10 Oldest Missing Persons Cases Uploaded to NamUs in March 2025

10 Oldest Missing Persons Cases on NamUs in March 2025: A Closer Look

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: March 31st, 2025

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) added or updated about 450 missing persons cases between March 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025.

Below is a table featuring the 10 oldest cases from this period, sorted by "Date of Last Contact" (DLC).

These cases, ranging from 1970 to 2009, represent some of the longest-standing mysteries recently brought into focus by NamUs, drawn from various locations across the United States. As of March 31st, 2025, the Gene Stees case is the only one I've been able to look at on this site. He is missing as a fugitive from justice.

The Oldest Cases Uploaded to NamUs in March 2025

NamUs Case #	Name	Gender	Race/Ethnicity	Date of Last Contact	Missing From	Missing Age	Date Modified
#MP139693	Gene Stees	Male	White / Caucasian	February 21, 1970	Columbus, OH	38 Years	March 21, 2025
#MP140536	Daniel Weaver	Male	White / Caucasian	January 18, 1983	Waco, TX	20 Years	March 31, 2025
#MP139619	Wanda Phillips	Female	Black / African American	April 12, 1991	Tulsa, OK	20 Years	March 23, 2025
#MP139701	Philip Kramer	Male	White / Caucasian	February 12, 1995	Thousand Oaks, CA	42 Years	March 06, 2025
#MP139729	Marcus Hunter	Male	Black / African American	May 08, 1999	Auburn, AL	19 Years	March 06, 2025
#MP140783	Torey Newlin	Male	Multiple	February 16, 2002	Lahaina, HI	23 Years	March 25, 2025
#MP140784	Roger Brittain	Male	White / Caucasian	May 21, 2004	Lahaina, HI	34 Years	March 25, 2025
#MP140377	Rosa Pacheco-Monroy	Female	Hispanic / Latino	July 23, 2006	Panama City, FL	15 Years	March 20, 2025
#MP140379	Monica Cordoza	Female	Hispanic / Latino	September 17, 2006	Panama City, FL	14 Years	March 21, 2025
#MP139644	Cristina Hernandez-Abarco	Female	Hispanic / Latino	January 16, 2009	Wilmington, DE	21 Years	March 06, 2025

These cold cases, some over 50 years old, reflect a variety of demographics—ages 14 to 42, and ethnicities including White/Caucasian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Multiple.

There are locations across eight states. Clusters in Lahaina, HI (2 cases) and Panama City, FL (2 cases) stand out, potentially indicating priorities within certain offices in the last month. All cases were modified in March 2025, between March 06 and March 31, suggesting renewed efforts to resolve these decades-old mysteries.

Comparing Philip Kramer’s Wikipedia and NamUs Profiles

The Philip Kramer listed in NamUs (#MP139701) and the Philip Taylor Kramer on Wikipedia share striking similarities, suggesting they are the same person. Below is a table comparing key details from both sources:

Detail	Wikipedia	NamUs
Full Name	Philip Taylor Kramer	Philip Taylor Kramer
Date of Last Contact	February 12, 1995	February 12, 1995
Location	Los Angeles County/Ventura County, CA	Thousand Oaks, CA (Ventura County)
Age at Disappearance	42	42
Physical Description	Not specified (tall, athletic implied)	6’5”, 215 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes
Circumstances	Drove to LAX to pick up a business associate; made calls, including a suicidal 911 call mentioning O.J. Simpson	Last seen at Los Robles Hospital, heading to LAX to pick up friends; under stress, not sleeping
Resolution	Remains found May 29, 1999, in Decker Canyon; probable suicide	Listed as missing (no resolution noted)

The overlap in name, date, location, age, and circumstances (LAX trip, stress) is too precise to suggest two different people. The main discrepancy—NamUs’s lack of resolution—points to an error, as Wikipedia confirms the case was closed in 1999.

Philip Kramer's Inclusion Likely An Error

The Philip Kramer listed in NamUs (#MP139701) matches the well-documented Philip Taylor Kramer, Iron Butterfly bassist, who vanished on February 12, 1995, from Thousand Oaks, CA. Both profiles share the same full name (Philip Taylor Kramer), disappearance date, location, age (42), and circumstances—visiting Los Robles Hospital, heading to LAX, under stress.

