On 21st November 1987, Korrina Malinoski, a 26-year-old mother of three, vanished following an argument with her husband. Despite extensive searches around the Mount Holly Plantation in South Carolina, where the family lived, no trace of her was ever found.

Nearly one year later, on 4th October 1988, Korrina’s 11-year-old daughter, Annette Sagers, also went missing near the same spot. She had been waiting for the school bus at the entrance to the plantation. A handwritten note, believed to be hers, was discovered at the scene. It claimed her mother had returned, and that she had gone to join her.

Had Korrina truly come back for her daughter, leaving her two sons behind? Or were they both victims of something far more sinister? Decades later, the mystery remains unsolved, leaving investigators and the local community still searching for answers.

The Disappearances

Korrina’s Disappearance

Korrina Lynn Sagers was born on 19th January 1961. Her early life was marked by hardship: her mother died when she was very young, and her father was often absent, leaving Korrina and her brother Leon to fend for themselves. Despite this, she grew into a kind, thoughtful, and caring young woman.

In 1978, at the age of 16, Korrina gave birth to her first child, Annette Deanne Sagers. She raised Annette alone for three years, never revealing the identity of the child’s father.

In 1981, when she was 20, Korrina met Thomas ‘Stephen’ Malinoski, a 32-year-old carnival worker who had recently left the army and was travelling the country doing odd jobs. The pair fell in love and married on 16th October 1981 in Texas, just six months after meeting. They went on to have two sons: James, born in 1982, and Thomas, born in 1984.

Stephen, however, had a complicated past. He had been married twice before and had a daughter from each marriage. Strangely, he claimed that his first wife and eldest daughter had died in a fire, which was an outright lie. They were very much alive, and it remains unclear why he fabricated the story. What is clear is that Stephen had a history of abandoning his family and deceiving those around him.

By 1982, the family had settled in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Stephen had secured a job as caretaker at the Mount Holly Plantation, while Korrina worked at a convenience store in nearby Summerville. The plantation, located off Highway 52, spanned 6,000 acres of woods, swamps, and wetlands. The family lived in a cabin on the property, isolated and without neighbours.

Korrina and Stephen’s relationship was volatile. Stephen drank heavily and used drugs, and their arguments — often about money or his drinking — were frequent. It was widely known that Stephen was abusive. Korrina’s brother Leon had offered to help her leave, assuring her that he and his wife Sandy would support her if she ever chose to escape.

But Korrina stayed. At least, that’s what everyone believed — until one night, everything changed.

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On the evening of 21st November 1987, Korrina left the house, drove to the plantation’s entrance, and was never seen again. The gate remained locked, and she hadn’t exited the property.

Stephen later told police that they had argued over his drinking, and that Korrina had gone for a drive to calm down. He claimed to have last seen her between 11:00 and 11:30 pm, heading towards Highway 52.

The next morning, Bruce Clarkson, Korrina’s boss at the Oasis convenience store, grew concerned when she failed to show up for work — something she had never done before. Fearing her car had broken down, he went looking for her and found it abandoned just inside the locked gate. According to Bruce, the vehicle was locked, with no signs of a struggle, and a layer of dew suggested it had been there overnight.

Later that day, Stephen filed a missing person’s report and contacted Korrina’s brother Leon to inform him of Korrina’s disappearance. Search and rescue teams from the State Law Enforcement Division scoured the plantation and surrounding areas by foot and air, but found no trace of her.

Annette’s Disappearance

In the months following Korrina’s disappearance, her three children struggled to adjust. James and Thomas were still very young and, heartbreakingly, would grow up with only faint memories of their mother. Annette, however, had just turned 11. Born on 16th March 1977, she was a quiet, intelligent girl in year six at Westview Middle School. Teachers described her as sweet but withdrawn, and some noted that she seemed deeply affected by her mother’s absence. Whether this reflected emotional distress or something more troubling at home remains unclear.

On the morning of Tuesday 4th October 1988, Annette headed for the wooden shelter just outside the plantation entrance, close to the spot where her mother had disappeared eleven months earlier. Her stepfather had constructed the makeshift shelter to protect her from the weather as she waited for the school bus. She was wearing red trousers, a red shirt, and white shoes.

