Dateline presents another classic episode with “The Hideaway,” airing on Monday, April 29 at 1.00pm on NBC.
The Hideaway examines the disappearance of 15-year-old Danielle Locklear, who vanished after leaving her aunt’s house in Hope Mills, North Carolina, in March 2014. Investigators discovered a creek where local teenagers often gathered, which may hold the key to unraveling the mystery of her disappearance.
Danielle’s aunt, Chena Papa, was like a surrogate mother to her. Danielle had been living with Chena and her grandparents while her mother worked through a painful divorce. On the night of March 11, 2014, Chena and her mother had to go to Atlanta for a doctor’s appointment, leaving Danielle in the care of her grandfather. After supper, Danielle asked her grandfather if she could drop off a school notebook at a classmate’s house nearby. He agreed, and Danielle left for the night.
Chena had a foreboding feeling that something terrible was happening. Her intuition proved correct when Danielle failed to return home. The next morning, Chena received a call from her father, informing her that Danielle hadn’t come back. Danielle was reported missing, and an extensive search ensued.
Investigators discovered a creek where local teenagers often gathered, and this became a focal point in the investigation. Chena herself went to the creek and found a sock that belonged to Danielle, as well as a word, “help,” scratched into the ground. This discovery intensified the search, and police brought in cadaver dogs and divers to scour the area.
The investigation took a chilling turn when Danielle’s body was discovered in a river about 30 minutes away from the creek. The body was weighted down with cinder blocks and yellow rope, indicating a premeditated crime. Danielle’s ex-boyfriend, Je’Michael Malloy, became a person of interest, and he eventually confessed to the murder. He claimed that Danielle had told him she was pregnant, and he strangled her during an argument.
Je’Michael Malloy was charged with second-degree murder and received a sentence of 25 to 31 years in prison. His friend, Dominic, who helped dispose of the body, pleaded guilty to accessory and received a sentence of six to eight years. Danielle’s family found closure, but the pain of their loss remains.
Dateline: The Hideaway airs on NBC at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 29, 2024.
