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

Kathy M. Goad Missing: Unsolved Disappearance from Fort Worth, Texas in 1982

Missing Person: Kathy M. Goad
Full Name: Kathy Mae Brownfield Goad

Details from a Government Source (Paraphrased):

Namus: On November 11th, 1982, Kathy was going shopping instead of to her job at a bank. She disappeared that day. On November 15th, 1982, her vehicle was found abandoned in a parking lot at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Foul play is possible.

Last Contact: November 11th, 1982 (Thursday, Veterans Day in the U.S.)
Last Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Age When Disappeared: 20
Birthdate: August 17th, 1962 (Charley Project)

Sex: Female
Height: 65 inches (5’5”)
Weight: 110 lbs
BMI: 18.3 (normal range)

Ethnicity: Caucasian
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Green
Scars/Distinctive Characteristics: No known information

Government Source: NamUs MP8539
Websleuths Discussion: Kathy M. Goad

Search tips: She primarily made the news in Texas and Kentucky. She was from the latter state but resided in the former at the time of her disappearance.

Commentary and Research

By Shane Lambert
Originally written: March 9th - March 14th, 2025

Has Kathy M. Goad Been Found?

As of March 16th, 2025, Kathy Goad remains missing. Her NamUs profile (MP8539) is still active, indicating an unresolved case.

One thing that I wanted to state is that I don't like the NamUs description. I am worried some readers might get misled.

As it sounds, it reads like she decided to go shopping instead of going to her bank job. But November 11th, 1982, was Veterans Day, a federal holiday. While not all banks closed, many did, or operated with reduced staff.

It’s likely Kathy, a bank employee, had the day off, making her shopping trip unremarkable, not a deviation suggesting something was amiss on its own. I read that she was going to the mall to exchange some items the day she disappeared.

She seemed to have a stable routine in her life. She had worked at the bank, her place of employment, since high school, according to an article in the February 20th, 1983, Park City Daily News.

Not Thought to Have Boarded a Flight

This article is part of my "vehicle at airport series." For these articles, the tag denotes case where a missing person's vehicle is found at an airport. I've come to the opinion that this is usually done as a way of misleading investigators.

Kathy’s vehicle was found at DFW Airport on November 15th, 1982, but that doesn’t mean she took a flight. Per Charley Project and Websleuths, no flight records match her departure. Physical evidence, like hairs linking Kathy to a car salesman’s vehicle (more below), suggests she never reached the terminal.

Her husband, Steven Goad, is the person who found the car. Some might take that as evidence of him 'conveniently' knowing where it was. I took it to me he was exhaustive in searching for her. That the husband might have done something because he found the car was explored and abandoned as a lead early in the investigation. He also convincingly passed a lie detector test.

A Car Salesman’s Shadow: A Theory

What happened to Kathy? One compelling lead points to a car salesman from Hurst, Texas.

What follows is a constructed scenario based on available evidence and critical reasoning, aiming to provide clues to her fate. But first, I will bullet point some matters of fact. The following are true details, according to the early journalism of this case:

• The salesman, after selling the truck to Kathy and her husband, saw Kathy two other times; once at her home when she was locked out and once at a restaurant. That was noted in the Park City Daily News on February 20th, 1983.

• Reportedly, he made advances toward her the day she purchased the truck with her husband.
• In a different case, the salesman damaged a woman's car (called a "girl" in reporting) after she refused a sexual advance. This act led to his firing.
• He was arrested for the vehicle damage.
• The salesman, who became a suspect, agreed but then refused to take a lie detector test.
• The investigators took hair samples from the trunk of the salesman's demo car, and these samples matched hair samples from a brush and roller that belonged to Kathy Goad.
• The salesman had a history of sexual assault, assault, and criminal mischief. He had been charged with rape before.

July 31st, 1983. Courier-Journal.

• A witness claimed he saw the suspect put concrete blocks and a cord in the back of the car, where the missing person's hair was found (December 3rd, 1984/Courier Journal) on the afternoon of the day Kathy disappeared.

Concrete blocks and cords could be used to weigh down a body.

• As of December 3rd, 1984, the suspect was in jail, either for assaulting or raping a woman. (December 3rd, 1984/Courier-Journal).
• He had a 14-year sentence and was in a penitentiary in Huntsville.

