Hope Meek's Family Demands Answers in Loved One's Disappearance

May 16, 2010

It has been eight years since 25-year-old Hope Danelle Meek went missing from her home in Valliant, Oklahoma. Despite the passage of time, her family is not yet ready to give up hope and is desperately hoping that someone will come forward with information that could help solve the mystery.

"I believe somebody, somewhere, in McCurtain County knows something," said Hope's only sister, MaryJane Chain. "I just want to find what happened to my sister; get closure for the family."

Hope was last seen by Jerry Meek, her husband of four years, on the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2002, when he left their Section Line Road home in Valliant to go camping with the children. Meek later told police the couple was in the midst of a separation and that he left $500 for her when he left for the camping trip.

Later that day, Meek said he returned home because he decided it was too cold to camp outdoors. He said that Hope, along with the $500, was missing, but she had left her 1995 Chevrolet pickup truck, along with all of her belongings, including her cell phone.

Meek waited five days to report his wife missing.

Authorities have stated it is uncharacteristic of Meek, who worked as a jailer with the McCurtain County Sheriff's Department, to leave without notifying her employer or loved ones. She also failed to pick up her last paycheck from the sheriff's department.

Less than a month after Hope's disappearance, Meek filed for divorce from his missing wife and was granted full custody of their children, aged 10 months, 3 and 6.

According to kten.com, an NBC-affiliated television station for southeastern Oklahoma and north Texas, Meek refused to take a polygraph test following his wife's disappearance.

In the wake of Hope's disappearance, law enforcement agencies conducted a search of a landfill in southeast Oklahoma using a cadaver dog, but found nothing. A community search was also spearheaded, but again, nothing was found.

Today, McCurtain County authorities say the investigation into Hope's sudden and unexplained disappearance is active, but they still have no leads the case.

"She does not deserve to be out there somewhere and my mother should have closure, along with Hope's children," MaryJane said.

Hope Danelle Meek would be 33 years old today. At the time of her disappearance, she was 5' tall and weighed 98 lbs., with dark blonde/mahogany hair and blue eyes. She had a pierced belly button and a scar on the side of her right thigh. She was last seen wearing gray sweats and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Valliant Police Department at 580-933-4555 or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017.

Related Links:
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared
Investigation Discovery: Missing Persons
Project Jason: Hope Meek Merryfield
Hope Meek Family Website

Photo Credits: Contributed

Comments

[MaryJane]

Maybe this will lead to something.It has been 8 long years and I miss my sister dearly.I want answers and closure,for everybody,my mother and Hope's children. We deserve to know what happened that day in feb 2002 when Hope disappeared and has not been seen or heard from since.

[Jamie]

This sounds eerily like the Susan Powell case. I hope that both of these families get the answers they deserve. Keeping you all in my prayers!

[boilly]

Hmm...this sounds like another husband of a missing woman who has been in the news recently. He too went camping during the winter months with his children and his wife has not been seen either. I hope you find you find an answer to what happened to your sister and justice is finally served.

[Joe]

So, the husband is/was a suspect?

[MaryJane]

Yes her husband is the prime suspect,not only because of his being the last person who saw her,but so many other reasons.And yes,Susan Powell's situation sounds alot like my sisters.I am trying to get Hope on thew program "disappeared",so maybe things will work out in getting her on the show and we can get her story out to more ppl and get answers and closure for us and justice for Hope.

[becky]

I am so tired of hearing this same story again and again. The X boyfriend/husbad just has to say the woman walked off with no clothes cell phone, etc., and as uncharacteristic as it may be, never contacts anyone again... And they get away with it. How many thousands of "missing" women out there are really murder victims? Statistically it is rare for adults (not teens) to runaway like this. Most often if they are found it is years later as a skeleton. I hope and pray for closure and jusice for her family.

[MaryJane]

MY SISTER WOULD NEVER LEAVE,JUST TO WALK AWAY FROM HER FAMILY.OUR MOTHER HAD JUST HAD MAJOR SURGERY,HER FATHER IS TERMINALLY ILL AND SHE GOT ON MY CASE FOR WORRYING OUR MOTHER JUST 2 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.I KNOW MY SISTER,SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE US AND SURE AS HELL WOULD NEVER LEAVE HER CHILDREN.HER AND HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN SPLIT UP AND SHE WENT BACK TO HIM ABOUT A MONTH OR SO BEFORE HER DISAPPEARANCE. SHE WANTED TO KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER,HER CHILDREN WERE ALWAYS HER LIFE,SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT THEM!!

[huyendiu]

Perfect crime! he will never be prosecuted ! no body and evidence!!!

[insevernapark]

Law enforcement need to lean on the husband heavy. Wouldn't take a poly? What does that tell you? Good Lord, it's time to get tough. God bless your family and what they are going through.

[maryjane]

Well,things are kinda turning.I am raising awareness in the county she lived in,I am telling everybody who will listen and maybe somebody will come forward soon

[maryjane]

He absolutely refuses to take a poly.He lawyered up right after he disappearance,has never called the authorities and asked if they were making any progress in her case,nothing.He has erased all memories out of the house,telling the kids their momma didn't love them and so much more.
I am trying to get her on id,I have a website,my space and face book for her and I have numerous friends on my lists that his girlfriends mother has on hers,so they know I am not going away,not forgetting or giving up.I will not stop until she is found,until their is justice for her and closure n answers for us.My sister deserves justice,she has always been a great woman and my very best friend

[HM]

I pray for you and your family I have the same name and have been watching the progress of your story and I wonder how safe the kids are? I kind of always thought the husband had something to do with it. who takes a 2year old and a 10 month old camping alone? I have 3 small kids myself, no way. Sounds like she was going to leave and he took her camping to dispose the body far away.

[MaryJane]

HM...Thank you for your kind words. We know she didn't just leave us and the children, the law knows too. But he had a 5 day lead on us and it is sooo hard to get anybody to listen,I am hosting the stop of a missing persons tour next summer in her name,maybe some new leads will happen then.
www.hope-meek.memory-of.com

[James cleary]

I watched a disapeared show on 12/13/2010 on Tim Carney.I think his case sounds like someone who has developed schophenia.Many times there is a sudden onset of the disease.I have worked for the dept. of mental hygiene.His family should check the mental hospitals in N.J. and New York as well as all homeless shelters in state.Must show his picture.Hope this helps.

[kelly]

Everybody in mccurtain county knows what happened.