Candlelight vigil held in remembrance of Queens girls who have been missing for 25 years

A candlelight vigil was held on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 6, on Liberty Avenue, Queens, to honor the memory of 13-year-old Deniese Hariman, who disappeared 25 years ago, and her neighbor, Shellyann Sankar, who went missing nearly a year later. The gathering drew community members who expressed their love and support for the grieving families still seeking answers more than two decades later, as calls echoed for police to do more to help solve these cold cases.
Social media influencer Rhonda Bob, who helped organize the vigil, emphasized the importance of community involvement in keeping the cases alive in the public’s mind.

Deniese Hariman’s mother, older sister, brother, and nephews stand together in front of her photos during a candlelight vigil in Queens. Photo by Tracey Khan

Hariman’s mother, Seeta Beran, emotionally recalled the day her daughter vanished after leaving for school but never arriving. “It’s hard, but I have to be strong, and I’m trying. My daughter had dreams of going to college and doing great things. She didn’t deserve what happened,” her voice shaking with emotion.
Hariman’s last known interactions were with Sankar, who disappeared nearly a year later. Sankar, then in her late twenties, had recently moved from Trinidad to New York. She was close to Hariman’s family, and she and her boyfriend helped search for the teen when she first went missing.

The Beran family, joined by vigil organizer and social media influencer Rhonda Bob, honors Deniese Hariman’s memory. Photo by Tracey Khan

Sankar disappeared in 1999, and her boyfriend at the time, Rudolph Balgobin, soon became a suspect. He is serving a 25-to-life sentence for murder in Florida. Beran expressed frustration over the lack of closure. “Somebody knows something, and they’re not saying anything. When my daughter Deniese went missing, Rudy was helping us to look for her,” Beran recalled.
Beran also revealed that Balgobin had written to her, suggesting he would share information about the cases if she sent him money. “He said if I sent him $200.00, he would tell me what he did to my daughter,” she said.
Deniese Hariman would have turned 39 on Oct. 6, the day of the vigil. As the years have passed, Beran’s need for answers has grown. “I need closure. I’m 70 now, and Deniese would have been 39 today. This pain stays with you,” she said.
In a direct plea to Balgobin, she added, “Rudy, it’s been a long time. I think you should be able to say something now. I may forgive you if I find the truth, but I need closure.”
The vigil served as a reminder of the lasting impact of the disappearances on the families. Deniese’s eldest sister, Natasha Beran, said, “When Deniese went missing, we didn’t even realize how much it changed us. I became very protective of my children.”
Shellyann Sankar’s cousin, Navin Sankar, noted that the Trinidadian’s missing woman’s family still seeks answers. “I made it my business today just to be here,” he said, expressing gratitude to those who gathered to remember the girls.
The vigil concluded with a call for the community to remain vigilant and ensure that Deniese Hariman’s and Shellyann Sankar’s memories live on and the family receives closure.
Anyone with information that could help the family, can contact them at 347-280-8375 or 917-306-9965.