Missing woman hasn't been forgotten

A North Carolina-based missing persons center is coming to North Charleston today to remind folks of Brandy Hanna.

Hanna, then 32, disappeared from her North Charleston apartment on May 20, 2005, and the CUE Center for Missing Persons has added her story to the long list of cases it tries to keep in the public spotlight.

"After so many years, these cases fade from the public's radar, but for the families and friends of the missing, the nightmare continues — every minute of every day their loved one is missing," said Monica Caison, founder of the CUE Center. "We are traveling across the country to make sure no case fades from memory."

Hanna's mother, Donna Parent, knows all this all too well. When too much time passes without a lead in the case, without a news story about her daughter's disappearance, she finds people who are surprised that Brandy hasn't been found.

And for two years now, police have found few leads in the disappearance, not even dead-ends to travel down. There are now no official suspects in the case, no prevailing theory to build a case around. Hanna caught a ride home from work that Friday with big plans for the weekend. She spoke with her mother by phone from her apartment that evening. A few hours later, she vanished.

Caison, who founded the CUE Center in 1994, said there are far too many cases like Brandy's. Her tour to stir memories and interest in these cases is her fourth. When the 10-day tour ends this week, the CUE Center will have covered 2,400 miles, making 22 stops in 11 states to highlight 75 missing person cases.

The rally for Hanna will be at 3:30 p.m. today at Alex's Restaurant at 3713 Dorchester Road. Parent said she is appreciative of the help she's gotten from the CUE Center since her daughter's disappearance.

"I just have to thank them for revisiting old cases and reminding people that Brandy's still missing," Parent said.

Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com