Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in locating:

• Ariadene Sang-Selassie, 8 years old
• Christina Williams, 31 years old

Police say both were last seen together in Osawatomie. Law enforcement stresses that if spotted, the public should not approach them but instead immediately contact authorities.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Osawatomie Police Department at (913) 755-2101 and ask for Detective Hall.

Community Reaction

The alert quickly gained attention online, where residents and advocacy groups expressed both concern and questions.

Some community members noted the limited information in the release and called for clarification. “Why are they endangered? Did somebody kidnap them? Can we get some more information regarding this?” one commenter asked.

Others speculated about possible circumstances, while advocacy organizations such as A Voice For The Voiceless, Inc. and the National Center for Missing and Endangered, Inc. confirmed they were sharing the alert widely through their volunteer networks.

Many community members responded with messages of prayer and hope that Ariadene and Christina are found safe.

Efforts to Learn More

This Is Topeka has reached out to Detective Hall and the Osawatomie Police Department for additional details surrounding the alert. As of publication, no response has been received.

What to Do if You See Them

If you have any information on their whereabouts, or believe you may have seen them, contact the Osawatomie Police Department immediately at (913) 755-2101.

Crim was eventually found safe in Oklahoma, far from the woods and lake where the search was centered. The thousands of man-hours, the horses, the drones, the National Guard flyover — none of it led directly to his discovery. And yet, the point wasn’t just the result. It was the way a county and its community responded to someone in need.

Now compare that to the case of Kaden Zubler.

A Family Left to Lead the Search

Kaden disappeared on May 15. His last verified sighting was at 8:10 p.m., walking north on N. Topeka Blvd. and Morse. After that, he vanished.

In the days and weeks that followed, his mother, Jessica Puff, led the charge. She took three weeks off work, canvassed more than 100 businesses, and begged for camera footage. Only four businesses produced images of her son that night. She and a small team of family and friends conducted mini-searches. At one point, they found a hole and discarded jeans in an alley that brought cadaver dogs to Kaden’s home. No evidence of foul play was discovered.

Official efforts were limited. A June 4 foot search near Soldier Creek. A June 17 drone sweep of the Kansas River and nearby homeless camps. That was it. Even the detective on the case, Puff said, was sidelined by injury and couldn’t leave the office.

The Missing Mobilization

Where Crim’s disappearance drew hundreds, Zubler’s case drew dozens. A June 7 community canvassing event brought volunteers, posters, and hope. But the wider city didn’t turn out. Businesses hesitated to review footage. Concern faded as the weeks dragged on.

The disparity is glaring. It would be easy to blame Topeka Police alone for not doing more. But maybe the harder truth is that it wasn’t just the institutions that fell short. It was us.

When one man went missing in Jefferson County, the entire region rallied. When Kaden disappeared in our own neighborhoods, our response was quieter. Less urgent. More resigned. That’s a shame that belongs not only to law enforcement, but to all of us.

A Mother’s Voice

Through it all, Jessica Puff remains both grateful and broken-hearted.

“Again I would like to thank the community, family and friends for all their help, eyes, well wishes and prayers. It’s comforting in the most uncomfortable time I’ve ever lived through.”

And she has a final message for her son:

“To Kaden, we love you and miss you!! If you can, please reach out to someone!! We are desperate to know you are ok.”

The Unanswered Question

Why does one disappearance ignite a region, while another leaves a family largely on its own? That is the question Topeka must ask itself. Because until Kaden is found — his family cannot rest. And neither should we.

What You Can Do

If you know anything about the disappearance of Kaden Zubler, please contact the Topeka Police Department at (785) 368-9551 or call Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. Tips can remain anonymous.

Jessica also wants people to know: you don’t have to wait 24 or 48 hours to report someone missing. That’s a dangerous myth. “If your child or loved one is gone and something feels wrong, call right away,” she said. “Time matters.”

Even the smallest detail — a security camera, a sighting, a tip — could be the key.

On Monday morning, his family shared an emotional Facebook post describing the ongoing search, writing that K9 units, aircraft, and even cadaver dogs had been deployed with no results. They invited community members to join a search party at Paradise Point near Lake Perry.