At 7:00 am, the bus passed her on the opposite side of the road. The driver saw Annette sitting patiently on top of her schoolbooks, her dog beside her, waiting for the bus to turn around and collect her. Since no other children were picked up from that stop, the driver and several passengers were certain it was Annette.

Around 7:20 am — twenty minutes later — the bus returned, but Annette and her dog were gone.

Annette’s dog would turn up later at the plantation. However, Annette was never seen again.

The shelter stood on a relatively busy stretch of road, yet no one reported seeing anything unusual. No one saw Annette walk away or get into a vehicle. It was as if she had simply vanished.

At around 4:00 pm, after Annette failed to return home from school, Stephen realised she hadn’t boarded the bus that morning. He went to the shelter where she’d last been seen and found a note written in pencil on school binder paper. It read:

At 4:15 pm, Stephen contacted law enforcement and handed over the note. Writing samples were provided by Annette’s teacher, and handwriting experts later confirmed that she had written it. However, they were unable to determine whether it had been written under duress.

Approximately one month after Annette went missing, law enforcement conducted a thorough ground and aerial search of the plantation and the surrounding area. But just like her mother, Annette was nowhere to be found.

After the Disappearances

Korrina and Annette have not been seen or heard from since they vanished, and no solid clues have ever surfaced to explain what happened to them.

Crime scene investigation methods in 1987 were limited, and the tools available to law enforcement at the time were far less advanced than those used today. Still, over the years, a number of developments have emerged that could help piece together this deeply unsettling case.

After Korrina’s Disappearance:

Court Hearing

Annette was not Stephen’s biological daughter, and immediately after Korrina went missing, her family grew increasingly concerned about her welfare. Under South Carolina law, a child can be adopted by a family member one year after a parent dies or abandons them — something the family actively pursued. A hearing had been scheduled for October 1988, the same month Annette also mysteriously disappeared. But with her sudden disappearance, the hearing never took place.

What — or Who — Was in the Attic?

Two weeks after Korrina vanished, her father Leon and stepsister Cheryl travelled to South Carolina to check on the children. While they were at the house, Annette asked Cheryl to come upstairs with her, saying she wanted to show her something in the attic.

However, Stephen allegedly refused to let Annette be alone with her relatives and stopped them from going upstairs.

Korrina’s family believe her body may have been hidden in the attic, and that Annette was trying to tell her aunt. Stephen later claimed he had never been in the attic and had no idea why Annette wanted to go there.

Detectives eventually searched the attic but found nothing.

After Both Korrina’s and Annette’s Disappearances:

Stephen’s Suspicious Move

Just three months after Annette vanished, Stephen moved with James and Thomas to his parents’ home in Florida. He later relinquished his parental rights, and the boys spent the next eleven years in foster care. Tragically, Korrina’s family, who would have been willing to take the boys in, were never informed of his decision.

Although no charges were brought against Stephen, which meant he had the legal right to leave the state, his behaviour was peculiar. Most family members of missing persons do not want to leave the area in case their loved ones return. However, given his history of abandoning his children, it seems he did not care.

In fact, despite walking away from children in two earlier marriages, Stephen went on to marry again and have three more children. He continued to struggle with addiction, and James and Thomas have no contact with him — refusing even to refer to him as their father.

The Anonymous Letter

In 2000, police received an anonymous letter claiming that Korrina and Annette were buried in Sumter County. The letter included a map pointing to a location roughly an hour from Mount Holly.

Investigators brought in a cadaver-sniffing dog, but could not find any evidence of human remains. In an interview with The Charlotte Observer, Chief Herod of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office said:

We had a cadaver dog that could find Civil War-era bones, in a jar, buried four feet in the ground. We didn’t find anything.

Charlotte Observer

The letter was sent for forensic analysis, but no fingerprints or identifying information could be recovered. The sender’s identity remains unknown.

The Friend

In 2016, a friend of Stephen’s reported a disturbing conversation he’d had with Stephen before Korrina went missing. He claimed they were out driving, and Stephen pointed out a mound of dirt next to a pond and remarked that it would be a good place to bury a body.

Dogs picked up the scent of human decomposition, but no remains were found.

The Case Was Reopened

In 2018, thirty years after the disappearances, two officers at the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office began reviewing cold cases. Korrina and Annette’s case was one of the first they reopened.

In an interview with ABC News 4, Lt. Dean Kokinda said:

Just know we haven’t forgotten.

