Probe Ongoing After GA Girl Disappears 25 Years Ago, GBI Says

UNADILLA — State authorities said Wednesday they are continuing to investigate the disappearance of an 8-year-old girl who went missing from her home 25 years ago.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said agents are looking into new leads while revisiting old ones surrounding the disappearance of Sky’Kemmia “Shy Shy” Pate.

"(Twenty-five) years later, her family has not given up, and neither have we," the GBI said. "We hope to one day bring Shy Shy home to her family."

According to the Charley Project, Pate went missing on Sept. 4, 1998 from Unadilla. She was last seen wearing a neon green button-down Atlanta Braves jersey with red lettering, Levi's jeans, white K-Swiss sneakers and a leg brace, the project said.

She was last seen around 7 p.m. playing outdoors near her Crumpler Avenue home and The Roxy Club, the project said.

With family plans to attend a high-school football game, Pate's sister was getting gas and was supposed to pick up Pate afterwards, the project said. When the sister came back from the gas station, she noticed Pate was missing.

"The family at first assumed she must have gotten a ride with someone else or had gone to play at a friend's home," the project said.

Police responded after Pate was not found later that night; however, the project said officers incorrectly informed family members that Pate had to be missing for at least 24 hours before an investigation could begin.

"She has never been seen again," the project said.

Since then, several tips regarding Pate's disappearance has been received though the project said authorities have not gotten any solid evidence into Pate's whereabouts.

According to the project, authorities believe Pate could have been kidnapped by someone familiar to her at the time. Her family has been cleared of suspicion, the project said.

"The neighborhood where she lived had a high crime rate with a lot of drug use and gambling. Her case remains unsolved," the project said.

Pate was described as outgoing and had an adoration for skating and new clothes. She was involved in the family church, the project said.

With past medical conditions, the project said, "authorities believe Shy'Kemmia would have needed regular medical treatment to survive into adulthood."

The GBI, the FBI and the Dooly County Sheriff's Office are investigating Pate's disappearance.