The Disappearance of Therese Rose Vanderheiden-Walsh: A Mother’s Abduction, a Father’s Fight, and a 35-Year Mystery

 In 1990, five-year-old Therese Rose Vanderheiden-Walsh vanished from Kailua, Hawaii—and she hasn’t been seen since.

Therese’s parents, Francis Walsh and Merle Vanderheiden, were both in Army intelligence when they met in Maryland in 1979. They married in 1980, but the relationship was rocky. By 1987, Francis had moved out, and the couple began a bitter custody battle over their daughter.

By court order, Francis had sole custody of Therese. Merle was not allowed unsupervised visits until she completed a psychological evaluation. Around that time, Merle accused Francis of sexually abusing their daughter, but investigators found no evidence to support the claims.

Despite the restrictions, Merle stayed in contact with Therese through phone calls while living on the mainland. Then, on June 22, 1990, something unimaginable happened.

Therese was at her daycare center in Kailua. After recess, teachers noticed a woman in sunglasses and a hat standing nearby. Moments later, Therese was gone. Authorities believe that woman was Merle Vanderheiden, and that she abducted her daughter that day.

A felony warrant for custodial interference was issued for Merle in July 1990. She was 39 years old at the time, five-foot-five to five-foot-seven, about 120 to 145 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. She also had extensive intelligence training and was skilled in evading authorities. Over the years, she is believed to have used multiple aliases—names like Marie Walsh, Kara Johnson, Jacqueline Smith, and others.

Merle has reportedly been sighted across several states, including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas. She may disguise herself with wigs, work in hospitals, social services, or even as a forest ranger. Authorities have also warned she has access to firearms and should be considered dangerous.

Some believe Merle had help from an underground network called Children of the Underground, a controversial group that aided mothers trying to hide children from alleged abusers.

After Therese’s abduction, her father, Francis Walsh, helped found the Hawaii State Clearinghouse on Missing Children to support other families facing similar nightmares. Tragically, Francis passed away in 1998, never learning what became of his daughter.

If alive today, Therese would be 41 years old. Age-progressed images show what she might look like as an adult.

Over three decades later, her case remains unsolved. Was Therese raised under a new identity? Is she still out there, unaware of who she really is?

What do you think happened to Therese Rose Vanderheiden-Walsh—and will the truth ever come to light?