Wikipedia confirms his remains were found in May 1999 in Decker Canyon, ruled a probable suicide, resolving the case. A July 25, 1999, Standard Speaker newspaper clipping further corroborates this, reporting that Kramer, a 42-year-old Iron Butterfly member, was found dead in a smashed van in a California ravine, four years after vanishing in 1995.

NamUs’s physical details (6’5”, 215 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes) align with Kramer’s known profile, though Wikipedia lacks exact stats. Yet, NamUs lists him as missing in 2025, an apparent error. NamUs isn’t immune to mistakes—reports like NPR’s March 10, 2025, piece highlight thousands of data inconsistencies. This case likely reflects a clerical glitch, perhaps from re-entering old records without verifying its 1999 closure. 

I couldn't find any news suggesting that the case was reopened. I will send an email to the relevant authorities and update this blog accordingly.

Marisol Hernandez: Missing from San Antonio, TX Since January 16, 2004 - Unsolved Case

Missing Person: Marisol Hernandez

NOT the actual vehicle. Example of a green 1996 Ford Mustang.

Notes on the pictures:

The first image is of Marisol Hernandez. The second is an example of a green 1996 Ford Mustang, not her actual car, included to illustrate the vehicle she was driving.

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased):

Marisol was last seen at approximately 8:30 a.m. on January 16, 2004, at Avance Head Start Child Care on Acme Castroville Roads, San Antonio, after dropping off her toddler daughter. She was driving a green 1996 Ford Mustang, license plate F19SBT. Her car was later found locked and abandoned at a strip mall in the 4800 block of W. Commerce.

Last contact: January 16, 2004 (Friday), approximately 8:30 a.m.
Last location: San Antonio, Texas - Avance Head Start Child Care on Acme Castroville Roads
Age when Marisol Hernandez disappeared: 32
DOB: She would have been born between January 17th, 1971 and January 16th, 1972
Sex: Female
Height in inches: 62
Weight in pounds (lbs): 130
BMI: 23.77 - Healthy weight (calculated to help picture what Marisol might have looked like)
Ethnicity: Hispanic
Hair color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Distinctive Features: Pierced ears; red heart tattoo on upper left arm
Link to Government Source: NamUs MP4285 (right-click to open)
Websleuths discussion page: Marisol Hernandez Case (right-click to open)

Clothing Worn When Last Seen

Item	Description	Details	Source
Jeans	Dark blue Gap jeans	Worn on January 16, 2004	The Charley Project
Sweater	Black long-sleeve with white collar	Layered under another sweater	The Charley Project
Sweater	Black button-down	Worn over the long-sleeve sweater	The Charley Project
Shoes	Black closed-toe Easy Spirit	Size 6½	The Charley Project
Handbag	Black Fiesta Texas handbag	Red sides with white lettering	The Charley Project
Phone	Silver Sprint flip camera phone	Carried at the time	The Charley Project

Unraveling the Mystery: Key Insights and Updates

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: March 12, 2025

Has Marisol Hernandez been found?

As of March 2025, Marisol remains missing. Her home was in the 2400 block of Rivas Street, San Antonio, but she was last seen at Avance Head Start Child Care. Her car was found locked and abandoned on January 19, 2004, three days after she vanished, at a strip mall 1-2 miles away on West Commerce Street [KSAT, Jan 19, 2004]. The San Antonio Police searched extensively, but no major leads emerged. Her family, including sister Mary Lou Castillo, emphasized her role as a mother of three.

What does the vehicle discovery suggest?

She might have been shopping, but an in-mall abduction seems unlikely due to witnesses and security. A parking lot abduction—either as she exited or returned to her Mustang—is more plausible, given her small frame, though her family responsibilities complicate this theory. Furthermore, the theory is complicated by the fact that her car was found three days after he disappearance. This raises the question as to whether it sat in the parking lot for three days or if it was moved there close to the time when it was discovered.

Unexplained Words: Marisol’s Last Statement and Theories

Marisol reportedly told her mother, “Mom, if I don’t return, it’s because someone killed me,” on the day she vanished [KSAT, Jan 16, 2004]. Verbal statements like these are hard to authenticate, leaving questions about whether she sensed imminent danger.

According to her boyfriend Justin Meece, Marisol was set to meet her ex, Mark Martinez, at the Attorney General’s office on January 16, 2004, to discuss child support, though Martinez denied a scheduled meeting [KSAT, Feb 6, 2004]. Her sister Mary Lou Castillo also noted she was meeting someone about her kids but never made it [KSAT, Jan 26, 2004]. Martinez, the father of her two younger children and a person of interest who refused a polygraph test, remains unlinked by definitive evidence to her disappearance.