The message captured the urgency and anguish of the moment:

“They had K9 & aircrafts out today, nothing. Then had cadaver dogs out & nothing. We’re planning to all meet around 10:30 for a search party at Paradise Point! Please come home!!! We all miss you! Your kids NEED you. They’re going to start asking where you are. This ISN’T like you. Even if you wanna call someone & let someone know you’re okay! If you needed a break to just be by yourself that’s OKAY — just let someone know you’re okay. We’re all terrified & worried sick We ARE all here!! We’ve been doing EVERYTHING in our power to find you. Please come home.”

Found Safe

Just hours later, relief swept through the community when the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Patrick had been located in Kay County, Oklahoma. Authorities announced that he is safe and that the family’s fears can now be put to rest.

The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to all the volunteers, agencies, and community members who worked tirelessly over the past week.

A Community That Showed Up

This case unfolded in real time across social media, as hundreds shared posts, joined searches, and offered prayers for Patrick’s safety. The outpouring of concern and involvement highlighted just how deeply Topeka and surrounding communities value one another.

Today, that dedication has been rewarded with the best possible outcome: Patrick is alive and safe.

The investigation now shifts fully under the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, which will continue gathering information and following up on leads.

The search, launched after Crim went missing during the ABATE motorcycle rally at Lake Perry, was one of the largest coordinated efforts in recent memory. Over the past several days, more than 40 volunteers, eight different drone teams, 10 dog teams trained in both live-find and recovery, and three water search boats scoured the area. A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter assisted, and the Kansas National Guard provided aerial fly-overs during scheduled training exercises.

Agencies assisting included:

• Jefferson County: Sheriff’s Department, Public Health, Emergency Management, Dispatch, and Fire Districts 1 (Kaw), 5 (Rock Creek), 6 (Fairview), and 7 (Ozawkie)
• Atchison County: Emergency Management and EMS
• Shawnee County: EMS and Drone Team
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Perry Lake Project
• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks – Perry State Park Rangers
• Kansas Urban Search & Rescue and Kansas Search and Rescue Dogs Association (KSARDA)

ABATE of Kansas, which organized the rally, issued a statement thanking all the volunteers and agencies that participated:

“THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND AGENCIES THAT HELPED IN THE SEARCH FOR PATRICK CRIM.”

Family members and ABATE staff also assisted throughout the search. They are expected to meet with sheriff’s detectives in the coming days to determine next steps.

Officials stressed that if new evidence emerges pointing to a specific area, an additional search may be organized. Until then, anyone with information is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department at 785-863-2765.

The investigation now shifts fully under the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, which will continue gathering information and following up on leads.

The search, launched after Crim went missing during the ABATE motorcycle rally at Lake Perry, was one of the largest coordinated efforts in recent memory. Over the past several days, more than 40 volunteers, eight different drone teams, 10 dog teams trained in both live-find and recovery, and three water search boats scoured the area. A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter assisted, and the Kansas National Guard provided aerial fly-overs during scheduled training exercises.

Agencies assisting included:

• Jefferson County: Sheriff’s Department, Public Health, Emergency Management, Dispatch, and Fire Districts 1 (Kaw), 5 (Rock Creek), 6 (Fairview), and 7 (Ozawkie)
• Atchison County: Emergency Management and EMS
• Shawnee County: EMS and Drone Team
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Perry Lake Project
• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks – Perry State Park Rangers
• Kansas Urban Search & Rescue and Kansas Search and Rescue Dogs Association (KSARDA)

ABATE of Kansas, which organized the rally, issued a statement thanking all the volunteers and agencies that participated:

“THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND AGENCIES THAT HELPED IN THE SEARCH FOR PATRICK CRIM.”

Family members and ABATE staff also assisted throughout the search. They are expected to meet with sheriff’s detectives in the coming days to determine next steps.

Officials stressed that if new evidence emerges pointing to a specific area, an additional search may be organized. Until then, anyone with information is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department at 785-863-2765.

