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Zentner,Mildred and Patricia Aug. 28, 1964; Garden City
Topic Started: Oct 10 2006, 07:31 AM (1,033 Views)
monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
[ *  *  * ]
'Hard not knowing'
40 years later, woman still hopes for information about sister

BY LEANNE ROGERS
STAFF WRITER


On St. Patrick's Day, Gloria Miller knows she'll be thinking about her older sister, Mildred Zentner, born 70 years ago on that day.

"Millie was born on St. Patrick's Day -- her middle name is Patricia because of that," Miller said. "Millie was my parents' first-born. She was the apple of my father's eye. It hurt them so bad that she was missing. They were heartbroken."


Mildred Zentner, 28, and her daughter Patricia, 28 months old, disappeared from their Garden City home Aug. 28, 1964. No trace has ever been found of the mother and daughter through birth and death records, Social Security and a variety of databases.

"It's hard not knowing what happened. It's part of my life, it's difficult to deal with," said Miller, 66. "When your family passes away, you don't like losing them, but if they're ill, you know life doesn't go on forever -- that it was their time. But this was nothing, not a word. That's the hardest part to deal with. You don't know."

Over the years, Miller said she's often wondered if her sister and niece were still alive somewhere.

"You read of people finding each other after 40, 50 years. There is no evidence that they are dead, so why would I ever believe that?" Miller said. "I choose to believe they are alive. I'd tell my mother, 'I think she'll be back someday.' I couldn't bear to say give up to my mom or dad."

Miller, her sister and their younger brother Ray grew up in Turtle Creek in western Pennsylvania. Married in 1958, Mildred Zentner, her husband Jesse Jr. and their daughter -- who was called Patti Lou -- later moved to Garden City after Jesse took a job with Ford Motor Co.

WHERE ARE THEY?
Mildred Zentner's parents, William and Iris Stewart, filed a missing person report on their daughter and granddaughter two weeks after they were last seen. The couple had been contacted by Jesse Zentner, who drove to Pennsylvania and asked his in-laws if they had heard from Mildred and Patti Lou.

Upon hearing their daughter and granddaughter had been missing for two weeks, the Stewarts drove overnight to Garden City and filed a police report about 12 hours later. The couple told police some items were missing, such as a potty chair, but Mildred and Patti Lou's clothing were still at the home.

Jesse Zentner told police at the time that he returned home to find his family gone after an argument over his spanking the child. He later told police that his wife had left a typewritten note which he said he'd torn up.

Over the years, the Stewarts continued trying to press the search for their daughter -- a role later assumed by Miller. Iris Stewart died in 1983; William Stewart passed away in 1987.

"It hurt my parents so bad that Millie was missing. They were so close to Patti -- they took care of her until they moved to Michigan," Miller said. "I get really upset if I don't know where my children or grandchildren are -- I can't imagine what it was like for my parents. My husband was so wonderful supporting me when I was wondering about what happened."

Miller's husband Melvin suffered heart damage due to a virus in 1989 and underwent a heart transplant in 1991. Melvin Miller died in 2003, while Gloria Miller's young brother died in 2004.

40 YEARS LATER
When Garden City Police Lt. Robert Muery re-opened the investigation into the disappearance of Mildred and Patricia Zentner in early 2004, he located Jesse Zentner, now retired and living in Florida, but had some difficulty finding members of the Stewart family.

The site of the Zentners' former home at 1214 Deering, now vacant property, was searched and excavated last summer, but police found no trace of the mother and daughter.

Joined by his wife, Muery went to Turtle Creek in September in an attempt to locate any of Mildred Zentner's relatives.

"I was operating under the assumption her parents were deceased and checked the cemeteries," Muery said. "At the first cemetery, the lady was very helpful. I knew the (Stewarts) were Presbyterian and she narrowed it down for me by directing me to a cemetery that services Presbyterians."

By walking around checking grave markers with his wife, Muery said they were able to locate the graves of the Stewarts. Going through the grave marker company, Muery identified Miller.

"When Lt. Muery called, the first thing I said was, 'Did you find her?' but he hadn't," Miller said. "I took the day off work. My son was back from Iraq and only working part time. I asked him to stay home, I wanted him to hear it so I didn't miss anything."

Despite her sister and niece not having been located, Miller said she was pleased at the efforts to find them.

"I was just dancing the next day at work. It was so great. I was so glad that someone picked up the baton," Miller said.

The feeling was mutual for Muery.

"I was thrilled to find a relative who could give me insight, provide background information and be a DNA source," Muery said.

Media coverage of the excavations on Deering generated some new information which is being investigated, said Muery, who has conferred with an FBI profiler about the case.

"The investigation remains open. There are other steps we'll be taking in the near future, I hope," Muery said.

lrogers@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2103

Originally published March 17, 2006

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../603160525/1025
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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