It's been nearly seven years since Branson Perry went missing from his father's home in Skidmore.
Seven long years.
On April 11, 2001, Perry, who was 20 at the time, was cleaning his father's house with a friend. At approximately 3 p.m. that afternoon, Perry took jumper cables out to his father's nearby shed and was never seen again.
Seven years later, Perry's mother, Becky Klino, hasn't lost the love for her son, nor her hope for his return.
"My faith believes in miracles," Klino said. "I believe in miracles and so you constantly are believing that, and praying and hoping that he's going to be OK. That he's going to come home. That he just had to get away and for whatever reason, that part doesn't matter anymore, and you hope that one day he'll just decide to come home."
Since Perry went missing, authorities from Nodaway County and the Missouri State Highway Patrol have been investigating the disappearance. The investigation remains active and open Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. David Merrill said, but added that authorities can't discuss many details.
Not being able to hear about leads has been extremely tough for Klino.
"As a parent, you want to know what's going on. If they know something, you want to be able to know that, so that way you know that things are being done," Klino said. "That they're following up on things, however trivial they may be, or insignificant they might be. You just … anything, you want to hear anything that's happening."
Through the Internet and billboards supplied by both herself and Lamar, Klino hopes to help keep people thinking about her son in hopes that it will bring any new information to light."I feel it's very important to keep the awareness out there, to keep the public constantly being renewed with: that the case is open, that it is still unsolved," Klino said. "I'm thinking maybe, hopefully, that people who do have the information, maybe one of these times they'll go by and they'll see it or they'll hear something about it and maybe the guilt will get to them.
"Then maybe it'll cause them to come forward."
Klino is also planning a fundraiser April 12 to observe the anniversary of Perry's disappearance. A raffle, auction and poker run are all being planned. In keeping the awareness out, Klino has found support from her friends, both old and new.
"I have got amazing friends," Klino said. "I've had amazing support from people I've never even met before."
Klino said that while she holds out hope for Perry's return, she also has confronted the possibility of a worse scenario. But what she wants more than anything is to know where her son is, or what has happened to him.
"I've met many people or talked to many different families who are in the same situation. And all of them have made the comment that the not knowing is worse than the knowing," Klino said.
A $10,000 reward has been issued for any information that leads to the discovery of Perry or for the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for Perry's disappearance. A $25,000 reward is also being offered by Castle Records. Anyone who has any information is encouraged to contact the Nodaway County Sheriff's department at 582-7451, the Missouri State Highway Patrol at (816) 387-2345 or Klino at Raperry@hughes.net. Klino also reiterated that tips can be submitted anonymously.
"Somebody knows what's happened. There may be more than one somebody that knows what happened," Klino said. "You may have heard something that you just blew off that has no importance whatsoever, but it may be the key answer to everything. No matter how small it is, or how trivial you might think it is, please don't hesitate to contact the law."
Klino also had one last message for Perry if he had the opportunity to hear.
"You are loved just as much today as you were that day that nobody saw you again," Klino said. "We still love you and we still miss you."
Be the first to comment on this article!