Although the remark’s authenticity is uncertain, it might have been a casual comment that later seemed prophetic or it could reflect Marisol’s awareness of a threat around her. Similar cases include Susan Powell, Amber Guichelaar, and Kathleen Savio, who made eerie predictions before their fates, suggesting a pattern worth considering in unresolved mysteries like this.

Name	What they said/wrote	Circumstances	Outcome
Marisol Hernandez	"Mom, if I don’t return, it’s because someone killed me."	Disappeared January 16, 2004, after meeting a child’s father.	Never found; statement unverified.
Susan Powell	"If I die, it may not be an accident."	Disappeared December 7, 2009; husband a suspect.	Body never found; husband killed self and sons.
Amber Guichelaar	"Am I safe sleeping next to him?"	Found dead November 16, 2020; husband convicted.	Husband sentenced to prison.
Kathleen Savio	Told friends her ex might harm her.	Found dead February 29, 2004; ex convicted.	Ex-husband Drew Peterson convicted.

How You Can Help

If you have information, contact the San Antonio Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (210) 207-7660 [KSAT, Jan 19, 2004] or submit a tip via NamUs MP4285. Sharing this post could bring Marisol’s family closer to closure.

Use Wayback Machine for Old Links Related to this Case

For those interested in diving deeper into Marisol Hernandez’s disappearance, the Wayback Machine offers a valuable resource to access archived news articles that are no longer available on live websites. One particularly insightful article is available at this KSAT link from February 6, 2004. This piece, titled "Missing Woman's Boyfriend Ruled Out As Suspect," provides detailed accounts from her boyfriend Justin Meece about her planned child support meeting with Mark Martinez, alongside Martinez’s denial of the meeting, offering critical context to the events of January 16, 2004. Readers are encouraged to explore this archived report to better understand the early investigation and the lingering questions surrounding her case.

/div>

Sandra Faye Thompson Missing: Jacksonville, Florida Woman Vanishes in 1984 (Attempt to Match)

Missing Person: Sandra Faye Thompson

Notes on the pictures:

I have to say that these pictures do not look like the same person to me. I feel that way even if the black and white photo is from high school and the color photo is up to eight years later. However, there are no notes at NamUs suggesting that they are different people. The details for the case are sparse as well.

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): Sandra was last seen in Florida on July 2nd, 1984.

Last contact: July 2nd, 1984 (Monday)
Last location: Jacksonville, Florida
Age when Sandra Faye Thompson disappeared: 26
Date of birth: February 13th, 1958
Sex: Female
Height in inches: 65 (approximation, often averaged from ranges)
Weight in pounds (lbs): 100 (approximation, often averaged from ranges)
BMI: 16.6 - Underweight (calculated to help picture what Sandra might have looked like)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Hair color: Black - Straight, thick blackish brown hair
Eye Color: Brown
Link to Government Source: NamUs (right-click to open)

Websleuths discussion page: Sandra Faye Thompson (right-click to open)

Unraveling the Mystery: Key Insights and Updates

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: March 11th, 2025

Has Sandra Faye Thompson been found?

The Websleuths community has kept Sandra’s case alive, with discussions dating back to 2016, without their activity, there would not be much available online to read about this missing person. There is speculation online about a possible connection to unidentified remains, such as UP116037, covered here at MPC. This is a Jane Doe discovered in Palm Bay, Florida, in January 1985, though no definitive link has been established.

Points Comparing Sandra Faye Thompson to UP116037 (Attempt to Match)

Websleuths Username: SimsGuy67, to my knowledge, associated the cases first.

Geographical Proximity: Sandra disappeared from Jacksonville, Florida, while UP116037 was found in Palm Bay, Florida, about 150 miles apart, both within the same state.

Timeline Alignment: Sandra went missing on July 2, 1984, and UP116037 was discovered on January 17, 1985, a gap of roughly 6.5 months, which matches UP116037’s estimated PMI of 6 months. This suggests the unidentified individual may have died around mid-1984, which is almost to the day when Sandra disappeared.

Age Range: Sandra was 26 years old at the time of her disappearance, fitting squarely within UP116037’s estimated age range of 24-28 years.

Height: Sandra’s height was 5'5" (65 inches), slightly above UP116037’s estimated range of 5'2" to 5'4" (62-64 inches), but within a reasonable margin of error for skeletal estimates.