Anno, a Topeka resident, was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday leaving his group’s campsite at the ABATE Labor Day Rally. He did not have a vehicle with him at the time. Family members say his phone briefly pinged multiple times in the 29th and Gage area of Topeka before going silent.

Sheriff’s Clarification on Cell Phone Pings

Speaking directly to This Is Topeka, the Jefferson County Sheriff addressed concerns and speculation about those reported cell phone pings.

“Cell phone pings could be up to seven miles away from where it shows on the map,” the Sheriff explained. “This [the 29th and Gage] ping is still far outside the search area.”

Authorities emphasized that while the ping data is part of the investigation, it is not a precise indicator of Anno’s exact location.

Ongoing Search

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the search is active and ongoing, with full commitment from law enforcement and coordinated volunteers. Search dogs are working the terrain, and drones are being used to cover larger and less accessible areas.

Officials reiterated that the operation is being taken very seriously, and updates will be shared with the public as soon as possible.

Family’s Plea

This Is Topeka also spoke with Anno’s family on Monday. They expressed their gratitude for the community’s support and asked that we share the following flyer to help spread the word:

Call for Information

Anyone with information that may assist in locating Patrick Anno Jr. is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office immediately. Tips can also be emailed to [email protected], and will be forwarded to investigators and family representatives.

Anno, a Topeka resident, has been missing since Saturday night after attending the annual ABATE Labor Day Rally at Lake Perry. He was last seen around 9:30 p.m., walking away from the campsite toward the entrance. His phone reportedly pinged multiple times in the 29th and Gage area of Topeka before the signal went dead.

Sheriff’s Office Statement

A spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office told This Is Topeka that the search with scent-tracking dogs did not produce any results. The spokesperson did not indicate whether search operations will resume on Tuesday or if the official search has concluded.

Community Still Searching

Family members and volunteers remain determined to continue their efforts to locate Anno. In earlier appeals, the family requested the use of 4-wheelers, ATVs, drones, and horses to help navigate the large, wooded, and rugged areas surrounding Lake Perry. However, authorities previously asked volunteers to avoid entering the area while trained dogs were deployed to avoid disrupting the search.

Call for Information

Anyone with information regarding Anno’s disappearance is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or email tips to [email protected], where they will be forwarded directly to investigators and family representatives.

This story will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Family, friends, and community members are urgently searching for Patrick Anno Jr., a Topeka man who has been missing since Saturday night after attending the ABATE Labor Day Rally at Lake Perry.

Anno was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, walking away from his group’s campsite toward the entrance of the rally grounds. Family members say he did not have a vehicle with him and has not been seen since. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and slides (sandals).

His phone reportedly pinged three separate times near the 29th and Gage area in Topeka before the signal went dead.

Family’s Plea for Help

In a public post shared to Facebook, a family spokesperson issued an urgent call for help:

“Our family needs help…. My ex-husband, Patrick Anno Jr., has been missing since 9:30 p.m. Saturday from the Abate Rally at Lake Perry. He was last seen walking away from the camp towards the entrance. He did NOT have a vehicle to drive away in. His phone has pinged around 29th and Gage 3 times! HIS PHONE IS DEAD! Jefferson County are currently out doing a perimeter check of the grounds BUT that is a lot of area with trees, creeks, and lakes so we are pledging with everyone for help.

Please, be patient with 20 million questions — just know that our family needs HELP, not sitting on our phones.

ANY LITTLE THING HELPS EVEN IF YOU THINK IT WON’T!!!

Please, please, please help us find him! I don’t want to be telling my kids ANYTHING bad happened to their dad. PLEASE COME HOME TO YOUR BABIES & FAMILY!!”

Search Efforts Underway

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is actively conducting perimeter checks of the ABATE rally grounds and surrounding areas, which include dense trees, creeks, and lakes.

Last Known Details

• Name: Patrick Anno Jr.
• Last Seen: Around 9:30 p.m., Saturday, at the ABATE Rally, Lake Perry
• Clothing: Shorts, T-shirt, slides (sandals)
• Phone Activity: Pings traced near 29th and Gage in Topeka before going silent
• Vehicle: None

How to Help

Anyone with information — no matter how small — is urged to contact local law enforcement or reach out to the family.

