Michael Anthony Hughes-Missing 19 Years-HIS MOTHER, "SHARON MARSHALL" IDENTIFIED AS SUZANNE MARIE SEVAKIG THROUGH DNA!

Michael Anthony Hughes (Photo Credit: FindAGrave.org)

**UPDATE!
The identity of "Sharon Marshall" has finally been discovered. Her real name was Suzanne Marie Sevakig (Birkbeck 2014). She was abducted from her mother in North Carolina by Floyd in 1975 when she was 6 years old. Suzanne's mother had four kids-three daughters and an infant son. In 1973, Floyd violated his probation, left Florida, and ended up in North Carolina, where he met Suzanne's mother, who just got a divorce. They married a year later. In 1975, Suzanne's mother served time in jail for 30 days for a minor crime. When she was released, she found her children missing. Two of her daughters were later found at a social services station-Floyd had dropped them off there. However, he took off with 6 year-old Suzanne and her infant brother. Her mother tried to file a missing person's report with police, but they refused it, saying he was legally their step father. Therefore, there was no crime being done. (I hope those people read Suzanne's story, A Beautiful Child. What would they say then?) This is why it has been almost impossible to recover Suzanne's real identity. There is no information on if her infant brother was ever recovered. 
A visit to Floyd by the FBI earlier this year sparked some information about a woman. They followed up on her, and showed the woman the picture of Floyd and Suzanne. She immediately identified him as her husband, and Suzanne as her daughter. A DNA test has confirmed that "Sharon Marshall" was indeed Suzanne Marie Sevakig, victim of a "parental abduction" which went unreported in 1975. 

Suzanne Marie Sevakig, photo from http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/8ufok.html

Sadly, Floyd has confessed to the FBI he murdered Michael. They are saying there's a good chance they have an idea of where he is, and can recover his remains to lay him to rest by his mother, Suzanne, who finally has her name back!
Thank you to everyone who has read Suzanne's story. You have kept her memory and spirit alive. Thank you to the officers, sleuthsters, authors and everyone else who has kept Suzanne's story on the forefront. Otherwise, it is very possible she may have never been identified. Suzanne's story is proof that no matter how old a case is, it is still solvable...there is hope!!!

The story cited from here: http://www.mattbirkbeck.com/blog/finally

I have read many cases of the missing. I have scrolled through the thousands on Charley Project, looked for possible matches to many by scrolling though the Doe Network and NAMUS databases. After reading as many as I have, I have always thought I have seen the worst of what people can do to one another, of how evil someone could be. However, I have never heard of a case more tragic, sad, unbelievable and baffling as the one I have chosen to spotlight for August 2013. Usually, I try to stay away from rabbit hole stories, but this is one that has truly touched me, and I have to present it. A few days ago, I received a coupon catalog in the mail. On the back, it had a missing child poster presented by the Missing and Exploited Children center. It was of Michael Anthony Hughes, son of a woman whose identity remains unknown to this day. She was a victim of many things since she was young and lived a tragic life. Her most common alias was "Sharon Marshall". I took that as my cue to present their story.

The Abduction of Michael Hughes

Michael Hughes was abducted from his school by Franklin Delano Floyd in 1994. (Photo Credit: CharleyProject.org) 





ON September 12, 1994, 6 year-old Michael Anthony Hughes was abducted from Indian Meridian Elementary School in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Except in this scenario, it was known who his abductor was. It was Franklin Delano Floyd, a pedophile, Schizophrenic and career criminal. He held school officials at gun point, and forced the principal and Michael into his truck. The principal was found hours later tied to a tree located in a nearby field. He was left unharmed, but Michael and Floyd were nowhere to be found.

Two months after Michael's abduction, Floyd was arrested in Kentucky. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison for Michael's kidnapping, and refused to reveal what happened to Michael and where his current whereabouts may be. Although he's insisted to authorities Michael is living in an international location or that he is living in Atlanta, Georgia, authorities have witness accounts that detail different confessions Floyd has given them.
The first witness is Floyd's own sister, who claimed he had drowned Michael in a bathtub within a motel in Georgia. This was said to have occurred shortly after Michael was abducted. Other witnesses have also told investigators that Floyd confessed to them he killed Michael in that same matter, except one stated they witnessed Floyd burying Michael's body in a cemetery. Authorities believe Michael met with foul play due to the extent of Floyd's criminal history. However, Michael is still missing.

