Nov 1, 20224 min read

The Disappearance of Melanie Metheny

As a mother, the most frightening thing in the world is the thought of leaving this world before you get the chance to watch your babies grow up. It’s a thought that haunts me, personally. Perhaps that is why The Disappearance of Melanie Metheny, has always struck such a chord. But nevertheless, here we are sixteen (16) years later, and no closer to resolution.

Melanie Renee Metheny was born on June 21, 1985 to Deborah Daniel and James Thomas Metheny in Newport News, VA. She grew up in the community of Belle, West Virginia a suburb of Charleston in Kanawha County, WV. She had two (2) full biological brothers and a half sister. Melanie attended Riverside High School but dropped out prematurely after realizing that she was pregnant. At the age of sixteen (16) Melanie had her first child, Ryan. After separating from his father, Michael Lilly, Melanie began dating Matthew Harper. She went on to have two (2) more children: Nathan and Hannah with Harper before splitting up. Now, despite the struggles of being a single mother, Melanie was completely devoted to her children and worked to ensure they were taken care of. Circumstances may not have been ideal, but Melanie did her best to provide for her children.

Around six (6) weeks prior to her disappearance, Melanie began dating a man by the name of Jared (or Jarrett—It has been listed both ways online) Davis. The pair bonded over being single parents as Jared had a nine (9) year old daughter, Harlie, whom he cared for. Davis lived in an apartment in Campbell’s Creek,WV (around 10 miles from Belle). Melanie and the kids would often stay at Davis’ place, splitting their time between there and a house in Belle that Melanie shared with her siblings. Recently, Melanie had been making strides to achieve her dreams of becoming a nurse. She had recently completed her GED at the Garnet Career Center and had been accepted into West Virginia State University (in Charleston). She was weeks away from the start of the new semester and notably very excited. She worked hard and things were starting to fall into place.

On the morning of July 19, 2006, Melanie dropped two (2) of her three (3) children off at the Country Kids Daycare in Belle. The time was just after 8:00am. Her eldest son, Ryan, had been on vacation with his paternal grandparents and therefore was not with Melanie on this day. Melanie had expressed to multiple individuals this morning that she had plans to travel into Charleston to the Garnet Career Center to pick up her transcripts and even indicated to daycare staff that she would be back around noon to pick up her children. At 9:00am a phone call was placed from Melanie’s phone to the Wreck-A-Mended Body Shop to confirm an upcoming appointment. The man who took the call at the Body Shop has confirmed that the voice heard on the line was in fact Melanie. Another call was placed around 9:30am to Melanie’s voicemail. It is unknown if this call was made by Melanie but it is assumed to be so. Both calls were traced and known to have pinged from cell towers in far Western Kanawha or Far East Putnam County, around twenty five (25) miles away. Melanie’s fate from this point out, is completely speculative.

When Melanie failed to arrive back at Daycare by closing time, Staff began to get worried. Melanie was very responsible, especially when it came to her children. She was known to call, even if she were to be a minute late. That was just her nature. They contacted Donna Harper, the paternal grandmother of Nathan and Hannah, and the listed Emergency Contact on file. Donna, knowing Melanie, became instantly alarmed. Melanie would never abandon her children. Something was wrong. She contacted Sandra “Sandy” Metheny, Melanie’s grandmother, who likewise shared her concern.

Sandy and Jimmy (Melanie’s father), drove from Belle to Campbells Creek to the apartment she shared with Jared Davis. But Jared seemed unmoved by the revelation of Melanie’s disappearance, and refused to even go out and help look for his girlfriend. This obviously took the family aback, but nevertheless they pressed on. The family reported Melanie missing that evening and a search party was enlisted to aide in finding the missing mother.

No sign of Melanie would be discovered for four (4) days when her Gold Chevy Ventura Van was discovered in the (not so desirable) west side of Charleston between Wyoming Street and Behring Ave. This area is known for his drug activity and was not a place that Melanie would have typically gone. The vehicle showed no signs of a struggle and appeared to be intact with the doors locked. The only contents missing were Melanie’s purse, cellphone and WIC Card.

Several potential sightings have been reported to police which indicate that foul play may have occurred, but sadly none of them have been able to be substantiated to tell us conclusively if Melanie was in fact the woman witnessed.

The family has enacted Melanie’s HOPE (Help Our Pets Endure), a fundraising organization which helps keep Melanie’s memory alive as well as aides in canine rescue efforts.

It has been sixteen years since Melanie Metheny disappeared without a trace and her case is still cold. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the disappearance of Melanie Metheny please contact the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department at (304) 357-4693. You can also send an email directly to Detective Ferrell, who is currently over the investigation at: samferrell@kcso.us . You are not required to give your name and are able to submit a tip anonymously.

Stay Tuned for the Cold Case Crew’s upcoming episode, “The Disappearance of Melanie Metheny,” airing wherever you get your podcasts on November 2, 2022.

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