Tips and verified sightings and Anonymous tips can also be emailed to [email protected], and we will forward them to the family and investigators immediately.

Developing Story

This is a developing situation, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

The family asks for privacy and patience as they continue the search and work with law enforcement to bring Patrick home safely.

Tuesday September 30, 1969 was the last day anyone had seen Betty Lou Cantrell alive. Cantrell was a 28-year-old mother of two, who worked as a waitress at the 24 hour Dine-Out Cafe in Iola Kansas. She was working the early morning shift that day and was seen in the cafe around 4:30 am by a night patrolman. He saw her sipping a cup of coffee sitting at one of the tables. By the time her coworkers were starting to show up, around 5 am, they noticed that the lights in the diner were off and there was no sign of Cantrell or her car. The diners “Closed” sign was displayed and the doors were unlocked. Someone notified the police and they showed up shortly after. They found drops of blood and a handprint where Cantrell was seen sitting along with drops around the diner. The drops of blood were reportedly nothing more than when someone cuts their finger. There were also two coffee cups at the table, one with lipstick and one without. And an estimated $30 was missing from the register. Later that afternoon, her car was discovered with the keys still in it, along a railroad corridor at the south end of town. While examining the car, they found two more small traces of blood, but still no signs of Betty. And there were no signs of a struggle in the car nor the diner. And some of her belongings such as her purse and radio were missing. Search parties of people on foot, in boats, and in cars soon began, but nothing came of them that day.

The search for Betty continued through Friday October 3rd still with no leads on her whereabouts. Around noon, a call came into police about a body found about a mile away from what used to be the Allen County Country Club. The body was located in a ditch at the intersection of 2000th Street and North Dakota Road. Upon the arrival, police discovered the deceased body of a woman that had been beaten so viciously that her facial features were unrecognizable. She also had other injuries like a broken leg and a back injury, suggesting she may have been run over with a car. Investigators believed that the object she was struck with could have been a tire iron or something similar. They also noticed that a base of a car jack was near her body. There was a lack of blood at the scene, indicating she was murdered somewhere else. The coroner placed her time of death between 10 and 15 hours before she was found, so around 10pm and 12am the night before. There were no signs of sexual assault. Her cause of death was reported as the result of blunt force trauma to the head.

Though there was a woman’s body found, Betty’s husband, David Cantrell, quickly confirmed it was not her. The body found was later identified as missing 14-year-old Sally Ann Hutton. Hutton was the daughter of Ray and Elsie Hutton and had last been seen Thursday, the night before, leaving an Iola Junior High football game at Riverside Park. Friends and family of Sallys found that to be a little out of character for her, as she was a shy, reserved, and soft spoken girl that didn’t really take part in such activities. She had told her parents that she was going to the game with a cousin. She was seen by several witnesses attending the game. So it is known that she was where she said she was going to be. Shortly after the game ended, she was seen leaving with an unknown suspect or suspects in a car. Some have said she could have possibly left in a metallic blue Chevy. And witnesses could not confirm if she left with one or more people in the car. And none of the claims have ever been verified by police. No motive for the murder has ever been released to the public, if one is known.

Later that day, around 5pm, a man traveling across the old Kentucky Street bridge noticed a body floating in Elm Creek. He notified the police immediately and they arrived shortly after. When officers arrived, they noticed that the woman had also suffered several severe blows to her head. The blows were so powerful, her teeth were dislodged. They found a bloody rock nearby and suspected that it was used to cause the injuries she sustained along with more bloodied tissues. The woman also had a broken finger on her right hand, a finger on her right hand was bruised along with one of her knees. She was also missing a shoe. The body had been in the creek for several days, making it difficult for the investigators to identify the cause of death. It was said by the coroner, she likely died Tuesday morning, when she went missing, and her cause of death was ruled a drowning. But officials wanted an autopsy to be done to verify the cause of death due to the nature of her body and how long she had been in the water.