At the time of his disappearance, Michael weighed 45 pounds and was 3'10".  He has brown hair and brown eyes. He had just gotten two new permanent bottom teeth that were crooked in 1994. Michael also has a scar on his forehead, and his birthday was on March 21, 1988.

The Stolen Little Girl "Suzanne Davis"

"Suzanne Davis" was presumably abducted by this man in the photo, Franklin Delano Floyd. (Photo Credit: DoeNetwork.org)

 To fully understand this story and how Floyd played a part in Michael's life (and why he took him), we must rewind to this beginning and jump into the rabbit hole. This starts with Michael's mother, "Sharon Marshall". A little girl who was forced to go by the alias "Suzanne Davis", she was abducted by Franklin Delano Floyd between June 1973 and August 1975. Her true age, background and identity remain unknown, but it is estimated she was born in 1969. Floyd claimed that her real family abandoned her in the early 1970s, and that he took over as her parent, portraying the picture that he somehow "saved" her by playing the father role.

The first public record available of "Suzanne Davis" can be found in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (At this time, Floyd became "Trenton Davis".) She was enrolled at a school there in 1975 under that alias. Floyd and "Suzanne Davis" moved around a lot and continued to use aliases. Whenever Sharon would get close to anyone, such as a friend or romantic interest, Floyd would move them to avoid detection and persisting questions.
After many months of moving, Floyd and "Suzanne" would settle in a home near Atlanta, Georgia in the 1980s. They stayed in Georgia long enough for "Suzanne" to complete her classes at a high school in Forest Park. She graduated in 1986. Sharon excelled at school and life in general, despite the dark and twisted life she was forced to lead at "home". She had friends who adored her, was an honors student, had the honor of being a Who's Who Among High School Students in America, and earned a full scholarship to follow her dream in studying aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech University. "Suzanne" also loved reading Shakespeare and participated in ROTC.
Despite all these positives, there were things about "Suzanne" that others noticed. According to the book, A Beautiful Child by Matt Birkbeck, besides the fact she dressed in revealing outfits, she would always have to be home at 4:30 PM every day to "care for her sick father". She was hesitant to give out her phone number, calling friends instead of them calling her. When asked what became of her mother, "Suzanne" would change her stories, saying her mother died in a car accident to some, only to switch the scenario to her mother dying of cancer.

The Birth of Michael Hughes in Florida

Michael Anthony Hughes was born in Florida on March 21, 1988. To the (R) is an age progression of Michael as a preteen. (Photo Credit: (L) CharleyProject.org (R) Doenetwork.org).



Despite "Suzanne's" scholarship to Georgia Tech University and developed friendships in Georgia, "Suzanne" was forced to move to Phoenix, Arizona and became "Sharon Marshall". A few years later, both would move to Tampa, Florida, where "Sharon" gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Michael Anthony Hughes on March 21, 1988. At this time, "Sharon" would again be forced to switch her alias, borrowing a name from a gravestone she saw. Her alias became "Tonya Dawn Tadlock" and Floyd would become "Clarence Hughes" and "Charles Marcus Hughes".
It was in Florida where Floyd not only forced "Tonya" into prostitution and working as an exotic dancer, but also to get breast augmentation done for her "job". It was during this time in her life where she made another close friend who danced at the same club. Her name was Cheryl Ann Commesso. However, 18 year-old Cheryl Ann would soon go missing, and Floyd and "Tonya" would be forced to leave their residence due to their trailer house mysteriously burning down. Cheryl Ann was last seen alive after St. Patrick's day in 1989. Her car was found at the Petersburg/Clearwater airport, where it was parked since April 7, 1989.
Floyd would dismiss the neighbors suspicions, saying they would be leaving soon on a vacation and asked the neighbor to mow his lawn and collect his mail, giving them the idea he'd soon be back. Floyd and "Tonya" would then move to New Orleans, where Floyd would marry "Tonya". This is a very bizarre twist, since he had claimed to be her father ever since he had her. It must be noted that although Floyd would claim Michael as his son (hence the same fake last name of "Hughes"), DNA tests later proved that he was NOT the biological father of Michael, therefore he had no legal rights to him. Afterwards, Floyd would move Michael and "Tonya" back to Oklahoma.

