Missing: Where is Deanna Merryfield?
Who was Deanna?
Deanna Michelle Merryfield was born on February 2nd 1977 in Texas, one of four daughters born to her mother Laurel, alongside her fraternal twin sister Becky, oldest sister Amy and younger sister Melissa. In their early years the four sisters grew up together in the small working class town of Killen, they were all very close each being only a couple years apart in age.
Deanna is remembered as being a very sweet, funny and adventurous child who was well-liked by her teachers and protective of her sisters. Deanna was also incredibly smart, earning herself a place in the gifted programme during elementary school. As a young child Deanna enjoyed many hobbies and interests typical of the era including riding her bike, making up dances to her favourite songs with friends,, playing barbies with her sisters and watching She-Ra: Princess of Power. Aged 12 and 13, Deanna’s interests had evolved to include listening to music by Leppard, White Snake and Ozzy Osbourne, riding her bike and exploring local creeks.
Unfortunately Deanna and her sisters had a difficult childhood, living with their mother Laurel who battled an addiction to alcohol. Laurel’s addiction worsened over the years resulting in her being hospitalised in the summer of 1989 with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. During the time that their mother was hospitalised Deanna found the courage to confide in her grandmother that their stepfather, Roy Kaopuiki was sexually abusing her and her sisters. Alongside Deanna, two of her sisters also reported being abused by Kaopuiki, however one sister later recanted her story (likely due to fear) and the other was told there was not enough evidence. Deanna’s report did lead to criminal charges and in October 1989 Roy Kaopuiki was convicted of indecency with a child. He was sentenced to 10 years probation and required to register as a sex offender.
During the investigation Deanna and her sisters were split up and sent to live with different relatives, often for very short stints which meant lots of bouncing around and sleeping on couches. This was a traumatic experience for all of them at a time when they needed stability and comfort the most. During this time Deanna always found a way to see her sisters, wanting to keep them close and was known to walk several miles both ways.
The rough childhood experiences Deanna had eventually took their toll and by the time she entered 5th grade changes in Deanna’s personality and behaviour were becoming obvious. In strong contrast to the student who found herself in the gifted programme, Deanna started receiving report cards on which teachers had written that she was not applying herself, her grades slipped, she was smoking and associating with a rougher crowd. Over the years some have wanted to label Deanna as a rebel or troubled but her sister Melissa has never seen it that way, she wishes for people to remember that Deanna was a survivor and brave and above all she was just a child who had experienced more than she should ever had to. Melissa also said that she believes that Deanna’s reason for associating with a rougher crowd is that she was seeking protection.
Deanna as a young girl
Deanna with her sisters
Deanna’s Disappearance
In the summer of 1990 Deanna was 13 and somewhat settled living with her grandmother on Alamo Avenue in Killen. She had just completed seventh grade at Manor Middle school, was enjoying her summer break and was due to enter eighth grade in the fall at a new school- Fairway Middle School. On the evening of July 22nd 1990 Deanna was at home, having stayed up late with her grandmother watching movies. At around 1:00am her grandmother went to bed, Deanna then snuck out of the house and travelled the roughly two miles to visit her twin sister Becky. Becky was staying with their uncle at the Oak Springs Trailer Park on the 500 block of Dimple Street in Killeen. She arrived at around 3:30am and knocked on the window to wake Becky up. Deanna and Becky spoke outside the trailer for a few minutes but their conversation woke up their uncle and he told Deanna she needed to go home. Becky saw Deanna arrive in a vehicle with two males that she did not recognise, described as white or hispanic, likely highschoolers. The car was a brown or bronze four door car. Deanna left with the same males, this was the last time anyone saw or heard from Deanna.
The following morning Deanna’s grandmother decided to let Deanna sleep in, not yet realising that Deanna had snuck out or that she wasn’t home. When she went to wake her up she discovered that Deanna was not in her room, or anywhere else in the house. Deanna’s grandmother contacted Laurel who did not have Deanna with her and did not know where she was, when no one was able to say where Deanna was her grandmother contacted law enforcement to report Deanna missing. Deanna had not left a note, informed anyone that she planned to run away or had any desire to do so and she had taken none of her belongings with her, Deanna’s social security number has also never been used. Despite this law enforcement quickly classified her as a runaway and failed to investigate in any meaningful way, in fact very little was done to locate Deanna. Neither law enforcement nor her mother and stepfather conducted any physical searches for Deanna and there was no media attention.
Deanna with her grandmother Edith
The Investigation
The only person searching or fighting for Deanna was her grandmother but she was doing it alone. Melissa says that she was raised to believe that her grandmother helped Deanna run away and was only causing trouble because she didn't like their stepfather, that the abuse charges were false and caused for the same reason. In 1995 Deanna’s grandmother contacted detectives following up on her case. She learnt that the case had been closed and then pushed for it to be reopened. According to the family the reason for the case closure was a call made to police in 1993 stating that Deanna was home safe and could be removed from the list. The call was believed without question and no one bothered to confirm the information. The case was closed again within a month due to a lack of information and again the family were not informed of this.