Since he was fired, I assumed that the vehicle damage he did was to a client's car. However, it might have been on his personal time.

Meeting Up With a Salesman Not To Be Ignored

The first bullet was of extreme importance. In between the date when Kathy purchased the truck from the salesman and her disappearance, she had 'chance' encounters with the salesman: once at a restaurant and once at her home when she was locked out.

Firstly, I don't think the meetings are random. I think he was stalking her.

Secondly, that he was 'on the spot' when she needed help getting back into her house is very weird. It does prove that he, at least, learned of her address if this was a random encounter.

The paperwork associated with a vehicle purchase would have provided the car salesman with access to the missing person's address. He made a sexual advance toward her, showed up at her home on another occasion, and ended up in jail long-term for a serious offense against another woman.

However, on this occasion I think he was probably stalking her and that he used the fact that she was locked out to reacquaint himself at this point. For me, the fact that he was at her house is clear evidence that he knew her address somehow. In my theory below, I assume that he simply got her address from the paperwork involved in the truck purchase at the dealership. But even if him meeting Kathy and her home is a random thing where he was just passing by, the bottom line is he knew where she lived by the date of her disappearance.

A Theory on What Happened to Kathy Goad

The following sections are my guess on what happened to Kathy Goad after a lot of research into her case.

Theorized: Morning, November 11th, 1982 (Veterans Day) – East Fort Worth

Kathy, a 20-year-old newlywed, has Veterans Day off at her bank job. She is going to shop, likely at North East Mall in Hurst, 10 miles from her East Fort Worth home.

Not long ago, she and her husband bought a truck from a Hurst dealership. The salesman for the vehicle, known for inappropriate advances, is said to have made an advance toward Kathy.

In my theory, I suggest that he accessed her address from the paperwork of the vehicle sale. He had met up with her twice before, according to the journalism covering this missing person's case, at about the time of the disappearance. I think he had been stalking her fairly steadily ever since she and her husband bought the truck.

According to my research, dealerships commonly took people's addresses for vehicle purchases in Texas in 1982. This was needed for any purchase that required financing, and it was still standard for record-keeping and warranty purposes, even for purchases that did not require financing.

The car salesman was extremely likely to have had access to her address based solely on her buying a vehicle from him. That's corroborated by the fact that he ended up showing up at her house the day she got locked out.

In my theory, he is stalking her on Veterans Day 1982. As a holiday, it stands to reason he has the day off as well and therefore has the leisure time to stalk her.

Theorized: Midday – North East Mall Parking Lot, Hurst

Kathy parks at the mall, unaware that the salesman has followed her. As she exits her car, he approaches—perhaps pretending it’s a coincidence and/or using the truck as an excuse. His familiarity lowers her guard. He lures her to his demo car, then attacks her or maybe chloroforms her. Her hairs, later found in the vehicle he operated, mark this moment. He locks her in the trunk unconscious and drives off, leaving her car behind.

Theorized: Afternoon – Murder and Disposal

His prior advances and criminal history (assault, harassment) suggest a motive—rejection turned violent. The salesman rapes and murders Kathy Goad. That afternoon, he loaded concrete blocks and cord into his vehicle, as supported by an eyewitness. In my theory, he is doing this to sink Kathy's body somewhere.

The salesman heads to a secluded spot, possibly near Lake Worth or Eagle Mountain Lake, 10-20 miles from Hurst. He hides the body well.

Theorized: Evening to November 15th – Staging Kathy's Car

With Kathy’s keys (taken during the abduction), the salesman returns to the mall at some point. He drives her car to DFW Airport, and abandons it by November 15th. The four-day gap implies he hid the car first and then moved it during the night at some point. He is doing it to suggest she’d fled in hopes of confusing the investigators, whom he knows are coming. He returns to Hurst using a taxi or transit.

Aftermath: Not Theorized

The salesman did, in fact, end up fired after an unrelated arrest (damaging a woman’s car). Police then found Kathy’s hair in the demo car he used, and an informant shared the second-hand confession. 

Furthermore, Kathy's family hired an investigator who did not believe much the salesman said. The salesman agrees to a lie detector test but withdraws. Also, the salesman ends up in jail on a fourteen-year sentence for a crime against another woman.

