Six years ago, Shawndell McLeod, 35, who cooked for the elderly in a nursing home, left for work before daylight in unincorporated Lithonia and never came back.
DeKalb County police believe someone kidnapped her, prompting a missing person’s case that is now considered a homicide investigation, Channel 2 Action News reported. No body has been found, but police believe she wouldn’t be away so long without contacting family.
“I believe she was abducted outside her house when she came out to go to work around 5 in the morning,” detective Henry Guest said. “It was more than one person because I don’t believe one person could have taken her and then taken the car, too.”
Guest said McLeod’s car, a 2011 Nissan Versa, was found days later behind an abandoned house. That led police to a person of interest, but Guest doesn’t believe that person is the killer.
RELATED: I-20 killing appears to be an 'accident', DeKalb cops say
RELATED: Dying DeKalb teen found with gun stolen from Smyrna cops
RELATED: DeKalb teen convicted of murdering man for his cell phone
They have a “prime suspect,” Channel 2 reported. That person, whose identity hasn’t been released, is someone who was close enough to know McLeod’s family and know how to get to her tucked-away home near Panola Mountain State Park.
Badicea McLeod, the victim’s mother, prays for an ending to the mystery.
“Every day I ask God to give me the strength, the courage and the understanding,” she said.
Her daughter was supposed to come over for dinner that Sunday night.
The detective believes someone out there knows something that can help solve the case.
The mother made an appeal:
“Tell somebody something. Let’s know what happened. Follow your heart,” Badicea McLeod said.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
About the Author
