Losing 'Letta

On the night of Sept. 10, 1982, 12-year-old Carmeletta Green crawled into bed with her two sisters. Her mother was working the night shift. When her mom returned home, Carmeletta was gone. The mystery of her disappearance has only deepened over the last 27 years.

A mother's nightmare
Jackie Cooney counts her sleeping children and discovers one missing.
Read more A mother's certainty
In the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 1982, Jackie Cooney told Little Rock police she had no doubt that her ex-husband, Kenneth Cooney, had abducted her oldest daughter, Carmeletta Green.
Read more
Download initial information report (PDF) A lack of evidence stalls case
The morning 12-year-old Carmeletta Green disappeared, Kenneth Cooney agreed to let Little Rock police detective Larry Dunnington search his car.
Read more
Download polygraph tests (PDF) A skeleton offers hope
On Aug. 19, 1991, two cable workers surveying land off Archwood Park Road for future expansion stumbled upon the skeletal remains of what turned out to be a little girl.
Read more A brother’s quest
Carmeletta Green’s younger brother Orlando left Arkansas at age 17 for the military, but his sister’s memory chased him wherever he went.
Read more A matter of conscience
Jackie Cooney never gave up hope that her daughter Carmeletta Green was alive. She had, however, given up on police ever finding Carmeletta.
Read more Girl’s remains identified, but questions go back to 1982
27 years of wondering put to rest ‘We couldn’t figure out how it could not be her.’ - By John Krupa
Amy Upshaw, a general assignment reporter for this newspaper’s state desk, first saw Carmeletta Green’s photograph six years ago while looking through old newspaper clippings.
Read more As part of a six-month investigation, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette interviewed 38 people and reviewed dozens of court and police documents to tell Carmeletta Green’s story.
Read more