The Murder of "Sharon Marshall"

"Sharon Marshall" was murdered in a hit and run circumstance in 1990 as she walked back to her motel room in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo Credit: DoeNetwork.org).



In April of 1990, "Tonya" was killed in a suspicious hit and run accident in Oklahoma City while walking along a busy high way back to her motel room. According to an article in St. Petersburg Times, her co-workers from the Oklahoma club Passions she danced at were instantly suspicious of Floyd, saying "Tonya" had met a new boyfriend and wanted to walk away from Floyd, even though she was afraid.  Right off the bat, investigators considered her death suspicious, and Floyd was though to be the main suspect. Once DNA tests revealed Floyd was not Michael's father, he would be matched up with foster parents who watched an awkward toddler grow into a smart, flourishing little boy. Before his abduction in 1994, his foster parents began the adoption process to make Michael their legal son, giving him a forever home and a promising life.
The murder of Tonya Tadlock/Sharon Marshall would prompt the investigation into who she really was, with the truth being more tragic and shocking then a Hollywood script writer could ever come up with. On May 4, 1990, "Tonya Tadlock" would be buried in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Her funeral services were held at Ninde Chapel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her identity and real family remains a mystery to this day.

The Truth Comes Out

Cheryl Ann Commesso was 18 years-old when she was murdered by Franklin Delano Floyd. (Photo Credit: Murderpedia.org).

Meanwhile, back in Florida, a Jane Doe would surface off I-275 in Pinellas County, Florida. She was discovered by some landscape workers in March 1995. The woman had been shot twice in the back of the head.

 At this same time, an auto repair business man found in Kansas found an envelope stuck between the top of a gas tank and truck bed. This was a truck he had just gotten at an auction. The envelope contained 97 shocking photographs. Majority were of a woman bound and beaten. The rest were of a young girl in sexually explicit positions. Also visible in the pictures were of furniture, a boat and parts of a trailer, all which were linked back to Floyd. The truck was stolen, and was able to be traced back to Franklin Delano Floyd. It was from Oklahoma, but found abandoned in Texas.
The woman in the photo was linked to the Jane Doe found off I-275. The injuries sustained by the woman in the photograph were a match to Jane Doe, along with the clothing and jewelry. Jane Doe would later get her real name back-Cheryl Ann Commesso, "Tonya Tadlock's" close friend from the Florida exotic dance club.

Delayed Justice

Althoug Franklin Floyd sits on death row in Florida, he still refuses to give any information about the identity of "Sharon Marshall", or the whereabouts of Michael Hughes. (Photo Credit: Murderpedia.org)

 Police would arrest Floyd at a car dealer ship in Kentucky (he was working there under false pretenses) on June 20, 1990, and on September 27, 2002, Floyd was declared guilty of first degree murder in the death of Cheryl Ann Commesso. He has never been charged with the murder of "Sharon Marshall" or of "Michael Hughes" although he is the prime suspect in Sharon's murder and Michael's presumed death. On November 22, 2002, he was given the death sentence by a vote of 12-0. He currently sits on death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. He refused to give any information about "Sharon Marshall" and there whereabouts of Michael Hughes.

Who was "Sharon Marshall"?



Despite her difficult home-life, "Sharon" flourished in any way she could to attempt a normal life. She was an honor student and earned a full scholarship to study aerospace engineering. (Photo Credit: Murderpedia.org).

 One of the most burning questions of this whole story is how Floyd obtained "Sharon". There have been many ideas, such as maybe her family did abandon her, or maybe her mother was into drugs and prostitution and wanted her to have a better life. Maybe she was kidnapped from a loving family, or maybe she was given to Floyd by one of his own relatives or acquaintances. There has to be some evidence of her birth somewhere, unless she was not delivered in a hospital at all.

