HANNIBAL, MO. -- The Thanksgiving holiday is a special time for families throughout the Tri-States.
But it's a painful reminder for one Hannibal mother.
Christina Whitaker went missing a year ago this month.
KHQA's Rajah Maples sat down with her mother to talk with her about how difficult the holidays have become, not to mention the painful angst of not knowing what happened to her daughter.
Cindy Young: "It's just a nightmare, and you never wake up. It's a never-ending nightmare, and you never wake up. You go to bed every night wondering where your child is."
To say that it's been a difficult year for Cindy Young would be an understatement. In addition to Christina's disappearance, Young's mother passed away this past July. Now she spends her time looking after Christina's daughter, Alexandria who's 1 1/2 years old.
Does it seem like a year?
Young answered, "In one way it does, in another way it seems like it's been two to three years. People take it for granted that you get to call your kids up or give them a hug, kiss or tell them you love them. It seems like it's been years since I've gotten to do that."
Young said, "I want to be able to walk up to her and give her a big hug, and tell her how much I love her, and if I get ahold of her, I'm going to hug her and never let go."
"There have been times when I'm so depressed I just couldn't get out of bed," Young said. "There was a month in January, I couldn't even get up and brush my own hair. I just didn't want to wake up. The only time I didn't hurt or suffer was when I was asleep. I've dealt with anger issues. I've dealt with so much, and it's overwhelming. You have to have a strong faith in God to get through something like this. By the grace of God, that's why I'm sitting here talking to you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it."
What have the holidays been like without Christina?
Young answered, "Halloween was really hard, because that was the last holiday we had with her, and it was really, really hard. She was so particular about the baby's costume. I haven't celebrated a holiday since Christina's been gone, and I don't feel like I have any desire to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's just kind of like your life's on hold. You can't go backwards, and you can't move forward, so where does that leave you?"
What do you think happened, Cindy?
Young answered, "There are a lot of questions, and I wish I had the answer. That night, all she wanted was a ride home.//There are still rumors that she's dead. I don't believe that. My daughter is not dead. She's alive.//I don't know if the wrong person got ahold of her or she just got in with the wrong person. I don't know. I have so many questions. I have to have those answers."
Cindy Young and her husband travel in a camper throughout the region, from St. Louis to Chicago, looking for Christina and hanging up flyers.
If you have any information that could help find Christina, you're asked to contact the Hannibal Police Department at (573) 221-0987.
Young also has hired an private investigator to help with the case. His named is Bill Rinehart, and he can be reached at (217) 228-9114.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA