Archive for the ‘Missing Person’ Category

A New Year

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Hello everyone,

It is with great sadness that I write all of you who have supported us along the way.  After over three years our family was finally given an opportunity to visit with our grandson (our missing daughter Nadia’s son) over the New Year’s holiday.  As many of you know we are the only family he has.  We all looked forward to his visit with great anticipation.  John and Charlie (Nadia’s 10 year old brother and 5 year old sister) helped get the house ready for his arrival selecting cars, trucks, trains, a bike and helmet, a special race car bed they had been keeping ready in hopes of him coming home to us.  They helped lay out a plan to visit the zoo, attend the movies, go bowling, ride bikes and unwrap Christmas presents together.  However amidst all the excitement and anticipation, our grandson’s separation from us (since his mama went missing on November 3, 2008) has taken its toll.

As we face 2012 I want you all to know our family is committed to doing all we can to help him.  We are a family of peace and wish no one upset or fear in this process.  Our focus is on continuing to love and help our grandson even if it has to be from afar.

In the new year we plan to continue our search for our daughter Nadia with new equipment and renewed hope.  This weekend the SAR team is gearing up once again in hopes of finding evidence of her whereabouts. I will ask once again if anyone has any information about where she might be, please contact us through this website.  Just send us an email.  Your information will not be shared unless you give us your permission.

His Love, Grace and Mercy to you all in this new year!!

Nancy

Remembrance for Nadi

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Best Friends

Hello everyone,

What a wonderful remembrance there was for Nadia in celebration of her life.  As most of you know she disappeared three years ago on November 3, 2008. The remembrance was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on November 5th with the coming together of about 50 of Nadia’s family, friends and supporters.  We were so blessed to have Nadia’s closest friend Jacquie join us.  She shared some of the most touching words about her…it warmed our hearts and left us teary eyed.  The photo is of her and Nadi at school.  Jacquie and Nadi graduated high school together and remained close until Nadia disappeared.  Nadi is blessed to have such a dedicated and loving friend.  Thank you all for coming, especially those close to her.  Nadi would’ve been very touched.

On Veteran’s Day (November 11th) the military customarily holds a ceremony setting a table, an empty place for missing veterans, those missing in action and those who have died, reminding us of their great sacrifice so we can have the freedoms we possess in this country.  As we watched the ceremony we’re reminded once again of Nadi and her son.  This year as in the past three we set our Thanksgiving table and leave two places empty in their absense and honor.  

We ask you all not to forget our daughter Nadi and her son.  We ask you to lift them up in prayer.  We pray for the darkness to be lifted, we ask for protection and safety and we ask for the courage to more forward.  Our pastor reminds us that “courage is an aspect of hope we don’t often dwell on.  We think of the possibilities of hope, the desired outcome of hope, even the distractions of hope that are often a diversion in the midst of diffcult moments.  Courage…is vital to hope, for it sustains the dream when all else fails and empowers meaningful action when settling for so much less would be much easier.”  I believe as Christians we’re called to come together in this effort of intersessionary prayer.  We especially ask you to devote a special time for our daughter and grandson until they can come home to us.  

In His loving Grace,

Nancy

Third Anniversary

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone,

Today marks the third anniversary of our daughter Nadia’s disappearance.  May the Lord bless and keep her.  May He shine His face upon her and give her Peace.  We love and miss her so very much!

This Saturday family and friends will gather at 12:00pm in Birmingham, Alabama for a remembrance and a celebration of Nadia’s life.  Her friends and family friends are traveling from out of state to be here.  We look forward to sharing stories and beautiful moments of Nadia’s life with each other through good food, fellowship, pictures and music.  For those of you who are unable to come we ask you to lift Nadia up in prayer at noon and remember her as someone who loved life but  still remains missing.

It has been three years since Nadi went missing.  If anyone has information about where she is or maybe has heard rumor about where she may be, please contact us through this website or contact her search team, Central Alabama Search and Rescue at (205) 915-8936. 

Thank you all so very much for your continued support and prayers.

In His Love,

Nancy for all of Nadia’s family who love her very much

Looking for Answers

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Mother & Daughter

Hello everyone,

Our daughter Nadia Kersh vanished after she left work for lunch on Monday, 3 November 2008.  We miss her so very much!!!

Nadie where are you? Nad?  I ask myself that question each and everyday as an eternal emptiness surrounds me reminding me she is not here.  I turn to her son who will be four soon and want to tell him about what has happened to his mama but I don’t know that answer.  Nadia’s brother John frequently asks Kevin and I about the searches for his sister and whether the volunteer searchers have found any sign of his beloved sister as he continues to struggle with her disappearance.  With grief and heartache we continue to look for answers about what happened to Nadie and where she is.

The accumulation of persistent torrential rains of last weekend and the week before have delayed a search for Nadie this weekend, although others (not dependent upon the weather) will continue as planned.  We are extremely grateful not only for the search and rescue crews but also private/commercial property owners who have given us access to their land, loaned us equipment and personnel in our search for her.  This great outpour of generosity from empathetic people and blessed more who have given of themselves over time is overwhelming to take in all at once and has often brought me to my knees in thanks to our Lord for putting them in our path in hopes of finding our loving daughter Nadia.

Nadie where are you?  Mom is here.  Your pop, John, Charlie and I are here.  Your little man is waiting for his mommy…he’s waiting for you.  We’re all here waiting for you to come home.

On behalf of our family I ask people of the Birmingham, Alabama area again to please come forward if you have any information about our daughter Nadia’s whereabouts.  You can reach us directly through this website, contact Central Alabama Search and Rescue at 205 915 8936 or Homewood Police Department at 205 332 6262

Someone called Homewood Police Department many months ago with a “credible lead”.  I believe you know who you are.  Please, please call once again and leave that information again and any additional information you feel comfortable sharing to help us understand what happened to Nadie and/or where she can be found.  Now is your time to step out of the darkness and shed light on Nadia’s missing person case.  Take hold of courage and come forward.  It will all be okay.

For anyone else who has any information about Nadia’s whereabouts please let us know.  We very desperately want to find her and bring her home.

Thank you all for your prayers as we continue on our search.

Blessings to you all,

Nancy

Murder Charges Dismissed

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Hello everyone,

Capital murder charges against Joacquas Haywood, suspect in our daughter Nadia’s disappearance, were dismissed today.  He has been released from the Birmingham, Alabama jail.

Two weeks ago the judge in Nadia’s case denied the assistant district attorney’s (DA’s) request for a continuance of Mr. Haywood’s murder trial scheduled to begin 19 September 2011.  As I understand, the DA’s request was based upon DNA analysis test reports not yet received from the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.  The DA considers these reports to be important to the case and did not want to proceed without the FBI lab findings. A second request for continuance was denied today.  The DA then requested charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed.  This request was granted.

We support the DA’s decision to request charges against Mr Haywood be dismissed as we wait for the DNA lab reports.  This move by no means indicates a final chapter in the case.  As we understand, once the results of the DNA tests are in the DA will revisit options and then make a determination of what course of action they will take.

During this time of waiting we ask people of the Homewood/Birmingham, Alabama community to come forward with information about the whereabouts of our daughter Nadia.  We have been searching for her for almost three years and desperately want to find her.  Please feel free to contact us at this website or call the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office and ask to speak with the assistant DA assigned to Nadia Kersh’s case if you have any information.

As her family we will continue to pursue leads in an attempt to find her.  A number of search crews will be out this Saturday and Sunday once again looking in several newly identified areas in hopes of locating her.  New equipment has been brought in to assist them.  Central Alabama Search and Rescue (formerly Walker County Search and Rescue) is the lead team in the search for Nadia.  They recently spoke about how they do what they do at a Victims of Crime and Leniency meeting in Jefferson County in Alabama (click on link). http://www2.alabamas13.com/news/2011/aug/18/ker-ar-2293944/

Thank you all for your continued interest in Nadia’s case.  We appreciate your emails and words of encouragement.

His Blessings to you,

Nancy for all

August 2011 Update

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Hello everyone,

My apology for our absence.  We have been dealing with litigations and complications involving the Alabama legal system.  It’s been an educational process for us as we move forward to help our grandson (our daughter Nadia’s son whom she left behind when she went missing on 3 Nov 2008).  We ask for your patience as we continue on this journey.

There have been some questions/concerns about the amount of time it takes to receive DNA test results in Nadia’s case.  My understanding is that all lab testing was done at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.  The FBI lab deals not only in missing person/murder cases but cases of even higher priority as well…for example, issues/cases involving national security.  Lab testing in Nadia’s case is taken in turn of priority and so therefore a more lengthy wait for the results.

Search efforts continue in an effort to find Nadia.  (Alabama) Walker County Search and Rescue is the lead team in these efforts.  We’re pleased to announce they will be the guest speaker at this month’s Jefferson County Victims of Crime Against Leniency meeting on 18 August at 6pm.  The meeting will be held at 2200 8th Ave. N, Sheriff’s Department Training Room, 2nd floor, Birmingham, Alabama.  We encourage all who can to attend this meeting and learn more about this search and rescue team and how they do what they do. For more information please contact Wanda Jones Miller at (205) 731-2814 or cell (205) 438-0586.

Thank you all for standing beside us as we continue to diligently look for Nadia.  Search efforts have stepped up and expanded to include some interesting new areas.  We are very thankful for the leads that have come in to assist us in our search.

His Blessings to you all from Nadia’s family,

Kevin and Nancy, brother John and sister Charlize

We Continue in Faith

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Hello all,

This month is Nadia’s birthday.  She will turn 26 years old on Monday, 18 July 2011.  I’ve asked folks to submit comments about her and how she may have impacted their lives to this website or the Alabama Walker County Rescue Squad’s Facebook site: Nadia Kersh – The Search Continues Until She is Home.  I will post comments on this site as a tribute to Nadia on her birthday (18 July 2011). 

As some of you may know we have stepped up our efforts trying to find Nadia.  The search and rescue team members have been a true inspiration in the search by continuing to donate time and resources as they pursue their calling to find our daughter.

We also continue to press forward to do what we can to bring our grandson (Nadia’s son) home.  It has been a long and tedious effort working through issues in a complicated legal system.  We have worked this issue since his mom (Nadia) disappeared, two years and eight months ago.

Thank you all once again.  We are blessed to have you support us along this journey.  May the Lord bless and Keep you.

In His Name,

Nancy for all

Faithfulness

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone,

  Our pastor reminded us Memorial Day was a day set aside not to forget the indebtedness we owe those who have selflessly served in some way for the benefit of others.  It’s good to pause and reflect, to ponder and remember the faithfulness of others. 

The search for our daughter Nadia has resumed with countless faithful professional volunteers dedicated to find her.  We are extremely grateful for them as we continue to eliminate areas of interest in our efforts to find her and bring her home.

As followers of Christ and believers in Him, we remember that faith compels us to action, belief leads us to involvement, for there we learn the wonderous lessons of love.  In His love we all move forward in our search for Nadia and in our quest to bring her son home to us. 

Thank you all who have stood by us in faith, love and hope. 

In Christ,

Nancy for all

Candlelight Vigil for Those Whose Lives Have Been Cut Short

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Hello everyone,

As the past two weeks have unfolded we have faced more days of delays in the complicated Alabama system.  The process is not one to be rushed.  The Lord reminds us and tells us to be still and wait for Him. And so we will.  May His Grace and Mercy blanket our journey through this process, may it protect our grandson (our daughter, Nadia’s son) as we move forward in our efforts to bring him home.

Thursday evening, 14 April 2011 the Jefferson County chapter of Victims of Crime and Leniency held it’s annual Candlelight Vigil honoring victims and families affected by crime.  Our daughter, Nadia was featured as a missing person as well as hundreds of others who have fallen victim to violent crime.  Hundreds of people were in attendance mourning and honoring those whose lives were tragically cut short.  As your father and I looked upon your picture yet once again we’re reminded of how much we miss you Nadi!

Thank you all who have stood with us in our travels to find our daughter, Nadia and ensure her little man (our grandson) is well taken care of.  We ask for your thoughts and prayers in the weeks and months to come as we continue on our journey down a road of uncertainty with the Lord by our side.  

Blessings to you all.

In His Name,

Nancy for all  

When a Believing Person Prays

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

The Search

Hello everyone, 

Yesterday, our pastor reminded us James 5:16 says, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.”  I believe in the power of prayer as a connection to the living God that opens doors for God’s will to be done.  I ask everyone to join us in prayer as we continue to search for our daughter, Nadia who disappeared on 3 November 2008.  Professional volunteer search teams have scoured many areas looking for her, eliminating said areas one by one as we draw nearer to where she may be. Above is a picture of where our search efforts have lead us and for now we are focusing on that area in Birmingham, Alabama. 

In addition we continue to strive to bring our grandson (Nadia’s son) home.  The Alabama state process remains complicated but we are committed to seeing it through.

Thank you all for your continued support as we move forward bit by bit, moving in closer and closer to bring closure to the darkness that surrounds the circumstances of Nadia’s disappearance.  We miss her and our grandson so very much.

The Lord’s blessings to you all.  May His will be done.

His blessings,

Nancy for all