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GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (BFMG) — The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help to locate McKenna Butcher, a missing child whose case has remained unsolved since 2019. Then 11 years old, McKenna was allegedly abducted by her mother, Jennifer Lea Settle, after a family court awarded full custody to her father, Michael Butcher.
McKenna, who would now be 16, was last seen on April 25, 2019, in Taylors, South Carolina. According to officials, her mother, Settle, was issued an arrest warrant by the state of South Carolina on charges of custodial interference. Shortly after, a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued by the U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina.
McKenna’s story has been featured on several national crime shows, including America’s Most Wanted and In Pursuit With John Walsh, in efforts to raise awareness and hopefully generate leads. The case was also highlighted on the Wanted by the FBI podcast, where Special Agent Robert Hamod shared details of Settle’s last known whereabouts. According to Hamod, Settle reportedly told friends in Maryland that she planned to disappear and would not be heard from again, suggesting that she might have even left the country.
Described as a White female with light brown hair and blue eyes, McKenna was 4’8″ and weighed 85 pounds at the time of her disappearance. On a website dedicated to his daughter, Michael Butcher claims that McKenna was first taken by her mother when she was only 8 months old and was raised under the name McKenna Settle, knowing little about her father. Michael eventually located her in Greenville, South Carolina, and pursued visitation rights, leading to a court granting him full custody. Shortly after this decision, Settle allegedly fled with McKenna.
The FBI and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of Jennifer Settle or McKenna Butcher to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling 911, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST, or Crimestoppers at 864-23-CRIME, where tips can remain anonymous.
With the help of dedicated law enforcement efforts and national exposure, McKenna’s father hopes to reunite with his daughter. The renewed focus from shows like America’s Most Wanted could be a key to bringing McKenna home and providing her family with the closure they’ve long sought.
For updates and more information, please visit the Find McKenna Butcher website or follow the hashtag #McKennaButcher on social media platforms.
