Missing Person: Stephanie Ann Lyng - Palatine, Illinois, 1977 Disappearance Solved

Missing Person: Stephanie Ann Lyng





Details from a government source (might be paraphrased):

Stephanie Ann Lyng was last seen on October 25th, 1977 (Tuesday), at a neighbor's house in Palatine, Illinois, after leaving to meet a carpet installer at her home. Her car ( a blue station wagon) was found abandoned at O'Hare Airport four days later.

Last contact: October 25th, 1977 (Tuesday), approximately unknown time
Last location: Palatine, Illinois - Neighbor's house
Age when Stephanie Ann Lyng disappeared: 39
DOB: Between October 26th, 1937 and October 25th, 1938
Sex: Female
Height in inches: 68
Weight in pounds (lbs): 140
BMI: 21.3 - Healthy weight (calculated to help picture what Stephanie Ann Lyng might have looked like)
Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Hair color: Brown
Eye Color: Green
Distinctive Features: No known information
Link to Government Source: NamUs MP1690 (right-click to open)

Vehicle: Blue station wagon

Clothing Worn When Last Seen

Item Description Details Source
Jeans Blue jeans No additional details NamUs
Shirt Blue knit shirt No additional details NamUs
Jacket Yellow windbreaker No additional details NamUs
Unraveling the Mystery: Key Insights and Updates

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: August 18th, 2025

This is a missing persons case where there is not a ton of mystery. Stephanie Ann Lyng was last seen on October 25th, 1977 (Tuesday), at a neighbor's house in Palatine, Illinois, after leaving to meet a carpet installer at her home. Her car was found abandoned at O'Hare Airport four days later on October 29th, 1977 (Saturday).

Summary of Case and Resolution: 

Stephanie, a 39-year-old mother of four, never reached her home for the carpet installer meeting, suggesting she was intercepted. A small amount of blood in her car matched her blood type, pointing to foul play.

Her husband, Edward J. Lyng, from whom she was seeking a divorce, was convicted of her murder in 1994. Evidence showed he ambushed her at home, stabbed her, and buried her in a pre-dug grave in Lake County, Illinois.

Although Stephanie's body has not been found, Edward is serving time at Menard Correctional Center and is not eligible for release until September 2026 (Source: DoeNetwork). Justice appears to have been served, reducing the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Due to her body not being found, she remains a missing person.

A Jane Doe found in a clandestine grave in the area of Stephanie Lyng's disappearance would be a strong candidate for comparison. I did read an article that suggested she may have been wrapped in a carpet before buried so a Jane Doe found in such a state would also be a strong candidate for comparison.

April 7th, 1994. Chicago Tribune.

Overall, my opinion is that this is not a great case to work on. Justice appears to have been served and I don't see how online researchers could generate a clue as to her resting place. However, a Jane Doe found in a clandestine grave with a carpet in the grave would be a candidate for this missing person.

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