Weight: Sandra weighed 100 lbs, aligning closely with UP116037’s estimated weight of 95-105 lbs, indicating a similar slender build.

Race/Ethnicity: Both Sandra and UP116037 are classified as White/Caucasian, supporting a potential match

Is there some kind of alignment between the UP and the MP in a more abstract way? The body seems to have been a body dump. Somehow, that's consistent with the MP having dangerous associations, as suggested at the Websleuths forum. However, the chart below sticks to more convincing points of comparison.

My AI's Assistant's Guess on the Probability That This is a Match

Mathematical guesses using AI are just food for thought. But they are nice to have because they can eliminate the bias we bring to research efforts as humans. For instance, as a researcher, you sort of want the match to be right and that can affect you. AI doesn't have such wants. The more information that's available, the better but here's what Grok had to say about the chances of these two being one and the same person.

"I’d estimate a 70-75% chance that Sandra Faye Thompson and the Jane Doe are the same person. This reflects a strong likelihood driven by timeline, age, and physical overlap, tempered by the distance between locations and absence of conclusive forensic or circumstantial links. Rounding for simplicity, I’ll settle on 75% as a reasonable mathematical guess, acknowledging it’s an approximation based on available data." (Grok, X's AI)

Basically, the physical characteristics, age, and timeline match, but there is doubt due to distance and a lack of conclusive forensic evidence. Still, I think these two cases need to be looked at

Criteria	Sandra Faye Thompson	UP116037	Match?	Explanation
Geographical Proximity	Jacksonville, Florida	Palm Bay, Florida (150 miles)	✅	Both locations are in Florida, 150 miles apart, a reasonable distance for a potential connection.
Timeline Alignment	Missing: July 2, 1984	Found: Jan 17, 1985 (PMI: 6 mo)	✅	6.5-month gap matches the 6-month PMI, suggesting death around mid-1984, aligning with Sandra’s disappearance.
Age Range	26 years old	24-28 years	✅	Sandra’s age of 26 fits within UP116037’s estimated range of 24-28 years.
Height	5'5" (65 inches)	5'2"-5'4" (62-64 inches)	✅	Sandra’s height is slightly above the range but within a reasonable margin for skeletal estimates.
Weight	100 lbs	95-105 lbs	✅	Sandra’s weight of 100 lbs falls directly within UP116037’s estimated range of 95-105 lbs.
Race/Ethnicity	White/Caucasian	White/Caucasian	✅	Both are classified as White/Caucasian, supporting a potential match.

The Average Missing Person Case According to AI: Insights from My Blog

The Following is NOT a True Case of a Missing Person. Rather, it is content generated mainly by Grok, xAI's artificial intelligence. I uploaded numerous cases from this site and asked Grok to produce an average case.

I did take some personal liberties in editing what it spat out. My own comments appear in hard brackets [like this]. Also, I inserted some sentences myself.

I would say that this sounds a bit humorous at times. But there is something to learn from it as well.

- Shane Lambert

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Disappearance of Alexis Z. Harper: Missing Since 1985 (FICTION)

On a quiet evening in the late summer of 1985, 18-year-old Alexis Z. Harper vanished without a trace, apparently into thin air [Yes, "without a trace" always is the phrase that gets used or "into thin air." Shane]

Alexis Z., a young woman standing about 5’4” tall and weighing around 115 pounds, had a slender build, long blonde-brown hair, and striking blue-brown eyes. [You know, blue-brown eyes. Shane] She was Caucasian. [Sorry, will try to do cases involving non-Caucasian males a little more often. Shane]

Known for a burn scar on her left arm and a small tattoo on her upper back, she was last seen in a small town on the west coast of either Canada or the USA—a vague location reflecting the scattered geography of her life. [Not sure where this came from. Usually, there is a fairly definite last sighting of her. Shane]

Born in the mid-1960s to a working-class family, Alexis Z. had recently moved out of her family home, seeking independence, and was working a part-time job, perhaps at a fast-food joint or diner, while navigating the challenges of young adulthood. [Okay, so people go missing as young adults because they are still naive about the world at a time when they have to go full steam ahead into it, I guess. Shane]

Details of Her Disappearance

That night in the summer of 1985, Alexis Z. was last spotted around 9:30 PM. The details are hazy: some say she was heading to a bus stop after dinner with friends, but possibly she was planning to hitchhike home. Others claim she was leaving her residence or a casual hangout at a bowling alley or restaurant.

