MISSING: Lonene Rodgers
Every year, between one in every 1,000 to 2,000 babies is born deaf or hard of hearing. The reasons can vary—genetics, complications during pregnancy, or factors like low birth weight. But no matter the cause, for about 90% of these children, they’re born into hearing families, families who suddenly begin a journey they never expected.
That journey often means learning an entirely new language: American Sign Language. It means navigating systems that weren’t built with their child in mind. It means advocating, adapting, and opening up to a vibrant community with its own culture, its own rhythm, and its own strength.
Maxine and Raymond Raffle were one such family. Their daughter, Lonene “Lonnie” was diagnosed as deaf at 18 months old. From that moment forward, they walked beside her as she carved out a life that defied limitation. Lonnie embraced everything, community, friendship, love, motherhood. Her world expanded, even as society tried to shrink it.
Her husband was also deaf. Their children, however, were hearing; what’s known as CODAs: Children of Deaf Adults. For Lonnie’s daughter, Alison, that meant stepping into the role of translator, advocate, and bridge between two worlds, sometimes before she was old enough to truly understand what that meant.
Then, when Alison was just five years old, Lonnie disappeared.
Since that day, Alison has made it her mission to be her mother’s voice, just as she always was. And now, she’s telling her story to you.
This is a story about family, identity, and a search for truth that never stopped.
Photo of Lonene
Photo of Lonene
Photo of Lonene
Lonnie & Bud Rodgers
Missing poster
Lonnie’s billboard
Alison’s book
If you have information in Lonnie’s case, please call the Pennsylvania State Police at 814-332-6911.
Resources
https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/44423031/what-happened-to-lonene-rogers
https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/Appeals/DocketGetFile.cfm?id=95045
https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/commonwealth-court/2023/1481-c-d-2021.html
Crimlines script, give to MAM with permission by the host Charlie
MAM interview with Alison Duiker
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss