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In July 1990, 13-year-old Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas under circumstances that remain deeply troubling more than three decades later.

In this episode of The Cold Cases Podcast, I sit down with Melissa, Deanna’s sister, to discuss the heartbreaking details of the case, the mistakes made in the early investigation, and the new developments that may finally lead to answers.

Deanna was last seen in the early morning hours of July 22, 1990, when she left her grandmother’s home and went to visit her twin sister at a nearby trailer park. According to her sister, Deanna arrived in a vehicle with two unidentified men. After a brief conversation, Deanna left again in the same car.

She was never seen again.

For years, the case was labeled a runaway, a classification that prevented the urgency and investigative resources that might have helped locate her sooner. Even more troubling, the case was reportedly closed prematurely after authorities received a phone call claiming Deanna had returned home—something her family says never happened.

In this powerful and emotional interview, Melissa speaks openly about:

• The final moments before Deanna disappeared
 • How the runaway label affected the investigation
 • The emotional toll on the family over the past 30+ years
 • New leads and renewed search efforts
 • Why she believes someone still knows what happened

This conversation is not just about a missing persons case. It’s about a sister refusing to let Deanna be forgotten.

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