They described her clothing from that night. But the inherent contradictions from numerous eyewitnesses only befuddled matters.

Some said, she had a beat-up sedan from the mid-1970s—maybe blue or tan. She had borrowed it from her family.

Others said perhaps she was on foot, relying on public transit or a ride from a stranger. When it came to light that her parents' vehicle was missing, this provided an investigation starting point.

Why didn't they mention this pertinent detail before? The public raised an eyebrow at the alcoholic father just as police began looking for the car. When the image of the vehicle appeared on TV, local philanthropists then posted posters in public.

Hesitant witnesses eventually came forward. They recalled seeing her with someone—a vague figure, possibly a man in his 20s or 30s, driving a sporty car like a Camaro—or maybe she was alone, stepping into the night to run an errand or escape a restless home life. [Ahhh the beauty of consistent eyewitnesses. Shane]

Weeks later, her car—or what might have been her car—turned up abandoned near a vineyard, about 10 miles from where she was last seen. The vehicle was a riddle: mud-splattered, with two or three flat tires, and personal items left inside for some reason. Wherever she went, she didn't need her wallet anymore.

Some speculated vandalism, others a "Good Samaritan’s Ruse"—a predator tampering with the car, alerting her to the problem but only to lure her into danger. Alternatively, she might have ditched it herself, packed her belongings, and hitched a ride that went wrong.

The police found no signs of a struggle, but foul play was suspected from the start. Her BMI of around 20 suggested a healthy yet slight frame, not someone who’d easily vanish unnoticed. Apparently, it was easier to make her disappear than the car she was driving.

Police budgets were sparse those days -- a sign of the times. Young people often got up and left entirely on their own account. So Alexis Z.’s disappearance stumped authorities.

At 18, she was caught between youth and independence—too old to be dismissed as a typical runaway, too young for her fate to fade quietly. Newspapers ran a few stories on her birthday and then on the same date every year that marked her disappearance's anniversary. Concerned citizens shook their heads over the demise of society.

The newspapers quoted her parents, who accepted that she was probably dead but still wanted closure. They asked for anyone to come forward or for the killer who must have taken her to clear his conscience.

But was it a random predator? Yes, it probably was because there were no known serial killers in the area. Or was it though? Yes, probably? But really? There were some stupid theories, like alien abduction.

As the years passed, many looked back at her case occasionally. Twenty years later, in hindsight, it was clear that there were in fact serial killers in her neighborhood.

In fact, one lived next door to her, but he kept silent when asked, which meant he would not be convicted until a scientist finally looked at the car with a microscope and found traces of his semen in the back seat. The serial killer then claimed the sex was consensual.

All along, someone she knew had known something. But she was tied to risky associations with street people and a quarrelsome boyfriend. The rumors had swirled: a hitchhiking mishap, a deliberate abduction, or just bad luck on a dark road. She was still missing because serial killers don't talk unless there is something in it for them.

So investigators searched nearby landfills, vineyards, and wooded areas, even tracking dogs along bus routes, but no body was found. Theories multiplied: some pointed to the car’s condition—flat tires and mud hinting at an off-road disposal—while others saw it as a red herring, the result of weeks of neglect or her own abandonment.

Hitchhiking, a dangerous habit she’d picked up, was another possibility, especially given her recent move and limited means. DNA wasn’t widely used then, and physical evidence was scarce. A Jane Doe found years later—small-statured, with long hair—briefly raised hopes, but the timeline didn’t align.

Decades passed. Alexis Z.’s case grew cold, filed away in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) or Canada’s Missing database with a case number and a fading photograph. Her family submitted DNA in the 2000s, hoping for a match, but none came.

The bowling alley closed, the serial killer died in prison after mocking authorities, the place where she was last seen became a memorial, and the world simply moved on. Everyone had their own problems, even if they wanted her to be found.

Yet, every so often, a blogger or websleuth would unearth her story, piecing together scraps from old newspapers: "Has Alexis Z. Harper been found?" the Internet searchers often typed in.

As of March 11th, 2025, the answer remains no. Alexis Z.’s story lingers in the shadows, a haunting echo of the thousands lost to time, their fates locked in silence.

Explore more missing person mysteries on my blog! Share this story with friends and join the discussion!

Read another intriguing case here!