Due to being split up and living in different places back in 1989, Melissa and her sisters did not have much of a chance to talk about Deanna and what might have happened to her when they were kids. They also tried to protect Melissa from knowledge of the abuse due to how young she still was at the time. Melissa says therefore she knew almost nothing of the abuse and when she found out she began to question everything, including what had happened to Deanna.
In 2007 she too contacted detectives for an update on Deanna’s case and discovered that it had been quietly closed several years prior. Fortunately she was able to convince police to reopen the case and it has remained an open, active case since. Melissa also contacted the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children who were able to assist law enforcement with generating investigative strategies, conducting DNA testing and the production of age progression images of Deanna. Initially police focused their efforts in reinvestigating the case on the use of new technology, following up on existing leads, searching Jane Doe records, Texas driver’s licence photos and DNA filings. Deanna’s grandmother was still alive in 2007 and tried her best to help provide additional information, meanwhile the lead detective on the case Lieutenant Davis worked with Deanna’s sisters to create a list of her friends at the time to follow up with. Between 2007 and 2011 the Texas Rangers attempted to hypnotise Becky, Deanna’s twin in hopes of learning something new about the night of her disappearance. The experience was very difficult for Becky but she was able to remember some additional information as a result. DNA was also taken from Becky to look for matches in the police database, no matches could be found.
In 2007 Roy Kaopuiki was interviewed by police, this was the first time he had ever been questioned in relation to Deanna’s disappearance. The results of these investigations have never been publicly released. Melissa has since said she does not think it makes sense for Roy to have been the person responsible for whatever happened to Deanna. Mainly because she does not think he would have known where to find Deanna that night or been able to sneak in or out of the house undetected. There are no known incidents of specific threats made towards Deanna by Roy Kaopuiki.
Over the years several false tips and sightings have been called in about Deanna, some of which the family are still trying to have removed from databases or corrected online. Such claims have also at times hindered the investigation and created false hope that Deanna is alive. They include the 1993 anonymous call made claiming Deanna had returned home safe and claims made by a childhood friend after the case was reopened, that sometime between 2000 and 2002 Deanna had visited her and indicated she did not want to be found. She also claimed Deanna had several tattoos including a large tattoo on her neck with her name. This person did not cooperate with investigators so her claims could not be corroborated and she repeatedly changed her story. She later recanted on two separate occasions and the family do not believe the story to be credible. Melissa says she is unsure why this person would lie as she and her Deanna were very good friends, she does not believe they would have hurt Deanna that night but wonders if they know more than they are saying.
Deanna age progressed to 45 years old
Where is the case now?
Melissa continues to be the main advocate for Deanna. At times she has struggled to get any kind of response from investigators and has been left feeling like she was on her own. She has done a lot of her own investigating and spent lots of time talking to family members and friends of Deanna in an effort to piece together a clearer picture of Deanna’s life at the time she disappeared. However things do now appear to be moving forward. A private investigator from Private Investigations for the Missing is now onboard assisting the family. The PI and a detective working the case have successfully collaborated, together they are making progress and learning new information. Two searches in 2025 and one search in January 2026 were organised by the family and carried out in Killeen, following the 2026 search an acquaintance of Deanna’s approached the family with new information. Detectives continue to explore many theories and possible explanations, including whether serial killer Kenneth Alan McDuff could be connected to Deanna’s disappearance; he was known to be active in Texas when Deanna disappeared and drove a vehicle similar to Becky’s description.
How can you help?
Deanna’s family, along with detectives firmly believe the case is solvable and they are asking anyone who may know something to speak up.
Melissa is aware that a lot of people have not come forward with what they know because they do not believe their information is helpful, she wants these people to know that every piece of information is helpful at this stage and that it could be the smallest piece that will break the case. If you knew Deanna or have any information about that night, please come forward, even if you think the information is already known, just assume it isn’t.
The family are also seeking to make contact with friends of Deanna’s, Rudy and Tony Longoria; they stress that they are not considered suspects in any shape or form. Tony may also go by Anthony or Antonio, if you can help connect them with the family please reach out
Deanna has been missing for more than 36 years. Deanna’s sisters have been deeply impacted by her disappearance and the time is way overdue for them to have answers. Deanna deserves for people to look beyond the labels of a troubled kid or a rebel and see her for who she really was, a 13 year old child who liked music, loved her sisters and just wanted to feel safe, loved and protected.
Deanna Merryfield:
Missing since: July 22nd 1990
Age then: 13
Age now: 49
Last seen: Oak Springs Trailer Park, 500 Block of Dimple Street, Killeen TX
Height: 5'4
Weight: 115 lbs
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Hazel-Blue
Distinguishing features: A small scar on the upper lip.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Deanna Merryfield please contact either
The Killeen Police Department at 254-501-8891
OR
The Texas Department of Public Safety- Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 512-424-5074
The family can also be contacted through the Finding Deanna pages on Facebook & Instagram and by email: info@findingdeanna.com
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