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Comment by Brenda on August 21, 2011 at 10:50am

Bethanie "Buffy" Dougherty vanished from her home more than three years ago, and her family is still looking for answers.

They continue to raise money to search for her, said father, Terry M. Curtis. A recent fundraiser in Marathon raised $3,650.

The mother of three, who was 40 when she disappeared, was last seen at her Town of Lisle home on the night of April 1, 2008.

At about 3 a.m. April 2, neighbors called police to report screams in the hamlet of Killawog where Dougherty lived, but police didn't detect any problems in the area. Dougherty was reported missing later that day.

While the police investigation into her disappearance remains open, family members have turned to a private investigator. Michael Bidwell, owner of Check Mate Private Investigation of Cortland, is also involved in the search for Dougherty, Curtis said.

The agency has received about one to two tips each week pertaining to Dougherty's disappearance, Curtis said.

Curtis said he's hopeful the family will get an answer to what happened to her.

"I really feel he's going to give us some kind of resolution -- whatever it is," Curtis said.

There's also reward money for information leading to Dougherty's return, her father said. The family has about $9,000 set aside.

The tip line for Check Mate is (607) 758-6199.

The case of another woman, Bambi Madden, who was last seen in January 2006, also remains unsolved.

Madden, who was 34 years old at the time of her disappearance, had left her house on Winding Way in Binghamton to get beer at a nearby convenience store, but hasn't been seen thereafter.

Both women are listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Staff writer William Moyer contributed to this report.

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110820/NEWS01/108200338/1112/

Comment by Brenda on June 19, 2011 at 8:01am

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/bethanie-l.-dougherty

Comment by Brenda on May 5, 2011 at 8:53am

05/01/2011 05:45 PM
Renewed hope for missing Broome County woman
By: Carmen Perez
Three years ago was the last time anyone saw Broome County resident Bethanie Dougherty. Even after countless dead-ends in her search, her family has yet to give up hope. Sunday, the family held a fundraiser to get the ball rolling again. Our Carmen Perez tells us how this family is going about the search with a renewed sense of perspective.

CORTLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- Billie-Jo Nuckolls, Bethanie Dougherty's sister, still can't believe she is missing.
"I honestly thought that she would turn up that night. That she just went some place and didn't tell anybody and she would be home that evening but its three years later and she is still not here."

Officials aren't any closer to figuring out what happened to then 40-year-old Bethanie Dougherty, but her family has never given up hope and they are ready to search again.

"You just kind of try and go on with your life and hope that she is still there," said William Curtis, Dougherty's brother.

A fundraiser Sunday reminded Bethanie's family that she is very much at the forefront of people's minds. The family has hired a private investigator to pick up the search for Dougherty and they are hopeful about what a fresh set of eyes can bring to the case.

"It just seems like people have shut down to the police or just haven't been forthcoming. Hopefully the private investigators can get more information about Buffy's whereabouts or what happened," said Curtis.

The money raised at this fundraiser will go directly toward funding a private investigator to continue the search and it's an idea that the Broome County Sheriff's office welcomes.

Broome County Sheriff David Harder said, "If they have a private investigator that might be able to dig something up and is willing to pass that on to us, we are more than willing to look into it."

The private investigator says although the case is more than three years old, for him it is brand new.

Michael Bidwell the private investigator working on the case said, "We are going to treat this as a brand new investigation. We going to start with the family as all cases should be and we will proceed from that point."

So with a renewed sense of purpose, Bethanie Dougherty's family is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to bring their "Buffy" home.

"I love you, I miss you and I want you home, whatever way we can get you home," said Dougherty's mother.

If you have any information about Bethanie Dougherty's whereabouts you are asked to call the investigator's tip line at (607) 758-6199.

Also if you could not make the fundraiser but would like to donate to the search you can mail a donation to this address:

Bucks For Buffy
50 N. Main St. Apt. B
Homer, NY 13077

http://centralny.ynn.com/content/top_stories/541890/renewed-hope-fo...

Comment by Brenda on April 1, 2011 at 10:18pm

Broome Co. Woman Still Missing 3 Years Later
By Leigh Dana
Bio | Follow: @leighdana

April 1, 2011
Updated Apr 1, 2011 at 7:05 PM EDT
Killawog, NY (WBNG Binghamton) More than 100 interviews, polygraph tests and lie detectors for an investigation stretching as far away as New Haven, Connecticut.

But nothing has helped the Broome County Sheriff's office solve the disappearance of 40-year-old Bethanie Dougherty of Killawog.

3 years to the date, her family isn't giving up hope of finding out what happened.

For the family of Bethanie Dougherty, April 1, 2008 is not a day for joking around. It's the day 3 years ago she was last seen at her home here on Jennings Creek Road in Killawog.
"I would love to find her alive," said Dougherty's brother, John Curtis.
Her sister, Billie-Jo Nuckles, said, "I won't believe she's gone until there's proof that she's gone." "What do you think happened? "I have no idea."

Surveillance video shows Dougherty at work on the 1st at Xtra Mart in Freeville. Her son last saw her wearing purple pajamas while doing the dishes at home around 10 or 11 o'clock that evening. When he returned home from school the next day, his mother's work clothes were still laid out on her bed -- something he found to be unusual.

That's when he called police. Investigators have searched miles of property surrounding Dougherty's home including neighboring wooded areas, several times, after a report of a woman screaming in the early morning hours of April 2nd. Although that has not been confirmed whether it woman or an animal sound that was heard.

"There was no evidence of any struggle," said Curtis. "Investigators say they feel it was about 80 yards from the house as to where the whole thing took place."

Sheriff's investigators say there hasn't even been one piece of evidence that points to any crime or anyone being involved in her disappearance. While reward money is being offered, most leads turn out to be rumors.

Dougherty's family is now hiring private investigators to help with their search for answers.
"I just want my sister to be found," said Curtis.
"Either way we need closure, cried Nuckles. " But I'm hoping for the best. I'm not giving up hope. I honestly believe she is still alive 100%"

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Sheriff's office at (607) 778 1196 or the private investigators at (607) 758 6199.

A fundraiser will be held at noon on May 1, 2011 at Denny's Mountain View in Preble, NY to help Doughtery's family pay for the investigators.

http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Broome-Co-Woman-Still-Missing-3-Year...

Comment by Brenda on April 1, 2011 at 10:15pm

missing 3 years today..