The Unsolved Disappearance of Karen Louise Wilson - Missing Since March 1985

Missing Person: Karen Louise Wilson

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): Wilson was last seen leaving The Tanning Hut on 1670 Central Ave - Colonie, NY at 7:20PM. A sighting of her walking down Fuller Rd in Colonie, NY (towards the SUNY Albany campus), was reported.

Last contact: March 27th, 1985, at 7:20PM according to NamUs. But there is a report that says she was seen almost an hour after that.

Last location: Colonie, New York, supposedly leaving a store called The Tanning Hut. More correctly, there was a government source that said that three separate individuals saw her that night and the sightings are considered credible.

Age when Karen Louise Wilson disappeared: 22

DOB: February 10th, 1963 but might be Feb. 2, 1963

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 63

Weight in pounds (lbs): 114

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Hair color: Brown, shoulder/medium length

Eye Color: Brown

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Nothing noted.

Link to Government Source: MP5695 (right-click to open)

Online information page: Karen Louise Wilson (right-click to open)

BMI means body mass index. It is meant to describe someone's healthy body weight relative to the individual's height. It is only food for thought because it does not account for all body types.

Karen Louise Wilson had a BMI of 20.19.

She was at a healthy weight by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance.

Karen Wilson, Missing Person Case: Last Known Clothing and Accessories Details

When Karen Louise Wilson was last seen on March 27th, 1985, in Colonie, New York, she was wearing faded Levi blue jeans, a light blue short-sleeve pullover Izod shirt, and a 3/4 length cream-colored women's raincoat. Her footwear consisted of sneakers and she may have been wearing glasses.

Her accessories included a size 5 1/2 14K gold ring with a blue stone (possibly zircon), a Seiko watch with a black face, plastic earrings, and a two-strand yellow and white necklace. Karen carried a gray cloth pocketbook containing a blue nylon wallet with Velcro, a white and green plastic bag from "Ups N Downs", and a blue knapsack holding a yellow dress.

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: March 8th, 2025

Has Karen Louise Wilson been found?

Karen Louise Wilson remains missing. She was last seen in 1985 after leaving a business that I presume is a tanning salon, based on the name and increase in popularity for such businesses during that time frame.

They do have a composite sketch of an individual. At NamUs, he is described as someone who was in the area. Presumably, the authorities had a good reason to associate his likeness with the case.

What stood out to me with this case is the chance that Karen, the missing person, attracted a stalker on the night that she disappeared. She was at a tanning salon, she had a healthy BMI, I think a lot of men would describe her as attractive based on her photos, and she was in her early 20s.

Furthermore, from what I read, nothing suggested that she was in a friend's or relative's company. And then just the fact that there's a composite sketch of a male associated with the case made me think that she was likely stalked on the night she disappeared.

Karen's last known location wasn't really The Tanning Hut, as described at NamUs. Another government source has a PDF file online that details three eyewitness accounts of Karen's movements well after she left The Tanning Salon.

Karen Wilson Disappearance: Eyewitness Accounts from March 27, 1985

On March 27th, 1985, Karen Wilson, a SUNY Albany student, was last seen in Colonie, NY, through three eyewitness accounts along Fuller Road. At 8:15 PM, Witness #1 spotted her walking south near Sysco Food. In the area, there was also a slow-moving vehicle driven by a white male in his 40s with a beard, reddish-brown hair, and a long face.

As described, it sounds like the vehicle might be part of a stalking operation. However, this could be a red herring.

Between 8:10 PM and 8:15 PM, Witness #2 saw her south of Six Mile Waterworks, walking on grass with a smaller person (5’5”-5’8”, 120-140 lbs) urging her up an embankment. Karen's head was down and she appeared nervous. A white male in his early 20s, slim, with light hair and facial hair, trailed 50-100 feet behind, not closing the gap. Witness #2 also noted an unoccupied black sedan with a partial plate “239” and a possible bullet hole near Washington Ave Ext, which adds an eerie detail to the scene but could be a red herring.

At 8:20 PM, Witness #3 observed Karen at Fuller Road and Washington Ave, possibly waiting at a light, while a young male with sandy, messy hair, a jean jacket, and construction boots crossed nearby, not looking at her. A lime green Volkswagen Rabbit sat empty. The composite sketch of this male, aged 18-25, contrasts with the older, bearded man from the first sighting.

Not the exact car. Indicative of what a lime-green Volkswagen Rabbit might have looked like but no consideration for year.