Both officers believe Korrina and Annette never left the plantation and have treated the case as a double homicide. Their investigation has focused on searching the 6,000-acre property for the bodies.

By February 2019, they were working with the College of Charleston to develop a formula that could identify high-probability burial sites based on soil and typography. The goal was to reduce the search area from 6,000 acres to fewer than 200.

The search would be conducted using drones, ground-penetrating radar, and other technologies that weren’t available in the 1980s when Korrina and Annette disappeared.

The Carpet

During their investigation, Lt. Kokinda and Detective Lewis learned that, sometime in the 1990s, a pond on the Mount Holly Plantation was drained for maintenance. A rolled-up carpet tied with an electrical cord was pulled from the water.

The caretaker reported it to authorities, but it was never tested or documented in the case file.

Detectives noted that the pond is remote and difficult to access, and few people even know it exists. They believe there is no logical reason for someone to dispose of a carpet there.

Unfortunately, the carpet was discarded, and no forensic testing can be done. Divers have since searched the pond, but no further evidence has been found.

Stephen’s Jail Time

According to ABC4 News, Stephen was released from jail a few years ago after pleading guilty to child abuse.

The charge was unrelated to Korrina and Annette’s case.

Lt. Kokinda spoke with Stephen while he was incarcerated, but Stephen continued to deny any involvement in their disappearances.

Theories & Speculation

Over the years, numerous ideas, questions, and speculations have emerged in an attempt to understand what might have happened to Korrina and Annette. These theories tend to fall into three broad categories:

1. They were victims of foul play by someone else
2. Korrina and Annette left voluntarily
3. They were victims of foul play by Stephen*

*Please note: All information presented in this article is based on publicly available sources. Any speculation discussed reflects interpretations of that material and is not intended to imply guilt. Stephen Malinoski has consistently maintained his innocence in relation to both disappearances.

Domestic Violence

One of the most immediate explanations for Korrina’s disappearance is the volatility of her relationship with Stephen. Her brother Leon had encouraged her to leave, and it’s possible that something snapped in her that night, prompting her to walk out.

But this theory raises difficult questions. If Korrina did leave voluntarily, why has she never contacted her family? And if she didn’t leave of her own accord, was she murdered?

Stephen has never clearly admitted or denied being abusive. In an interview on Up and Vanished, when asked whether he had ever laid a hand on Korrina, he replied:

I don’t remember. To the best of my memory, I don’t think so.

Up and vanished

It’s an odd response — and unlikely that someone wouldn’t remember whether they had physically assaulted their spouse.

Korrina’s sister-in-law recalled that Korrina had fought back during arguments, even striking Stephen on the head with a skillet on one occasion. This confirms that domestic violence was present in the home.

It’s possible that Stephen was enraged by Korrina’s resistance, or that a combination of drug use and alcohol led to a confrontation that escalated fatally. The theory that Korrina never left the plantation that night remains one of the most plausible explanations for her disappearance.

Stephen did take a polygraph test, but the results were inconclusive.

Did Annette See Something?

If Stephen did murder Korrina, it doesn’t explain what happened to Annette nearly a year later. One compelling theory is that Annette knew something about her mother’s disappearance — and that Stephen killed her to keep her quiet.

The incident where Annette tried to show her Aunt Cheryl something in the attic is often cited as evidence that she may have witnessed her mother’s murder. Some speculate that the rolled-up carpet found in the plantation pond could have been used to conceal Korrina’s body before it was disposed of.

This wasn’t the only time Stephen allegedly prevented Annette from being alone with family members. A few months before her disappearance, he stopped her from spending the summer with her Uncle Leon and Aunt Sandy, who were actively trying to gain custody of her.

If Stephen believed Annette knew something, it would explain why he didn’t want her staying with relatives several states away — where she might have revealed the truth.

By killing Annette, Stephen may have ensured that no one could take custody of her, and no one would ever hear what she knew.

Stephen also failed to inform Korrina’s family that he intended to give up custody of the boys, despite Leon and Sandy being willing to take them in.

Child Neglect and/or Abuse

There is speculation that Stephen may have abused Annette. Given that he later served jail time for child abuse, it’s possible that similar behaviour occurred in the home.

If Korrina discovered this, it could have prompted her to leave. But it’s unclear why she didn’t remove Annette immediately. Perhaps Stephen made threats, or perhaps Korrina intended to return for her daughter as soon as it was safe.