As for Kathy's case, second-hand confessions aren't good for much. Without her body, prosecutors decline to charge him in 1983. The case goes cold - and here we are.

Why My Theory Fits

• Address Access: Sales records gave him her East Fort Worth address, enabling stalking. Journalism covering the case supports the notion that he had her address by November 11th, 1982.
• Hairs: Forensic evidence ties Kathy to his demo car, suggesting he abducted her. Those hairs are in the trunk, further suggesting abduction. Sometimes teenagers ride in the trunks of cars for lack of a seat. But when missing people are linked to a car trunk, it's only because they were there against their wills, either unconscious or restrained.
• Airport: The car’s location at an airport could easily be just deliberate misdirection as she was a happy newlywed. It's common for missing people to have their vehicles found at airport parking lots. They rarely have documented flights from the same airports.
• Lake: The informant’s tip and local geography point to a hidden disposal site.
• Profile: His previous behavior and job firing make him an interesting person to incorporate into the hypothetical scenario. His profile is clearly that of a misogynist.

Conclusion

This theory posits the salesman stalked Kathy from her home, abducted her from a mall parking lot, killed her, and dumped her body in a lake, using her car to mislead investigators.

Could Lake Worth or Eagle Mountain Lake hold the final clue? As of now, Kathy’s fate and what happened to her remains unsolved.

Debra A. Cressotti: Missing from Blandford, MA Since April 30, 1985 - Unsolved Case

Missing Person: Debra A. Cressotti

Aliases: I found that she might have been called Debra B. Cressotti in addition to Debra A. Cressotti. Also, I saw Debra A. Balcom-Cressotti, with the B. presumably standing for Balcom and perhaps that being her maiden name or a name from a previous marriage.

Furthermore, when it came to searching in newspaper databases, I found that I had to use "Deborah" to get some hits.

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased): Missing from Blandford, Massachusetts.

Last contact: April 30th, 1985 (Tuesday)

Last location: Blandford, Massachusetts

Age when Debra A. Cressotti disappeared: 29

DOB: July 13th, 1955

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 65

Weight in pounds (lbs): 135

• Debra A. Cressotti/s BMI was 22.46. She was at a healthy weight by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance.

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Hair color: Brown, sometimes worn in ponytail, also sometimes dyed blonde

Eye color: Blue

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Scar on right knee, prior pelvic fracture (this latter injury would likely show in skeletal remains, if found)

Link to Government Source: MP11224 (right-click to open)

Husband or long-time boyfriend: Benjamin J. Cressotti - 

• "I haven't heard from her. She just up and left."
• He also claimed that she had another boyfriend.

Debra and Benjamin were plaintiffs in a legal matter a couple of years before Debra disappeared. The snippet of that runs along the side, taken from the November 29th, 1983 edition of The Republican. 

In some newspaper articles I read, Debra is referred to as Benjamin's wife, but the spelling is "Deborah." In one article, she was described as Benjamin's long-term girlfriend. According to a January 27th, 1995 article Debra took Cressotti's name but they were never legally married. Reportedly, they also had a son together (Nicholas).

Vehicle: Charley Project describes the vehicle that was found at the airport as a "Brown 1975 Chevrolet 210 crew cab pickup truck with the Massachusetts license plate number AE33553 (accounted for)." The picture below is a likeness as opposed to the actual vehicle.

Not the actual vehicle. Generated based on the description.

Websleuths discussion page: Debra A. Cressotti (right-click to open)

A second picture of Debra Cressotti is listed below.

I found lots of classified advertisements that implied or suggested that she was a missing person. However, I only found one newspaper article that explicitly referenced her disappearance. It's below and it came from The Republican on January 27th, 1995.

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: March 8th-15th, 2025

Has Debra A. Cressotti been found?

Debra Cressotti vanished from Blandford, MA, on April 30th, 1985. The circumstances around her disappearance are hard to find online, even when behind paywalls. At least, the circumstances immediately surrounding her disappearance were hard to find. Looking at the broader context, this was someone who had some dangerous associations, in my opinion.

But on the day of her disappearance, her brown 1975 Chevrolet pickup truck was found at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. This was about 30 to 35 miles away from her home. There was no evidence (e.g., flight records) to show she boarded a plane.

