Help Find Nadia

Hello everyone,

I’d first like to thank everyone who responded to our son, John’s letter last month.  For those of you who don’t know John is eight years old and misses his sister, Nadia very much.  He’s been doing all he knows how to do to help find her.  Last month he decided to write a letter to the public to let you all know how he feels.  Many letters in response came pouring in.  He was overwhelmed by the number of people who sent him emails and he took care to respond to each of them.    Thank you all for writing him. Your thoughtful gestures have warmed his heart.  

Our daughter, Nadia has been missing 16 months today.  It’s so hard to believe she has been away so long…so long away from us…so long away from her son now almost 2 and 1/2 years old (almost 1 and 1/2 years since he’s seen his mommy).   

Private, professional searches continue in Alabama for Nadia and we couldn’t be more thankful.

Homewood Alabama Police Department (PD) are following up on leads to Nadia’s whereabouts as they continue to come in.  We’re so grateful to the people who have made the call to the Homewood PD with information about Nadia.  

Someone called the Homewood PD hotline last December with significant credible information about Nadia’s case. However, the caller did not leave their contact information for the police to speak with them.  As a grieving family we call upon you once again to PLEASE call the Homewood PD again at (205)332-6363.  The police need to speak to you.  The lead detective in Nadia’s case is Doug Finch.  We all need your piece of the story to find Nadia and we need your information to bring her home…we miss her terribly and our grandson desperately needs his mommy.  PLEASE call (205) 332-6363.

After a number of failed attempts over the years we finally located Nadia’s Russian sister, Svetlana in Russia.  Nadia always spoke fondly of her and felt closest to her of all her Russian siblings.  Svetlana is aware Nadia is missing and has a son.  Sadly, we had hoped our contact with her would’ve carried happier news.

The “person of interest” in Nadia’s case continues to be the main focus of the Homewood PD.  It is our belief that others may have contributed to her disappearance as well by exploiting her naivety, good nature and trustworthiness. 

Given all, we call upon you once again to help us find Nadia.  If you have any information please either call the Homewood PD at (205) 332-6363 or contact us through this website.  We desperately need your help.

Thank you everyone as we continue our search for Nadia and press for a better future for our grandson.

In His love,

Nancy Kersh

Hello everyone,

I’m heading down to Alabama soon to be closer to Nadia and to join in a remembrance for her on the one year anniversary of her disappearance (3 November 2008).  I’m hoping some of Nadi’s friends from Alabama will be there and will help us in our efforts to search for her.  I understand the event will have a candlelight ceremony, music, warm beverages for a chilly night, etc.  There will also be a variety of speakers.  I’m looking forward to talking about Nadi and sharing pictures with those who come.  I’m grateful for the folks who volunteered their time to make this event happen.  We are extremely appreciative for their efforts.  The location of Nadia’s remembrance is Soho Plaza directly outside Homewood City Hall.  Activites begin at 6pm with a candlelight ceremony at 7pm.  Please come as you are able.

As always, you can reach us through this website with your comments.

Warm blessings to you all,

Nancy Kersh

Hello Everyone,

It’s so very hard to believe it has been 11 months now since Nadia has disappeared.  Each day we wake up and are reminded that she is not here.  We all miss her so much! 

I will tell you that amidst the pain of not being able to see her, to touch her and tell her that we love her, it warms my heart to know searches for her continue yet again this month.  We’re extremely grateful to those who dedicate their time to search and the Homewood Police Department for their diligent support in these efforts.  We will find you Nadia, in time we will!  It is the greatest gift we can give your little man…that is to find his Mommy.

The Homewood Police Department have followed up on leads…each adding another piece to the overall puzzle of what happened to Nadi.  They are still waiting for lab results to arrive from the FBI lab in Quantico, VA.  I was once told, “Homewood does not give up (on a case) no matter how long it takes.” and I can see that to be true.   

In August we took part in a great event to acknowledge missing persons. It was a spiritual experience just to take in and realize the number of people (close to 100) in the Birmingham, Alabama area alone who have been reported missing, unidentified or missing/victims of crime. The images of the vast number of posters set up in Oak Mountain Park on 19 August representing each affected individual still haunts me.  Each day as we lift up our prayers to the Lord we hold those loved ones close in our hearts.  