 Looking through Floyd's lifetime career of being a criminal, I would lean more towards the idea the "Sharon" may have been from a broken home already, and that could be why to this day she has never been identified. There is also the idea that her father may have not even known about her birth. Many have also suggested that her real name may have even been Sharon, but it is unknown to this day, and despite Floyd knowing all the answers, he seems to enjoy knowing something that we don't.
Floyd's obsession with "Sharon" was at an alarming rate. It is often wondered if he had other victims along the way that he may have not liked as much as "Sharon" that he got rid of, such as how he got rid of Cheryl Ann Commesso. His involvement in the black market trade of children for sex crimes is also brought up due to a chilling scenario. A friend of "Sharon's" remembered hearing a toddler (possibly male) in the background at her residence while she was on the phone with "Sharon". However, this was before the birth of Michael Hughes. It is not known who this child really was, but it does bring up the idea that Floyd could have been involved in other crimes against children, possibly kidnapping them, then selling them. He could have also gotten "Sharon" in this same manner.



Missing Girls a Possible Match?

Christina Carter (L) and Jennifer Klein (R) were thought to be possible matches to "Sharon Marshall". However, DNA has ruled them out. (Photo Credits: CharleyProject.org)

 The search for "Sharon's" real identity has made authorities and volunteers search through all the missing little girls who vanished between 1973-1975, or possibly before depending on the situation. It is estimated that "Sharon" was born in 1969, give a year or two. We must also remember there is the sad possibility that she may have never even been reported missing in the first place.

For awhile, missing girl Jennifer Klein was rumored to be "Sharon Marshall".  Three year-old Jennifer vanished on May 25, 1974 while on a family camping trip in Moab, Utah. There was a dog fight going on, and while everyone was distracted Jennifer vanished. It was thought she may have fallen into the river and drowned, but nothing has ever been recovered from her despite a search of the river. Many of the guests were transient at the time and were not interviewed. She was born in May of 1971. She was ruled-out for a match to Sharon Marshall by DNA.
The next missing girl thought of as a possible match to Sharon Marshall was Christina Lynn Carter. Three-year old Christina was last seen on Hueytown, Alabama on September 12, 1973. Her mother, 24 year-old Janet Gail Carter, and her lived alone due to her parents getting a divorce. (Christina's birthday was May 29, 1970). Her ex-husband was seeking custody of Christina. It's believed that Janet went into hiding with Christina because of this.
On October 7, 1973, Janet's nude and bound body was found stuffed inside a duffel bag alongside Clingman's Dome Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Her remains were not identified for a month, and it was then that investigators realized Christina was missing. There was a theory going around that Janet gave Christina to someone else to care for because she felt they were in danger. There is nothing to back this theory up, and the circumstances around Janet's abduction are unclear. Authorities believe Janet was alive during the early morning hours of the day she was murdered. I have not been able to find out if Christina's father was considered a suspect in this case. To my knowledge, Janet's murder remains unsolved, and Christina remains missing. Authorities are looking for anyone who may have seen or been in contact with Janet or Christina Carter after September 17, 1973.
In January 2010, Christina Lynn Carter was ruled out as being "Sharon Marshall". However, I do remember there being a mix-up with "Sharon's" DNA in Oklahoma, which makes me nervous with it being used for confirmations and rule-outs. With her DNA possibly being skewed, many still believe Christina Lynn Carter is "Sharon Marshall". I myself would also like to see Christina Lynn Carter compared once more, just because the circumstances, timeline and physical characteristics are very similar between the two. I don't like the sound of what I'm about to say, but it would be nice to have "Sharon" exhumed and see if anything can be collected to help identify her, despite it being so many years. I see an uncanny resemblance against both of them as young girls.
Other missing girls who have been ruled out are Cynthia Sumpter, Anna Christian Waters, Cheryl Hanson, Sheri Lyn Johnson, Janice Pockett and Lori Peugeot.

A Beautiful Child by Matt Birkbeck

"A Beautiful Child" by Matt Birkbeck is one of the best sources of information of this twisted tale. You can purchase a copy of it Here. It is worth the read!

In 2005, investigative journalist Matt Birkbeck brought the tragic life of beautiful "Sharon Marshall" together in his true crime novel, A Beautiful Child. For anyone who loves true crime, or is interested at all in the story of "Sharon Marshall", I recommend this book. It will bring you closer and give you more information than anywhere else. It will not only share with you her sad story, but show you what a beautiful, brilliant person this young woman was. She endured so much pain in her short life, but always kept a strong spirit. And as easy as it is for some to say, "Why didn't she just leave, find a police station and turn Floyd in?" it was never as simple as that. This is all this girl had known since she was little, and this book will give you an answer to that question as well as many others. I finished it within a day because I could not put it down. It made me forever remember "Sharon" and Michael, and was a strong enough influence for me to write this entry.