I think most of the speculation on this missing person has to do with the location of her vehicle. Did she voluntarily disappear and that's why her vehicle was found at the airport? Or did someone disappear her against her will and then plant her vehicle at the airport so that we'd all think she left on her own account? I hope to reposition the speculation to focus on the strange circumstances involving people in her life both before and after her disappearance date.

In researching this case, I found that it was complicated by fire/arson, legal proceedings, insurance, and the clandestine.

Legal Notice in December 1988 First Available Document Suggesting She's Missing

A legal notice published in the Springfield Republican on December 16th, 1988, confirms that Debra A. Cressotti, missing since April 30th, 1985, from Blandford, Massachusetts, was considered an "absentee" by that date. Her whereabouts were unknown during a probate court proceeding that Benjamin J. Cressotti initiated. However, a 1995 article stated that she had been missing for ten years, which grounds her 1985 disappearance in documentation that is available online.

The 1988 legal matter pertained to a fire insurance claim for a property in Blandford destroyed on February 10th, 1988. The notice, addressing Debra directly to appear in court by January 1989, highlights that over three years after her disappearance, no definitive proof of her fate existed. This supported theories of either voluntary departure or foul play. 

Not Much News Covering Her Disappearance

Usually, when people are missing, there is a news source to consult at about the time of the disappearance. In Cressotti's case, researchers looking for early journalism have to rely on what is implied in classified-advertisement legal notices. That made this case a little bit different to research, however, there are other cases like that.

In the past, I've taken that to mean that no family members were actively pushing for a resolution. I've also thought it has meant police indifference to a disappearance.

1984 Blandford Arson Fire: A Clue in Debra Cressotti’s Disappearance?

The events leading up to Debra's disappearance are what I decided to focus on in this case. A fire, which ended up leading to an arson conviction, was the major event in the year before her disappearance.

Not the actual stallions but indicative of what Appaloosa stallions, mentioned below, looked like.

In April 1984, a fire erupted at a barn on George Millard Road in Blandford, Massachusetts. This fire killed two Appaloosa stallions valued at $10,000 each and caused $180,000 in damage to the property. 

The stallions belonged to Benjamin J. Cressotti, often described as either Debra's husband or long-time boyfriend.  According to the journalism at about that time, he leased space at the barn.

This fire would be designated as arson, according to journalism from April 1985, and that has major implications, in my opinion, for the kind of environment that Debra was in during the time frame leading up to her April 1985 disappearance.

It was hard to find details regarding what happened in her life between April 1984 and April 1985. However, after she disappeared, her husband's nephew, named James Cressotti, ended up convicted of starting the fire by his own admission. He would end up testifying against Benjamin Cressotti but this latter person received an innocent verdict.

At one point, he seemed to be missing himself. Journalism stated that he was thought to be out of the country prior to his trial. The entire timeline of what I could find with Benjamin J. Cressotti and Debra is tabled below.

