The sightings of her could easily be mistaken identity. Marlena looked like many other little girls with dark hair in common cut. None of the witnesses saw anything unique about her (like the silver capped teeth) or anything to definitely link her as Marlena. There are about 15 little girls in our neighborhood. Trying to tell them apart even when you know them is tough -- I can see how it would be easy to see a girl of that age and then later wonder if it was her. If I'm not mistaken, the witnesses all saw Marlena's picture after their sighting. If it was the other way around, I would think the sightings would be more credible.

Thanks to whoever put up that segment and to others for mentioning it here!


EDIT: I forgot RobinW covered this on TTWC. Here is a post (https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/9h48i9/the_1987_disappearance_of_4year_old_marlena/) he has on Reddit that gives more background and completely debunks the salon story. No wonder this story was never aired again.

The hair salon in Memphis was just strange. For the little girl to be saying "I want my mommy and I want to go home" and yet neither adult tried to console her was odd. That old bag saying "be a good girl and we will take you to the movies" was kind of weird. But, from what I hear, that lead was thoroughly investigated and that was just a little girl who was named Marlena

Pam has the shiftiest and coldest eyes I've ever seen on anyone. They were literally all over the place.

YES!!

I must be crazy because I have never believed anything other than Pam Bailey murdering Marlena. She literally confessed to doing it. If she was indeed abducted, why did her family request UM to not re-air the segment ever again? The beauty parlor portion of the segment and the witness from the department store just reminds me of the lady who swore she saw Kari Lynn Nixon in South Carolina.

Amazed there's no thread for her. Granted, this segment may have only aired once and was removed at the family's request from what I've read.

I just watched it on YT (just search her name). It's quite a segment.

There are several comments on YT that her mom later tried stabbing her son to death. Pretty disturbing to read that.

There actually is a thread about this case already:

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=218554

I have no doubt that Pam Bailey had something to do with Marlena’s disappearance. After what she did to her son it’s safe to say that she isn’t playing with a full deck.

One of the more hilarious Satanic Panic episodes.

One of the more hilarious Satanic Panic episodes.

Um, this case had no Satanic references in it. You must be thinking of another case.

Ha, sorry! I confused it with the Pat Farmer/Jerad Peters case, also watched by me last night.

This is a strange case from my viewership standpoint. Because it is so rare, it wasn't even included in any of CD's compilations that I have or anyone else's. I feel like I can quote every non-UFO UM segment verbatim, but this one stands out as an exception because I've viewed it so little.

I noticed that I had replied to this thread a couple of years ago. All I could remember about this case was the poor girl's name and that it was rare because it only aired one time. I went back and watched it, and incredibly, I could hardly remember any part of it. So strange.

This is a strange case from my viewership standpoint. Because it is so rare, it wasn't even included in any of CD's compilations that I have or anyone else's. I feel like I can quote every non-UFO UM segment verbatim, but this one stands out as an exception because I've viewed it so little.

I noticed that I had replied to this thread a couple of years ago. All I could remember about this case was the poor girl's name and that it was rare because it only aired one time. I went back and watched it, and incredibly, I could hardly remember any part of it. So strange.

I have a DVD copy of this one I received many years ago. I'd never seen it before then. I grew up in Lenoir City where the "department store sighting" (it was the Wal-Mart) occurred and it was kind of shocking to hear Stack not only mention the name of my hometown, but actually pronounce it correctly.

The main thing that always stuck with me about this one though is that Pam Bailey has always given me the willies. There have been some wildly heinous people interviewed on UM, but something about her in that interview makes me uncomfortable in a way that no other interviewee ever has. It didn't surprise me in the least when I learned she violently attacked her son years after Marlena's disappearance.

I must be crazy because I have never believed anything other than Pam Bailey murdering Marlena. She literally confessed to doing it. If she was indeed abducted, why did her family request UM to not re-air the segment ever again? The beauty parlor portion of the segment and the witness from the department store just reminds me of the lady who swore she saw Kari Lynn Nixon in South Carolina.

It's pretty obvious that the mother murdered her daughter, told the truth, then feared that she would lose her freedom forever, and recanted.

Apparently you are not alone. Nearly everyone in her home city believes she got away with killing her daughter. "Witness sightings" ahve always been highly unreliable, so Police do not usually take them too seriously.

https://archive.org/details/unsolved-mysteries-lost-segment-archive-new/Unsolved+Mysteries+-+Marlena+Childress.webm

In case anyone wants or needs to watch it.