Stephen’s reluctance to let Annette stay with family members might not have been about murder — it could have been about hiding abuse.

One troubling account from the time is that, after Korrina disappeared, Annette contacted a caretaker at the plantation asking for food. She said she and her brothers hadn’t eaten in three days. The caretaker contacted DSS. If Stephen saw Annette as a liability, it’s possible he reacted violently.

The Note

The note left by Annette — assuming it wasn’t written under duress — suggests that Korrina returned and took her daughter with her.

But there are many suspicious aspects to the note that raise doubts.

First, there’s the question of authorship. Experts concluded that Annette wrote it, but handwriting analysis is subjective and not as definitive as DNA or fingerprint evidence.

Second, even if Annette did write the note, was it voluntary? The crossings-out suggest she may have been rushed — possibly pressured or shouted at while writing.

Stephen’s behaviour around the note was also unusual. He crumpled it up when he found it, claiming he was angry at Korrina for doing this to him. But if he believed the note was genuine, it’s strange that he wasn’t relieved to learn she was alive.

Even more puzzling is that Stephen didn’t use the note to clear his name. He didn’t even contact Leon to tell him about the note or Annette’s disappearance. In fact, Chief Herod told Up and Vanished that Stephen didn’t seem very upset about Annette’s disappearance and had very little emotion — an odd reaction to your stepdaughter’s disappearance.

Some believe Stephen staged the disappearance, ensuring witnesses saw Annette at the bus shelter before using the twenty-minute window to abduct her. The note could have been placed there that morning — or later, when Stephen returned to the shelter.

However, in Stephen’s defence, if he did murder Annette, the staging would have required a level of planning and awareness that some family members question, especially given his drug use.

There’s also the practical issue of whether a sheet of binder paper could have remained in the shelter all day, untouched by wind, animals, or passers-by. This detail suggests the note would have been placed there later in the day — closer to 4:00 pm, when Stephen claimed he went looking for Annette.

Were Korrina and/or Annette Murdered by a Stranger?

There were other unexplained disappearances in the region around the same time, prompting investigators to consider the possibility of a serial killer operating in the area. On 3rd April 1987 — the same year Korrina vanished — Sarah Boyd, her 2-year-old daughter Kimberly, and her friend Linda McCord went missing while driving home from a gospel concert in Dorchester County, roughly twenty miles from Mount Holly Plantation. Their car was found abandoned days later, but none of the women have ever been located.

Despite this, the likelihood of a mother and daughter both being abducted and/or murdered by a stranger in almost the exact same location, nearly a year apart, is considered extremely low. Investigators do not believe Korrina and Annette were victims of a serial killer.

Still, the possibility of a stranger being involved — particularly in Annette’s disappearance — cannot be ruled out. One theory suggests that Stephen may have murdered Korrina, and that someone else, perhaps aware of the family’s situation, later abducted Annette.

It’s plausible that Annette was tricked into believing she was being taken to her mother. This could explain the crossings-out in the note and the absence of any signs of a struggle.

There is also a small detail in the note that raises questions: in it, Annette referred to Stephen as “Dad,” but it’s unclear whether she used that term for her stepfather. A stranger probably wouldn’t have known that detail either.

The Dog

Annette’s dog was found back at the plantation the day she disappeared. According to Chief Herod, it was a big dog, and if a stranger had taken Annette, would the dog have tried to protect her, potentially leaving scratch marks or a bite mark on her attacker? However, if the dog did attack someone, it is hard to believe nobody saw anything, making it more likely that Annette left willingly.

Korrina’s Sons

Korrina’s relatives in Iowa and Illinois, with whom she was very close, strongly dispute the theory that she left voluntarily. They insist she would never have abandoned her two sons, and they’ve had no contact with her or Annette since the disappearances.

It’s possible Korrina intended to return for all three children but was unable to reach James and Thomas, who were very young at the time. Stephen moved the boys to Florida shortly after Annette vanished, and Korrina may not have known where they were.

She may also have considered the legal implications of taking the boys, who were Stephen’s biological children. This could explain why she only took Annette — at least initially.

Was Korrina Having an Affair?

