Deanie Peters has been missing since February 5, 1981.
ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - More than 30 years after her disappearance, a new effort is underway to help in the search for Deanie Peters.
Deanie vanished in 1981 from Forest Hills Central Middle School.
A former classmate of Deanie's has stepped forward to share his story, and offer a new incentive to solve the case.
"I was a kid that had a crush on her," said Rob Mackey, who says he dated Deanie Peters while they both attended Forest Hills Central Middle School 30 years ago. "I was a little punk driving over to her house with a moped, visiting, knocking on the door."
Rob says that he and Deanie dated up until two months prior to her disappearance. He says a part of him disappeared with her.
"To this day, it's something that haunts many of us because we don't know - and we want to know [what happened to Deanie]," said Mackey.
Thirty years have now passed, but Mackey says after getting caught up in WZZM's Facebook page dedicated to the Deanie Peters' investigation, he felt he needed to make something happen.
Mackey recently partnered with Silent Observer and created a website which allows anybody to donate to a reward fund, which goes directly to Silent Observer.
The person who calls Silent Observer with the tip that solves the case and/or gives the exact location of where Deanie's body is will get the reward.
"We need the people out there that know things to become more and more uncomfortable," added Mackey.
Mackey says any sized donations are accepted and the website is secure so people can use credit cards.
"We've received many, many tips over the years on the Deanie Peters' case," said Chris Cameron, Executive Director of Silent Observer.
Cameron says she's thrilled that Rob Mackey has come forward with this endeavor.
"The website that's up right now is going to be a tremendous help," added Cameron.
With the reward website now active, Cameron wanted to offer a piece of advice to the people who know the truth.
"Think about your loyalty, and think about those that you're trying to protect," said Cameron. "Are they still worthy of that protection?"
Meantime, Rob Mackey has become more passionate about the Peters' case then he's ever been, and hopes his reward website will make an impact.
"Am I going to have to die and go to heaven until I find out what happened in this case," Mackey said angrily. "I want people that know something to come forward, and I want the community to rally behind this, and put the pressure on these people. Thirty years is long enough; we'll keep at this thing; we're not going to go away."
Along with Rob Mackey's new reward fund, the Kent County Metro Cold case team continues to offer a $25,000 reward to anybody who chooses to come forward with new information leading to an arrest in this case, and the exact location of where Deanie Peters' remains may be.
By Brent Ashcroft
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