In September 1991, three-year-old Megan Lee Ann Pratt was last seen at her home west of Brooksville, Florida, where she lived with her mother, Vicki Ann Schober, and her stepfather, Jesse James Schober. Following her disappearance, her parents told people that Megan had died in a car accident. The couple was evicted from their mobile home later that year and left Florida, eventually divorcing.
The case remained dormant for over a decade until 2002, when Megan's paternal grandmother, Sarah Mowery, contacted the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Mowery had become suspicious after being unable to find any record of her granddaughter's supposed death, such as a death certificate or a cemetery plot. Investigators then questioned Megan's mother and stepfather, who provided conflicting accounts of the events surrounding the child's disappearance. An acquaintance of the couple informed police that Megan was deceased and had been buried in the woods.
The investigation gained momentum when a cold case squad was assigned to the file. In August 2003, both Vicki and Jesse Schober were arrested and charged with Megan's murder. Vicki Schober later pleaded no contest to aggravated child abuse, agreeing to testify against her ex-husband in exchange for a six-year prison sentence. She stated that Jesse had become enraged with Megan for splashing in the bathtub and had fatally struck her head against the tub. According to Vicki, Megan was knocked unconscious and died several days later. She admitted to not seeking medical help for her injured daughter.
Vicki testified that Jesse put Megan's body in a sleeping bag, then burned and buried her remains in the woods. In January 2005, Jesse Schober reached a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, receiving a 25-year prison sentence. Although he led authorities to the location where he claimed to have disposed of Megan's body, her remains were never found. Over the years, investigators have continued to search for Megan's body, even employing ground-penetrating radar with the assistance of university students. Vicki Schober was paroled in September 2006. Despite the convictions, Megan Lee Ann Pratt's remains have not been recovered.Last Seen: Sep 1, 1991