Could the man in his 40s with a beard be the same individual in the sketch, perhaps misjudged in age or altered in appearance? Or is the composite sketch of this latter man, who is younger?

Commentary: Time Slips and Doubts in Karen’s Timeline After Leaving The Tanning Hut

The second witness painted a concerning picture, one that implies that Karen Wilson faced imminent danger between 8:10 PM and 8:15 PM. As described, she was walking nervously with a smaller figure urging her up an embankment while a man trailed behind. This is ominous, in my opinion, especially since we know that the night ends with her never being seen again.

Yet, if we are to take all the eyewitness accounts as gospel, then just minutes later at 8:20 PM, the third witness described her standing calmly at a traffic light. This is an innocuous act that implies she emerged unscathed from the earlier encounter and that nothing was amiss.

In my opinion, she was likely an abductee when she was being led up the embankment. The man trailing behind was perhaps a concerned citizen who realized that something was amiss. He trailed behind to monitor the situation from afar, not wanting to get too involved nor wanting to ignore something that he noticed. If the smaller individual is Karen's abductor, then it could be that he noticed that there was a witness, which caused the pressure to return to the sidewalk.

From this perspective, Karen survived whatever Witness #2 observed, but since we know she has been missing for decades now, something does not make sense about it all.

In my opinion, it’s likely the times aren’t precise between the witnesses. Human memory often blurs under stress or hindsight, and witnesses may have guessed or rounded their estimates. A few minutes’ misjudgment could unravel the order of events.

But it's clear enough that she was abducted, in my opinion. If she was not abducted, then it would be hard to accept her absence over the last forty years. She would be in a hospital or she simply would have gotten home safe and sound. The individual leading her up the embankment is the most clandestine in the descriptions. Perhaps this is the same person who crosses the street near her in Witness #3's description.

Karen Wilson Case: Key Witnesses and Suspect Descriptions from 1985

Here’s a list of all individuals mentioned, besides Karen Wilson, in the PDF file from Trooper.ny.gov.

1. Witness #1 (Female)

2. Male Driver (Witness #1’s Sighting)

3. Witness #2

4. Smaller Person (Witness #2’s Sighting)

5. Following Male (Witness #2’s Sighting)

6. Witness #3 (Male)

7. Crossing Male (Witness #3’s Sighting)

Karen Louise Wilson Disappearance: Witnesses, Suspects, and Timeline (March 27th, 1985)

Karen Louise Wilson, a 22-year-old SUNY Albany senior, was last seen leaving The Tanning Hut at 1670 Central Ave, Colonie, NY (Google Maps: 42.723098, -73.840189) at 7:20 PM on March 27th, 1985.

She was walking south along Fuller Road toward the SUNY Albany campus, a route described as dark but it must have had moderate pedestrian and vehicle traffic, as evidenced from the descriptions of the area on the night Karen disappeared.

Below is an account of key witnesses, individuals observed near her, and her movements, based on a PDF file from Troopers.ny.gov.

Witness #1 (Female), Sighted Karen at about 8:15 PM

• Description: An unnamed female driving southbound on Fuller Road.
• Observation: At about 8:15 PM, 55 minutes after Karen left The Tanning Hut, Witness #1 saw the missing person walking south near the Workingman’s Friend Gas Station and Sysco Food (west side of Fuller Road, south of Central Ave). Karen was near a guide rail, continuing her presumed route to campus.
• Male Driver: A white male in his 40s, with a beard, reddish-brown hair, long nose, and an "intent look" on his face, drove a slow-moving vehicle nearby. Vehicle details are vague.
• Location Context: By 8:15–8:16 PM, Witness #1 had passed Karen near Railroad Ave (42.680686, -73.829972). This indicates Karen's steady progress south.

