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Illinois police: Shannon Wilfong hid son Richard Chekevdia for two years in sealed off room

Posted in September 5th, 2009

by admin in Uncategorized

In this Aug. 2007 photo provided by Michael Chekevdia, Richard Chekevdia poses at a wedding in West Frankfort, Ill. Authorities say the boy, allegedly abducted in a custody dispute two years ago, has been found alive, hidden behind a wall at his grandmother's southern Illinois home.

A 6-year-old boy who disappeared in 2007 was found hidden behind a wall at his grandmother’s rural Illinois home.

According to authorities, 2 years ago during a custody dispute, Shannon Wilfong abducted her son, Richard Chekevdia and moved into a sealed off small room hidden behind a wall in her mother’s house.

Yesterday, police found the child and returned him to his father’s relatives, under supervision of child-welfare workers.

Richard’s father, Michael “Mike” Chekevdia, a former police officer who is a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Nation Guard told the media, “Two years? You have no idea. I have lost sleep. I have lost weight. I have gained weigh I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Wilfong was charged with felony child abduction and her mother, Diane Dobbs was charged with aiding and abetting.

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2 users commented in " Illinois police: Shannon Wilfong hid son Richard Chekevdia for two years in sealed off room "

roxanne said,

in December 4th, 2010 at 5:39 am

In the long run, it is the child who is hurt the most. The sad part is that the father appears to be so abusive, and what the little boy will do when he grows up (unless the child is returned to his mother soon) is to repeat the pattern of the father. Abused children unfortunately become abusers themselves-unless they have someone like this mother to protect them. I am sorry for this child and I pray that the mother regains custody.

Cristina said,

in February 27th, 2011 at 1:54 pm

The father is abusive? And you based this on what? The police, child services and every authority who investigated the mother’s claims have found not an ounce of evidence to support the mother’s claim. Even the people who knew the couple prior to the separation have said that he was not abusing the child in any way. I’ll tell you what is abusive- it is forcing a child to live in a crawl space, depriving him of a chance to play outside and constantly brainwashing him against his father by using disparaging words that shouldn’t even be used in front of a child. The mother is clearly unstable. I am a woman myself but I wouldn’t wish for a child to be a parent who is too selfish and puts her own interest ahead of her child out of spite for her ex.