Suzanne Marie Sevakis: The girl in the picture

For decades, no one knew the true identity of Sharon Marshall. She was beautiful, intelligent, and full of dreams. Yet her life ended tragically in her early twenties, surrounded by mystery and lies.

It would take more than twenty years to uncover the truth—Sharon Marshall was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis. This revelation exposed a devastating story of abduction, abuse, and stolen identity. Today, her case stands as one of the most haunting in modern true crime history.

A Childhood Stolen

Suzanne Marie Sevakis was born in 1974 to Sandi Chipman, a young mother raising four children. In 1975, while Sandi served a brief jail sentence for a minor offense, Franklin Delano Floyd, who had been in a relationship with her, took Suzanne and vanished.

Sandi’s other children eventually returned home, but Suzanne did not. Floyd erased her identity and gave her a new name—Sharon Marshall. He claimed to be her father, moved her frequently, and cut her off from the outside world. For years, Suzanne remained hidden, living under a false identity that concealed the truth of who she really was.

The Girl Known as Sharon Marshall

Under the name Sharon Marshall, Suzanne Marie Sevakis displayed remarkable talent and ambition. In high school, she became a National Merit Scholar. She earned a full scholarship to Georgia Tech. She dreamed of working for NASA. Friends described her as kind, charismatic, and highly intelligent.

Behind the scenes, Franklin Delano Floyd controlled every part of her life. He moved her across state lines, forced her into stripping to support them, and likely involved her in sex trafficking. In a disturbing turn, Floyd eventually married her, all while continuing to claim he was her father.

In the late 1980s, she gave birth to a son, Michael Hughes. His paternity remains uncertain, but many believe Floyd was not his biological father.

A Mysterious Death

In 1990, Sharon (Suzanne) was found critically injured in a suspicious car accident in Oklahoma. She died shortly afterward. Floyd claimed it was an accident—but those who knew her believed she was trying to escape him. Her death certificate bore a false name. Her real identity remained a mystery.

Scene of hit and run

In the very early morning hours, Suzanne walked south from a truck stop. She was heading towards the Motel 6 where she was staying.

Police report documenting the 1990 hit-and-run incident that killed Suzanne Marie Sevakis in Oklahoma City. The report marked the official record of her death years before her true identity was uncovered.

The Search for the Truth

Years later, Franklin Floyd made headlines again after kidnapping 6-year-old Michael Hughes from his school . Michael was never seen again. In 2014, Floyd finally confessed to murdering him, though the boy’s body has never been recovered.

Michael Hughes Abduction Site

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The kidnapping triggered renewed interest in Sharon Marshall’s true identity. Investigative journalist Matt Birkbeck, who wrote A Beautiful Child and Finding Sharon, worked closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Through DNA testing and research, they finally uncovered the truth:

Sharon Marshall was actually Suzanne Marie Sevakis, a missing child abducted in 1975.

Remembering Suzanne

Suzanne’s story is one of unimaginable resilience in the face of lifelong abuse. Despite being raised by a violent predator, she found ways to shine. She was a loving mother, a brilliant student, and a kind friend. The tragedy is not just in how she died. It is also in the years of freedom and identity that were stolen from her.

Today, Suzanne is no longer a mystery. Her name has been reclaimed, her story told in full thanks to dogged investigators and the power of DNA. The Netflix documentary Girl in the Picture (2022) brought international attention to her case, ensuring she will never be forgotten.

In Her Memory

Suzanne Marie Sevakis was more than a victim. She was a daughter, a mother, and a young woman who tried to survive the impossible. In honoring her truth, we honor every child whose voice has been silenced by manipulation and abuse.

Let her name be remembered.

Grave of Suzanne Sevakis

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Gravestone of Suzanne Marie Sevakis (September 6, 1969 – April 30, 1990), a devoted mother and friend. Suzanne’s true identity was discovered years after her death. It was revealed she had been abducted as a child by Franklin Delano Floyd. She was forced to live under multiple aliases. This tragic story came to light through decades of investigative work.