Matt Birkbeck also has a website with a blog that gives updated information into the search of who "Sharon Marshall" was. There is some newsworthy events going on, and I encourage all to read his blog to see them.

The Search Goes On

The final resting place of "Sharon Marshall". Her real name remains unknown to this day. (Photo Credit: Findagrave,org).

 The search for Michael Hughes still goes on to this day, even though he is presumed to be deceased based on different witness accounts. Michael was so close to having a wonderful life. He was thriving, and Franklin Floyd just had to take that away from him. It seems it was not enough for him to have killed "Sharon", he had to take away her child as well. My hope is that this monster will give up the whereabouts of Michael, alive or not. If he is being cared for by someone out there and is now a young man, wonderful. If he is not alive, the one thing we can give "Sharon" back besides her identity, is her son by having him buried with her.

I see "Sharon Marshall" as a very inspiring person. Despite the horror she lived through everyday, she thrived at life whenever she had the opportunity to. She had such a strong spirit, that even the darkest of evil could not take that away. I read through all the honors she received in high school, and about how she even earned that scholarship to study aerospace engineering, and I wonder how she would have turned out if she had a different environment.

I look at it this way. A plant needs many things to grow. A good environment, sunlight, nutrients, water and care. If you stick it in a dark room and plant it in a cement floor, it'd be impossible for it to grow and flourish. I look at Sharon's life that way, because that poor girl did not have a chance from the start. Amazingly enough, she still flourished through all the cracks she could find to attempt a normal life. Had she grown up in a good environment with a loving family, I believe she could have done anything in this world that she wanted to.

You Can Help!

I am glad to say, that the search for the real identity of "Sharon Marshall" still goes on. Some of the key details about "Sharon Marshall" is she was abducted by Floyd between June 1973 and August 1975. Her birth year is most likely 1969, give or take a year or two. She was near-sighted, and a few years before her death was forced to get breast and buttock implants. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and had multiple pregnancies. Her aliases throughout the years were Suzanne Davis, Sharon Marshall, Tonya Dawn Tadlock and Tonya Hughes. If you remember, whether it was as a girl or as a young woman, PLEASE share you information with authorities. Any detail you have can help put more things in perspective so this tragic mystery can finally be solved.

Also, if you have any memory of this man, Franklin Delano Floyd, please let authorities know. He had a history of violent crimes for years. He went by the aliases of Charles Hughes, Clarence Hughes, Trenton Davis, Warren Judson Marshall, Preston Morgan and Kingfish Floyd.

If you have any information about "Sharon Marshall" or about the abduction of Michael Anthony Hughes, please contact:

If you remember this little girl from before 1975, or have seen Michael Anthony Hughes (age progression to the right), please submit your information. (Photo Credits: DoeNetwork.org).

Oklahoma City FBI

405-290-770

OR

Choctaw Police Department

405-769-3821

You can remain anonymous.

Also, if you have any information about Christina Lynn Carter or the unsolved murder of her mother, Janet Gail Carter, please contact:

Age Progression of Christina Lynn Carter (Photo Credit: CharleyProject.org)

 Hueytown Police Department

205-491-3587

Jennifer "Jenny" Klein is also still missing and was last seen in her swimsuit. If you have any information about the disappearance of Jennifer Klein, please contact:

Jennifer Klein (Photo Credit: CharleyProject.org)

 Grand County Sheriff's Office

435-259-8115

  

Sources & Credits:
Michael Hughes & Sharon Marshall
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/h/hughes_michael.html
http://aqua.hubpages.com/hub/Cold_Case_Sharon_Marshall
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/8ufok.html
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12819338
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12819135
http://www.colour-city.com/2013/03/who-was-of-sharon-marshall-shocking.html
http://www.mattbirkbeck.com/a-beautiful-child.html
http://www.amazon.com/A-Beautiful-Child-Matt-Birkbeck/dp/0425204405
Franklin Delano Floyd
http://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/floyd-franklin-delano.htm
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region2/213.html
Christina Carter
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/carter_christina.html
http://genforum.genealogy.com/carter/messages/18945.html
Jennifer Klein
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/k/klein_jennifer.html
Sheri Johnson
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/j/johnson_sheri.html