Missing Ky. girl's mom cried when Markham was found
Apr. 11, 2013 |
Written by
Terry DeMio
The mother of missing teen Paige Johnson covered her eyes and sobbed when she learned that remains of Katelyn Markham were found.
?I cried my eyes out,? Donna Johnson of Walton said Thursday. ?I was sad. It?s sad ? but finally, some closure for them. I know how that is, just waiting and waiting and waiting.?
Paige was 17 and the mother of a 2-year-old when she was reported missing in Covington on Sept. 23, 2010.
An acquaintance of hers, Jacob T. Bumpass, told police he dropped off the teen at about 1 a.m. at 15th Street and Scott Boulevard, but phone records place him near Paige's Florence home at that time.
Her sister, who lived in Covington, later reported Paige missing.
Like with Markham, news of Paige?s disappearance attracted media coverage nationwide.
Covington Police and Kenton County Commonwealth?s Attorney Rob Sanders have vowed to never stop looking for her.
Detectives still receive information about Paige?s disappearance, Police Chief Spike Jones said Thursday, adding, ?We are still looking into it.?
Donna Johnson has been active in supporting other parents with missing children, mainly by posting information on Facebook.
But when she heard about Markham?s disappearance almost a year after Paige vanished, Johnson was moved to do more.
She and a friend went to Ohio to volunteer when a national search group from Texas led teams looking for Markham.
Johnson said she felt a kinship to the 21-year-old Fairfield woman?s family though they?d never met, and she wanted to try to find her.
?I just knew how they were feeling,? Johnson said, ?and the desperation they were going through.?
Johnson no longer believes that her daughter is alive. She said detectives have assured her they are not giving up on finding Paige and bringing her home.
These days, Johnson finds joy in caring for her other children and grandchildren and visiting with Paige?s daughter, Makenzie, who lives with her dad and paternal grandparents.
Makenzie will turn 5 in June.
?She?s looking more and more like her mother every day,? Johnson said. ?I am so lucky to have her. To hold her.
?It?s a part of Paige that I can touch.?