Experts take new look at Berkeley County cold case of missing mother, 11-year-old girl

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Every day, Berkeley County’s cold case duo goes out to fight.

It’s a 31-year-old battle they're so desperate to win.

"You just have to get the right piece to the puzzle,” says Lt. Dean Kokinda.

One year ago, Lt. Kokinda and Detective Darryl Lewis re-opened one of the county's biggest mysteries.

"Just know we haven't forgotten,” says Lt. Kokinda.

Lt. Kokinda and Detective Lewis have logged hundreds of hours.

They’ve working tirelessly for the mom and daughter they never knew, but are anxious to bring home.

“Because so much time has gone by, and there has been no contact with family, we have been treating it as something has happened,” explains Lt. Kokinda.

This story starts in the year 1987 on Highway 52 in Berkeley County. Nestled off the highway is Mount Holly Plantation.

It’s 6,000 acres of private property.

Married mom of three 26-year-old Korrina Malinoski lived there. Her husband was a caretaker at the plantation.

"There was a lot of domestic violence in the house,” said Lt. Kokinda. "She was ready to leave him."

When Malinoski failed to show up for work at Summerville convenience store in late November, Lt. Kokinda says her boss got concerned.

"He went down and walked to the house and asked where Korrina is, and he said she left last night. That's when he reported her missing,” recalls Lt. Kokinda.

Police were called and a search ensued.

But there was never any sign of Malinoski. Her car was found abandoned at the front of the property.

Lt. Kokinda calls Steve Malinoski is a person of interest.

"He did take a polygraph, but the results were inconclusive,” says Lt. Kokinda.

Fast forward 318 days, and the mystery intensifies.

On Oct. 4, 1988, Malinoski's 11-year-old daughter, Annette Sagers vanished.

The sixth grader was spotted at her bus stop by multiple people, but when the driver arrived, she was gone.

"There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her,” says Sharon Kirkley, Annette's former classmate at Westview Middle School.

Kirkley now lives in Conway, Arkansas.

Decades later, her memories are still fresh.

She says, “It is hard to look at it (Annnette’s picture) because I can remember that sweater. I remember her haircut, her earrings.”

In 1988, Kirkley's classmates rallied and canvassed the community with missing person flyers.

"If she knows people care about her, she might let someone know where she's at,” a student told to a ABC News 4 reporter that day.

Another said, "She is real sweet and she has always been that way, and I really hope we find her."

Deputies say Annette's stepdad found a hastily written note left at her bus stop the day she went missing.

It reads "Dad, Mom came back. I have to go with her. Give the boys lots of kisses and hugs and also you to. Love, Annette. "

Hand writing analysis was done.

Detectives say the tests determined that Annette did write it. The question, was she forced to?

"Right now, I don't know,” says Lt. Kokinda.

However, what they do feel strongly is the mother and daughter never left the massive property.

Sheriff Duane Lewis says, "We don’t have any bodies. and we don't have any information that leads us to believe they are still alive."

Lt. Kokinda says right now experts at College of Charleston are formulating a mathematical equation.

Detectives say CofC is calculating high probability areas where they may be buried. They're specifically looking at soil and typography. Once it's complete, CofC will help lead the search that will likely take at least a week. Without this plan, the massive search would take six months or more.

"They are developing a model where we can narrow that 6,000 acres down to a 100 or 200 acres which is a doable search,” Lewis says.

“They have drones, radar, ground penetrating radar. There are a lot of resources they have that can help us,” said Lt. Kokinda.

Detectives are also waiting on DNA testing of some items taken from the family home.

"I can still remember her voice,” adds Kirkley.

The new search bring her tremendous hope.

"I would like to see Annette and her mother come home and give her a place to rest so their souls can be at rest,” she says.

It’s three decades of waiting, wondering and wishing.

Sheriff Lewis says, "I remain very optimistic that my detectives will solve this case."

He adds it is that one break that can bring peace to a burdened community that longs for answers.

“She will never be forgotten,” explains Kirkley.

More case information:

• Berkeley County deputies say Annette’s stepfather, Steve Malinoski, abandoned his two biological children from his marriage with Korrina after their disappearance. They were later adopted.
• Deputies say they have been in contact with the children. The boys were under the age of four when their mother and stepsister vanished and remember very little.
• Investigators say Steve Malinoski now lives in Florida. ABC News 4 was unsuccessful tracking him down. Detectives have not interviewed him since re-opening the case. They say they want to know "all they can about the case" before speaking with him.
• In the 1990s, a pond on the property was drained for maintenance. Deputies say a rolled-up carpet was pulled out. The plantation’s caretaker notified authorities, but it was never documented in the Malinoski/Sagers case file. The carpet was also never tested for evidence. Lt. Kokinda and Detective Lewis only learned of the carpet when they re-opened the case and visited the property and spoke with the caretaker. Detectives say there is no reason why anyone would need to dispose of carpet in the pond. It’s secluded and very few people know the pond exists. They believe it may be tied to the case. The carpet no longer exists.

If you have any information, contact the Berkeley County Cold Case Squad at coldcases@berkeleycountysc.gov or call 843-719-4668. You can remain anonymous. Detectives stress that the smallest piece of information could help crack the case.