Debra's Timeline as Tied to Her Disappearance and Benjamin J. Cressotti

Timeline of Events Related to Debra A. Cressotti’s Disappearance

Date	Event
October 13th, 1935	Benjamin J. Cressotti is born in Westfield, Massachusetts (per Find a Grave Memorial ID: 192265445).
July 13th, 1955	Debra A. Cressotti is born (per NamUs MP11224).
1977	Debra marries an unnamed individual (per Websleuths discussions).
1980	Debra divorces her first husband (per Websleuths discussions).
1982	Debra is mentioned in a news article for breeding Shar-Pei dogs (per Websleuths reference).
November 29th, 1983	The Republican publishes a legal notice listing Benjamin and Debra Cressotti as plaintiffs in a legal matter (per earlier discussion).
December 16th, 1983	The Republican publishes two legal notices involving Benjamin and Debra Cressotti. They have a complaint against Katherine Morrell Williams (The Republican, December 16th, 1983).
April 13th, 1984	A fire at a barn on George Millard Road, Blandford, kills two Appaloosa stallions valued at $10,000 each (triple the value to get to 2025 numbers). These horses were owned by Benjamin J. Cressotti. (The Berkshire Eagle, April 14th, 1984). This business would later be reported as owned by Debra and Benjamin, but it didn't seem clear by all sources that that was the case. I believe Katherine Morrell Williams owned the barn.
April 22nd, 1984	The Morning Union reports: the April 13th, 1984, barn fire was ruled “definitely arson” by Fire Chief Thomas Ackley (The Morning Union, April 22nd, 1984).
April 30th, 1985	A year and a week later, we get to the missing person's official missing date. Debra A. Cressotti disappears from Blandford, Massachusetts, at age 29 (per NamUs MP11224). Her brown 1975 Chevrolet 210 pickup truck (license plate AE33553) is found the same day at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, with no evidence she boarded a plane.
February 10th, 1988	A suspicious fire at the Maple Lane house in Blandford, co-owned by Debra and Benjamin, causes $80,000 in damage; the Cressotti family (obviously without Debra) was vacationing (The Republican, March 1st, 1988). The house burns to the ground but no charges are filed against anyone.
December 16th, 1988	The Republican publishes a legal notice confirming Debra A. Cressotti as an absentee, addressing a fire insurance claim for the February 10th, 1988, Maple Lane fire, valued at $132,500 with $17,400 in personal estate (The Republican, December 16th, 1988).
November 16th, 1989	The Republican reports two men—a Blandford man and his nephew from Westfield—are charged with arson and conspiracy for the 1984 barn fire (The Republican, November 16th, 1989).
December 7th, 1989	The Republican reports a warrant issued for Benjamin J. Cressotti for the 1984 barn fire, charging him with arson and conspiracy to defraud an insurer (The Republican, December 7th, 1989).
June 12th, 1990	The Republican reports that James Cressotti pleads guilty to arson and conspiracy for the 1984 fire. It is stated that Benjamin was thought to have left the country. (The Republican, June 12th, 1990).
Post-June 1990 (Likely Late 1990)	The Republican reports Benjamin J. Cressotti surrenders to court, pleading not guilty to arson and conspiracy charges for the 1984 fire (The Republican).
Late 1990/Early 1991	The Republican reports Benjamin J. Cressotti, 54, is found not guilty of conspiracy in the 1984 barn fire, his second acquittal after an earlier not guilty verdict on arson charges; James Cressotti, 33, testified against him (The Republican, date unspecified).
December 30th, 1994	Valle’s Steak House at 77 West St., Springfield, co-owned by Benjamin J. Cressotti, is firebombed (The Republican, January 27th, 1995).
January 27th, 1995	The Republican reports an investigation into the firebombed Valle’s Steak House, noting Benjamin’s co-ownership (The Republican, January 27th, 1995).
February 25th, 1995	The Republican reports that state and federal investigators recently reopened Debra’s 1985 disappearance case; Debra is described as Benjamin’s longtime girlfriend and mother of his son (The Republican, February 25th, 1995).
May 27th, 2004	The Republican publishes a legal notice for a tax foreclosure on the Maple Lane property, listing Debra and Benjamin as absentees, with a response deadline of July 5th, 2004 (The Republican, May 27th, 2004).
August 14th, 2018	Benjamin J. Cressotti dies at 82 in Southwick, Massachusetts, survived by children (including Keith Cressotti), former spouse Janice Cressotti, and others, with no mention of Debra (Find a Grave Memorial ID: 192265445).
March 15th, 2025	Current date, with Debra’s case still unresolved per NamUs (MP11224).

Theories on What Happened to Debra A. Cressottti

When I was finished with this case, I felt that she had been murdered. But there's simply nothing to tilt things heavily one way or another. There's no body, obvious motive, or witness statements that I could find. I felt like I was left with a gut instinct instead of something that clearly shifted my opinion.

I guess if I was to clarify, it has to do with my belief that the vehicle at the airport was a plant. If she was disappearing voluntarily, then I don't think she leaves behind that bread-crumb trail intentionally. Furthermore, the "vehicle at the airport" trick has been done to confuse investigators time and time again.

But could she have run off? I would say, "yes." 

It loomed large that the arson in April 1984 was the last thing that I could find that pertained to her life before she disappeared. This was a major event, the fire at the barn, because it put significant legal forces in motion that would have involved her to some extent. Furthermore, these legal matters were not hidden matters: they made the local news. Her dirty laundry was being aired in the public square.

