My Story--By Brenda Thrasher

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Letter writer Brenda Thasher, mother of missing John Thrasher.

He was wonderful. Ever since he was a small boy he was so smart. He was in the gifted class at school. But as he got older, he got in with the wrong bunch. I just don't know what happened. If I just knew it would be better than not knowing. Maybe we would have some closure.

John Matthew Thrasher's mother, Brenda, describes John as a very sweet and funny young man who always had a smile on his face and a ball cap on his head. He loved the outdoors and loved animals and would often go camping. He made good grades in school and played basketball until his senior year in high school. Brenda says that is when he started hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Last Seen At Putnam County Fairgrounds

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John's High School basketball picture.

Then, on a summer night in August 15, 2004, 22-year-old John was picked up at his Cookeville, Tenn. house by someone his dad didn't know. He said good night to his dad and never came home. Witnesses say they saw John the following day in the area of the Putnam County fairgrounds. When John failed to return home that day, his dad filed a missing persons report.

Mother Gives Heartfelt Plea

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High School picture

More than a year later and still no signs of John or what may have happened to him. "If we could just get someone who knows something to come forward," said Brenda. "I think John just got in with the wrong people and something happened to him."