Stephen once told Leon, Korrina’s brother, that on the night she disappeared, he saw her drive to the plantation entrance, get out of her car, and into a van driven by someone else. However, this version of events differs from what he told police, and it’s unlikely he could have seen the entrance from the caretaker’s cabin, which was half a mile away down a winding road.

Stephen later denied ever telling Leon this story, insisting he had only ever given one account of that night.

Korrina’s family do not believe she would have cheated on her husband. Still, no one truly knows what happened behind closed doors, and the way her car was abandoned does leave room for speculation.

The Car

If Korrina had left voluntarily, and no one had helped her, it seems unlikely she would have left her car behind — especially when it would have been her easiest means of escape.

The idea that she took public transport or had an accomplice is possible, but no sightings have ever been reported.

Some believe the car’s placement appeared staged. It was found inside the plantation entrance, behind a locked gate — both of which Stephen had access to.

Conclusion

Other theories suggest Korrina and Annette may have been targeted due to Stephen’s drug debts, or that Annette was sold to settle those debts.

But with no physical evidence and only Stephen’s version of events to go on, unless Korrina and Annette’s bodies are found or someone comes forward with new information, the mystery may never be solved.

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Sadly, Korrina’s brother Leon passed away in 2022. His wife Sandy believes his heart failed from the grief of losing his sister and niece. In an interview with WCIV, she said:

He just wished he knew where his sister was. He loved and missed her. He wished he could hold his niece again, but he knew in his heart he would never be able to. I wish there was a sign that he could let me know that he’s home with his sister and niece.

Thankfully, despite being abandoned by their father, James and Thomas were eventually adopted. They went to college, served in Iraq multiple times, and are now honourably discharged with families of their own. They’ve reconnected with their biological relatives and continue to search for answers about their missing mother and sister.

Thomas ‘Stephen’ Malinoski maintains his innocence in both cases.

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It has now been over thirty-five years since Korrina and Annette disappeared. Their family continues to hope that it won’t be another thirty-five before they learn the truth.

With surviving relatives still searching, and investigators committed to the case, perhaps one day, the truth will come to light.

Information

Korrina Lynne Sagers Malinoski was 26 years old at the time of her disappearance. She would be in her 60s today. She is described as a Caucasian female with brown hair and brown eyes.

Annette Deanne Sagers was 11 years old at the time of her disappearance. She would be in her 40s today. She is described as a Caucasian female with brown hair and brown eyes, 4’8”, and 95 pounds. Annette has small gaps between her upper front teeth, pierced ears, and a slight speech impediment. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing red trousers, a red shirt, and white shoes.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Korrina and Annette, contact the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office at 843-719-4465, or visit their website: sheriff.berkeyleycountysc.gov.

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Sources

Court Documents

Petitioner Vs. Thomas Stephen Malinoski. (n.d.). UniCourt. August 12, 2019.

Newspaper Articles

Herald-Journal – Mom-Daughter Disappearance Still Puzzling. Mar 24, 2002. Via Google Books.

The Charlotte Observer. Girl Follows Her Mother into Thin Air. March 25, 2002. Via Newspapers.com.

The Dispatch – Mother Missing Since Last Year; Daughter Vanishes 5 Weeks Ago. November 9, 1988. Via Newspapers.com.

The Item – Cryptic Note Interests Officials in Mirror-Image Disappearances. March 25, 2002. Via Google Books.

The Times and Democrat. Search Yields No Clues About Missing Trio. April 28, 1987. Via Newspapers.com.

The Tribune. Please Help Us Find Them. May 25, 1996. Via Newspapers.com.

TV / Movies / Videos

 Up and Vanished. The Vanishing Family. Oxygen. Aired February 22, 2020

Websites

Charley Project. Annette Deanne Sagers.

Charley Project. Korrina Lynne Sagers Malinoski.

Oxygen. ‌Cryptic Note Leaves Investigators Puzzled in Double Disappearance of Mother and Daughter. February 22, 2020.

WCIV. Bring Them Home: “Secrets in the Swamp” Explores the Story of a Missing Mother & Daughter. Orlins, Mel. November 16, 2022.

WCIV. Experts Take New Look at Berkeley County Cold Case of Missing Mother, 11-Year-Old Girl. Blackstone, Ashley. February 27, 2019.

Websleuths. Thread: SC – Annette Deanne Sagers, 11, Mount Holly, 4 Oct 1988.