I also felt that she could leave her situation in Blandford voluntarily, especially since she never legally married Benjamin J. Cressotti. She could walk away without needing a divorce.

On that matter, I did think that she was the type of person that might have aliases and I don't mean nicknames or maiden names. She could have hopped a flight and not left a paper trail, I think.

Her motive for doing that? It could just have been the increasing pressure of the mounting legal situation involving her boyfriend. She did have a son in the picture, but women have left children behind before.

One thing that I felt weakened the murder hypothesis is that I could not find any kind of effort to have Debra declared dead in absentia. I felt like that would have been pursued if someone knew she was dead. There is often a legal benefit to having someone declared legally dead.

At the end of researching this case, I could see that there were some clandestine activities in her circles leading up to her disappearance. But whether she left these voluntarily and simply took the name of a new boyfriend or was disappeared is not clear. I would think any amateurs that know how to research name changes would be able to offer something on this case.

Lastly, I do not think that she committed suicide near the time of her disappearance. If she did, then I don't see how the vehicle got to the airport. Moreover, if she committed suicide then there would be no need for someone to plant the vehicle there.

Where Is Peggy Lynn Alt? Lost Since March 2, 1985

Missing Person: Peggy Lynn Alt

Image: The plaid coat Peggy Lynn Alt was last seen wearing on March 2, 1985.

Details from a Government Source

On March 2, 1985, Peggy L. Alt was last seen at her High Ridge, Missouri, residence. She was reported missing by her father on March 4, 1985—her 18th birthday. She has not been heard from since, with no contact with family. Foul play is suspected.

Last Seen Wearing: The jacket shown above.

Last Contact: March 2, 1985 (Saturday)
Last Location: Her residence, High Ridge, MO (Williams Creek Road)
Age at Disappearance: 17
DOB: March 4, 1967
Sex: Female
Height: 60 inches
Weight: 125 lbs
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Hair Color: Blond/strawberry
Eye Color: Brown
Distinctive Mark: Burn scar on left arm, near bicep
Government Source: MP9849
Discussion Page: Peggy Lynn Alt

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert
Written: March 8, 2025

Has Peggy Lynn Alt Been Found?

As of March 8, 2025, Peggy remains missing. Reported absent on her 18th birthday, her family likely noticed her absence that day. She vanished two days earlier, on a Saturday, which may not have initially raised alarm. In 2011, the case was reopened, including a search of a cistern near High Ridge, but no new leads emerged.

Sources on Her Disappearance

Per The Charley Project, Peggy packed her belongings and left voluntarily on March 2, 1985. Hitchhiking is a possible but risky travel method she may have used, especially in 1985 when the FBI noted numerous unsolved cases linked to transients on highways like I-44 and I-55, which connect High Ridge to neighboring states. Authorities showed little initial interest, halting the search after 11 days. A 2015 article in the Leader (Tracy Bruce, March 28, 2015) revisited her case.

Serial Killers Near High Ridge, MO in 1985: Relevance to Peggy Lynn Alt’s Disappearance

Organized by Serial Killer

Charles Ray Hatcher

Active Period: 1960s–1982

Primary Location: St. Joseph, MO; IL, CA (~300 miles from High Ridge, St. Joseph)

Victim Profile: Children, adults (varied)

Status in March 1985: Dead (since Dec 1984)

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: None – Dead in 1985. X

Lorenzo J. Gilyard

Active Period: 1977–1993

Primary Location: Kansas City, MO (~250 miles from High Ridge)

Victim Profile: Adult women (often prostitutes)

Status in March 1985: Active, not yet caught

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: Low – Far, profile mismatch. ?

