Ivan disappeared from Duncan, South Carolina on July 24, 2007. He is believed to have been abducted by his non-custodial mother, Donna Karapandzic. A photograph of Donna is posted below this case summary.

Donna has seven children by three fathers; Ivan is the youngest. One of his siblings is an adult and the other five are in their teens. Three of his teen siblings live with the same foster family. In April 2007, the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) took Ivan's fifteen-year-old brother into custody after he was alleged to have been abandoned. He had been living with his best friend's family for two months by then; Donna supposedly refused to come and get him or even speak to him on the phone. When interviewed by DSS officials, the boy told them his mother had beaten him with a belt and forced him to sleep outside overnight in cold weather.

A court hearing on the fifteen-year-old's custody was scheduled for July 26, 2007, but when Donna didn't show up, the judge ordered the DSS to take custody of all her minor children. DSS workers searched several locations, but were unable to locate Donna, Ivan or Ivan's fourteen-year-old brother. Their last known residence was a double-wide trailer in a fairly secluded area on Riverside Drive. Due to a DSS error, the Karapandzic boys were not officially reported missing until December 2007.

In February 2008, Donna's fourteen-year-old son was located in Georgia, where his mother had left him with a boyfriend. Donna and Ivan were still missing, however. Donna has a prior criminal history. She was charged three times with driving under the influence, but convicted only once. She also faced drug charges in 2001, but those were dismissed. She has an active warrant for her arrest on charges of child cruelty, and her family admits she has a substance abuse problem.

Because of the abuse allegations against Donna and her history of substance abuse, authorities believe Ivan may be in danger. His whereabouts are unknown.

Above: Donna Karapandzic