Next month is the one year anniversary of Nadia’s disappearance and we’ve been invited to take part in a remembrance for her.  It is tentatively scheduled for 3 November at 6pm in Soho Plaza outside City Hall in Homewood, Alabama.  It’s difficult for us to think so much time has already gone by and there is still no sign of Nadia.  Our greatest hope is that we will find her before then. 

Nadi,  We’re trying to find Svetlana to let her know what has happened to you.  It’s time and I know you would want her to know.

Thank you all for staying with us as we continue to search for our daughter.  Our healing will never be complete without seeing her or knowing where she is. 

The Lord’s blessings to all of you.

Kevin, Nancy, Ryan, John and Charlize Kersh  

Hello everyone,

We had a special event this past month honoring all missing persons, those yet unidentified and missing/victims of crime.  The Community for United Effort for Missing Persons stopped by Oak Mountain Park in Pelham, Alabama on 19 August on their On the Road to Remember Tour.  All missing persons from the local area were recognized, each victim having their picture displayed with a synopsis of the circumstances surrounding their disapperance.  The missing are from every race and every walk of life.  We were all stunned by the shear number of poster pictures of those missing, unidentified and missing/victims of crime.  There were approximately 100 posters from the Birmingham, Alabama area alone.  It was a very sobering experience just to be there.  A number of people spoke from Birmingham and the surrounding areas including representatives from the Birmingham PD, Homewood PD, search and rescue teams and others.

Nadia was one of the featured cases.  It gave us an opportunity to share her story and some pictures of her growing up. Several people commented that they knew she’s a mother but it hadn’t occurred to them that she is also a cousin, a granddaughter, a (soon to be) sister in-law and a sister.  We shared words from her grandma, her grandpas, her brothers and Kevin and I.  It was good to see dear friends who had made the drive to Pelham, AL to support all of us.  We’re extremely grateful for all who were able to take a moment out of their day to join us.  

We’ve been missing Nadi for 10 months now.  So many families have been missing their loved ones so much longer than that.  I can’t begin to imagine carrying such a heavy heart for so long.  Our love goes out to you.

Nadia’s criminal case continues to move forward as more leads come in and the authorities move closer to completing the picture of what happened to her and if she may still, after all this time, be alive.  For this we hold out hope.  Thank you all for your thoughtfulness and your continued support as we move forward ever closer to finding you, Nadia.

The Lord’s blessings to you all,

Kevin, Nancy, Ryan, John and Charlize

For more On the Road to Remember Tour  stop in Alabama, Click Here

Hello everyone,

Yesterday was seven months since Nadia went missing in Homewood, Alabama.  It’s hard to believe it’s been over half a year.  It’s seems like a moment ago when we spoke about her coming to visit us in November…she was so excited.  It was going to be a long awaited reunion. 

Since we lived overseas we hadn’t seen Nadia for a couple of years.  We had talked about getting together sooner but because of other commitments it was difficult to get away and the trip from overseas was over 20 hours from time of departure to landing in the US.  So we kept postponing our visits until we moved back to the states, had our household goods shipped and unpacked in our new house.  Thanksgiving seemed like the optimal time to get together with Nadia and the baby.  As you know she didn’t make it and went missing on 3 November 08. 

As I’ve told some of Nadia’s friends, if you haven’t seen your parents, brother, sisters and/or other loved ones in some time, take the time to do so.  The moments we take for granted everyday go by for most of us unnoticed.  It only takes one of those moments to remove someone we love from our lives.  Try not to take people for granted and cherish every moment…you never know when your life could change forever by missing someone you love. 

There have been a number of times over the past several months when I find myself reaching for the phone to call Nadia and realize suddenly that she isn’t there.  I wonder where she is and if she might still be here with us somewhere waiting for us to find her. 

The Homewood police have been extremely helpful and continue to build a case against a prime suspect.  We are still waiting for DNA analysis to return from the FBI lab in Quantico, VA.  It has taken a long time for results to come in but I understand the FBI have been given a large amount of evidence and it takes time to analyze it all. 

Kevin and I would like to thank you all for your support as we continue our search for Nadia.  If you have any information about Nadia please, please call the Homewood, Alabama Police Department tip line at (205) 332-6262.  The reward for information leading to her whereabouts is $45,000.  Please help us find her.

Blessings to you,

Nancy Kersh