FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| MEDIA CONTACT Jordan Farrell Communications Lead & Secretary The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. media@findbethany.org findbethany.org (615) 784-3287 | EVENT DATE Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6 PM VENUE Capitol Theatre Lebanon, Tennessee |
25 YEARS LATER: A MOTHER’S SEARCH CONTINUES
The Bethany Markowski Foundation Marks Its Inaugural Tennessee Missing Children’s Day on March 4, 2026 — the 25th Anniversary of Bethany’s Disappearance — with a Landmark Community Event at Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, TN
LEBANON, TN, February 2026 — Twenty-five years ago, an 11-year-old girl named Bethany Markowski disappeared from Jackson, Tennessee. Her case was never solved. Her mother, Jonnie Carter, never stopped searching — and she never stopped fighting to ensure that no other Tennessee family would face that search alone.
On March 4, 2026 — the 25th anniversary of Bethany’s disappearance and Tennessee’s officially recognized Missing Children’s Day — Carter and the foundation she built in her daughter’s memory will host the inaugural Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Community Event at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee. The event is free and open to the public.
“This night is about Bethany,” said Jonnie Carter, Chair of the Foundation and Bethany’s mother. “She is still missing. In my speech, I will be telling Bethany’s story and making sure her name is at the forefront of everything we do. From this moment forward, all of our nonprofit efforts will be carried out in Bethany’s name. She deserves to be remembered — not just tonight, but always. Don’t forget her.”
ABOUT THE EVENT
Tennessee Missing Children’s Day, established by Tennessee Code § 15-2-127 and observed annually on March 4, is a state-recognized day of remembrance and advocacy for the hundreds of children who go missing in Tennessee each year. The Bethany Markowski Foundation is hosting this year’s flagship community observance as its inaugural public event since achieving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2026.
The March 4th event at Capitol Theatre will include:
- Speaker program featuring family advocates and law enforcement
- FREE children’s fingerprinting services provided to Wilson County families — a resource Bethany’s family never had
- Child safety education information for families and community members
- Silent auction benefiting the foundation’s family support programs
- Event-day merchandise available to support the foundation and its mission
- A small art station and kids’ corner where children can participate in activities after being fingerprinted
- Opportunity to honor all of Tennessee’s missing children by name
- A candlelight vigil at the conclusion of the evening honoring Bethany and all missing children
The event is free and open to the public. Donations, silent auction participation, and merchandise purchases benefit the foundation’s mission of providing free support services to Tennessee families of missing children.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. (EIN: 41-2321010) is a Wilson County, Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated in 2026 and dedicated to supporting families of missing children and promoting child safety education across Tennessee. The foundation was established in honor of Bethany Markowski, who disappeared at age 11 from Jackson, Tennessee on March 4, 2001.
The foundation will provide services at no cost to families in crisis, including family support and advocacy, community search coordination, children’s safety education, and ongoing case awareness efforts. The foundation’s work is rooted in the belief that the coordinated support system that did not exist for Bethany’s family 25 years ago must exist for every Tennessee family facing a missing child today.
TENNESSEE MISSING CHILDREN: BY THE NUMBERS
The foundation’s work addresses an urgent statewide crisis:
- Approximately 500–600 children are reported missing in Tennessee every month
- Tennessee has ranked among the top 10 states nationally for missing persons, including 7th in 2025
- 932 active missing children cases remain open in Tennessee
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 359,094 reports of missing children nationally in 2022
- Free fingerprinting events like this one provide families a critical tool that Bethany’s family never had
ABOUT BETHANY MARKOWSKI
Bethany Markowski was an 11-year-old girl from Jackson, Tennessee who disappeared on March 4, 2001 — 25 years ago. Her case remains open and under active investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the TBI tip line at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
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High-resolution photos, spokesperson headshots, and additional media assets are available at findbethany.org/press or by emailing media@findbethany.org.
If you are personally affected by a missing child emergency, contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