Again Betty Cantrell’s husband, David Cantrell, was called in to see if the body belonged to his wife. He confirmed that it was in fact Betty by recognizing the jewelry she was wearing. The investigation into who murdered Betty quickly began. Evidence from the two scenes indicated that Betty was taken from the diner by the assailant, beaten in the head possibly by the bloody rock that was found, and then brought to the creek where she was later drowned. And the motive seemed to be a robbery gone wrong. The official autopsy was performed by a Wichita coroner and confirmed to be drowning.

Allen County Sheriff’s office and the KBI found no evidence to support that the two murders were connected and to this day still have not. They are continuing to investigate both cases separately. It took a while for either case to have any solid leads or suspects.

From the beginning it was clear that the investigation into Bettys disappearance wasn’t handled properly. The investigation started out very slow because police seemed to have the idea that she just got up and walked away from her job and family that morning. They didn’t suspect foul play until her body was found bloody and beaten. There wasn’t any immediate action or seriousness taken with the evidence that was found. They allowed the diner to clean up the blood that was found, they didn’t think anything of the bloodied tissues found nearby and at the crime scene. Had the evidence been preserved or even considered part of the investigation, maybe her case would be solved.

But on January 23, 1970, Bettys case would take, what was thought, a step forward when Joseph Marion (Jack) Shoemaker, 50, was arrested by KBI on first degree murder charges. Shoemaker had been under investigation two weeks after her body was found. He was originally brought in, in October for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, but comments he was making to law enforcement during that arrest led them to believe he was connected with Bettys disappearance and murder. Jack was known around Iola as the town drunk and when he was being hauled into the jail, he told the sheriff “I killed someone!” During his interrogation, Shoemaker was allegedly given more alcohol by officers to “keep him talking”. He eventually mentioned several things that weren’t known to the public such as cash being the only thing taken from the register (no coins were known to be missing), he knew there were two coffee cups on the table where Betty was seen sitting, and he knew that rocks were placed on top of her after her death. He also noted that he saw Betty alive that night in the diner and waited for a customer to leave before he eventually entered. He claimed he knocked her out when he struck her with a sugar container and proceeded to drag her out to his car. After driving her to the banks of Elm Creek, he claimed he beat her with a sock full of rocks and held her head under the water until she became unresponsive. He then placed large heavy rocks on top of her body to hold it down. The items that were missing, her radio and glasses, he claimed to have taken after murdering her and dumping them in the Neosho River.

The summer of 1971 is when his case went to trial. Bob Talkington, the defense attorney, went hard on Shoemaker’s confession, which he later recanted. Talkington noted that the information police claimed to have only been known by them was public knowledge and most everyone in town knew the details. And the fact that none of the evidence was processed, including the blood in the cafe, a handprint, and the bloodied tissues. A psychiatrist testified that Shoemaker was probably lying during his confession. The jury deliberated for six hours over two days and initially found Shoemaker not guilty. After his trial wrapped up, Shoemaker left town. He later died in 1977. Shoemaker’s arrest and trial was really as far as Betty Cantrell’s murder case went. Once Shoemaker was arrested and tried her case went from open to closed and has remained that way. To this day her files are still sealed and rarely looked at by detectives.

As for Sally Huttons case, it is still at a standstill but remains open. There were no immediate suspects or arrests, if any at all known to the public. The case is just passed from one retiring detective to the next.

Even years later, Sally’s sisters Carolyn Henry and Brenda Welch were still bringing awareness about her murder. Both sisters wrote letters to the Iola Register every October asking for the public to come forward with any information that might help the investigation. Brenda sadly passed away in 2012. But to this day Carolyn still wants and is fighting to find her sister justice. Carolyn said “never a day goes by that I don’t think about Sally. I’ve just learned to live with it and go on. Sometimes I think about the nieces and nephews I might have had.”

Detectives on both cases believe that both killers are now likely deceased. But finding Betty and Sally justice is still in the works.

Anyone having information that might be helpful is encouraged to call the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at (620) 365-1400