Witness #2 and Sighting at about 8:10–8:15 PM

• Description: An unnamed individual driving southbound on Fuller Road.
• Observation: Between 8:10–8:15 PM, 50–55 minutes after leaving The Tanning Hut, Witness #2 saw Karen south of Six Mile Waterworks (135 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205), just north of the I-90 underpass. She was walking on grass off the sidewalk, appearing nervous, with her head down.
• Smaller Person: I presume him to be a male despite other sources saying the person's sex was unknown. He was 5’5”–5’8”, 120–140 lbs, walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Karen, and urged her up an embankment toward the Six Mile Waterworks area. They later returned to the sidewalk, walking normally south past the I-90 underpass (8:15–8:17 PM).
• Following Male: A white male, approximately 5’11”, slim, in his early 20s, with light hair (gold to red) and facial hair, trailed 50–100 feet behind at a steady pace, not closing the gap. He wore dark pants and a waist-length jacket (possibly beige). This individual might have been a concerned observer rather than a threat. If that is the case, then it would explain why Smaller Person and Karen returned to the sidewalk, if the former realized he was being watched by a concerned citizen.
• Additional Detail: Near Washington Ave Ext (south of the I-90 underpass), Witness #2 noted an unoccupied black sedan with a partial plate “239” and a possible bullet hole, adding an eerie but potentially unrelated element.

Witness #3 (Male) and Sighting at 8:20 PM

• Description: An unnamed male leaving work at SUNY Albany, waiting at a traffic light.
• Observation: At 8:20 PM, 60 minutes after Karen’s departure from The Tanning Hut, Witness #3 saw her standing alone on the northwest corner of Fuller Road and Washington Ave (42.686567, -73.821667), possibly waiting for the light to change. She was very close to SUNY Albany, suggesting she was nearly at her destination.
• Crossing Male: A white male, 18–25, of average height, with sandy or light brown messy hair and a couple days’ facial hair growth, crossed Fuller Road west to east near the I-90 underpass. He briefly stepped toward construction trailers before heading south, not looking at Karen. He wore a jean or aviator jacket, jeans, flannel shirt, and tan construction boots. This individual is linked to a composite sketch associated with the case.
• Additional Detail: As Witness #3 turned onto the I-90 entrance ramp (42.687398, -73.824028) at 8:20–8:21 PM, he noted an unattended lime green Volkswagen Rabbit parked nearby.

Analysis of Behavior and Timeline Enigma

Karen’s behavior across these accounts presents an enigma. At 8:10–8:15 PM (Witness #2), she appeared nervous while being urged up the embankment, suggesting possible distress or coercion by the smaller person.

Yet, by 8:20 PM (Witness #3), she stood calmly alone at the intersection, implying she was no longer in immediate danger. One possibility is that she escaped temporarily from a threatening situation near Six Mile Waterworks, reaching the intersection unscathed.

However, if she had been briefly abducted, logic suggests she might have called for help or shown visible signs of panic to passing motorists, which Witness #3 does not report.

What does the shift in demeanor within minutes—nervous to calm—mean? It could indicate imprecise witness timings, as human memory under stress often blurs details.

Alternatively, the embankment incident might not have been an abduction attempt, though her ultimate disappearance suggests something sinister occurred. I think the key points in all of this is simply that THREE different witnesses are providing details. With that, you cannot expect timing to be accurate to the minute.

Key Locations Summary

• The Tanning Hut: 1670 Central Ave, Colonie, NY; Karen left at 7:20 PM.
• Fuller Road (General Stretch): Her southbound route from Central Ave to SUNY Albany.
• Near Sysco Food/Workingman’s Friend: Sighted at 8:15 PM by Witness #1.
• South of Six Mile Waterworks/Embankment: Sighted at 8:10–8:15 PM by Witness #2, with the smaller person and following male.
• Fuller Road and Washington Ave: Last sighted at 8:20 PM by Witness #3, near SUNY Albany.

Conclusion

Karen Wilson’s last confirmed location was the Fuller Road and Washington Ave intersection at 8:20 PM, steps from SUNY Albany. No evidence confirms she reached campus. The presence of multiple males and unattended vehicles (black sedan, Volkswagen Rabbit) near her path raises questions, but the shift in her behavior—from nervous to calm—remains unresolved, highlighting an enigma in the eyewitness accounts. This also serves to complicate the process of forming theories of her fate.

Nearby Serial Killers Incarcerated During Karen Louise Wilson's Disappearance

There are not any solid connections to known serial killers in the area. Any one that you might look at was imprisoned at the time, by my research.

Serial Killer	Incarceration Status in March 1985	Ruled Out Reason	Ruled Out
Arthur Shawcross	Incarcerated (until April 1987 parole)	In prison during Karen’s disappearance	X
David Berkowitz	Incarcerated (since August 1977)	In prison during Karen’s disappearance	X
Richard Biegenwald	Incarcerated (since 1983 arrest)	In prison during Karen’s disappearance	X
Lemuel Smith	Incarcerated (since 1981 arrest)	In prison during Karen’s disappearance	X