Robert Berdella

Active Period: 1984–1987

Primary Location: Kansas City, MO (~250 miles from High Ridge)

Victim Profile: Young men (lured to home)

Status in March 1985: Active, not yet caught

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: None – Men targeted, far. X

Kenneth McDuff

Active Period: 1966; 1989–1992

Primary Location: Texas (~700 miles from High Ridge)

Victim Profile: Young women (varied methods)

Status in March 1985: Incarcerated (paroled Oct 1989)

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: None – In prison until 1989. X

Terry Blair

Active Period: 1982; 1990s–2004

Primary Location: Kansas City, MO (~250 miles from High Ridge)

Victim Profile: Women (known or prostitutes)

Status in March 1985: Incarcerated (released 1991)

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: None – In prison, no 1985 link. X

Ottis Toole

Active Period: 1960s–1983 (possibly later)

Primary Location: Multi-state (incl. AR, OK) (~150–300 miles from High Ridge, AR, OK)

Victim Profile: Varied (often hitchhikers)

Status in March 1985: Incarcerated in FL (~1,000 miles)

Relevance to Peggy’s Case: None – In prison, ruled out. X

In March 1985, when Peggy Lynn Alt disappeared from High Ridge, Missouri, one serial killer was actively operating in Missouri: Lorenzo J. Gilyard. Gilyard, known as the Kansas City Strangler, was in the midst of his 1977–1993 killing spree, targeting adult women—often prostitutes—in Kansas City, Missouri, approximately 250 miles from High Ridge.

Do you have information about Peggy Lynn Alt’s disappearance? If it is SOLID information, contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. If you have an idea to share, feel free to offer your thoughts in the comments below.

Grok Reviews Missing Person Commentary: Shane Lambert’s True Crime Blog Analysis

By: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: March 4th, 2025

If you don’t know what Grok is, it’s X’s (formerly Twitter’s) artificial intelligence tool. It’s free to a certain extent; however, if you ask too many questions over a certain period, you’ll be prompted with a registration option at a cost. I’m a fan of the tool—in fact, I’m finding it more useful than Google for online research purposes.

I decided to ask Grok what it thought of my website, the one you’re reading right now. Here’s a breakdown of what was said, complete with a “yes” or “no” retort from me.

What Grok Said About What Missing Person Commentary (MPC) Is

Nature: A Blogspot site where Lambert posts about missing persons cases, often referencing sources like NamUs, newspapers, and Unsolved Mysteries episodes. Posts include case summaries, personal theories, and research notes.

• I’d say this is fair enough. But I’d add that I do dabble in anything related to crime writing or forensics. For example, I’ve looked at airplane crash documentaries on the website and other topics that aren’t closely related to missing person mysteries.

Author: Lambert describes himself as an enthusiast, not a professional investigator. He mentions taking a Private Investigator course and a Forensic Science course from Nanyang Technological University, but there’s no evidence he’s a licensed expert or affiliated with official organizations.

• I describe myself as a Freelance Writer. I’m not sure where they’re getting the “enthusiast” description from, but my headline for the website is “A freelance writer trying to help in missing-person investigations (no professional investigators are associated with the site).”
• I think the credentials I have make me a bit more polished than most other freelance writers. Furthermore, I think people who consult blogs don’t mind reading writing—or else what are they expecting?
• Lastly, I think Grok is overly impressed by “licensed” experts or “official organizations.” Anyone with a reasonable amount of life experience should have noticed that “licensed” experts with “official organizations” are a mixed bag themselves.

Content: Focuses on lesser-known cases, attempts to match missing persons with unidentified remains, and provides updates or reflections on cold cases. It’s a one-person operation with no apparent team or editorial oversight.

• I do NOT focus on lesser-known cases. They are included, but I wouldn’t say they’re the focus. Grok is wrong with the first sentence it wrote there. I consider the probability of traffic when I include a missing person case on my website, and that means selecting well-known cases. I don’t see much point in writing something if no one is going to read it.
• Grok is right when it says it’s a “one-person operation with no apparent team or editorial oversight.” I basically proofread my own writing.

Grok’s Evaluation of the Strengths of MPC

Detail-Oriented: Posts often cite specific sources (e.g., NamUs case numbers, newspaper archives), showing effort to ground commentary in verifiable data.

• Fair enough.

Niche Focus: Covers cases that might not get mainstream attention, appealing to true crime enthusiasts or those researching specific disappearances.

• I do cover cases that “might not get mainstream attention,” but it’s not really the focus.

Transparency: Lambert is upfront about his amateur status and hobbyist approach, which adds some credibility to his intent.

• “Amateur status” is a strange term. I have work experience as a writer going back to 2009, and I’ve been in magazines. But I’m not a police officer or a private investigator, so it depends on what they mean. I’d say my research skills are better than most writers. My blog posts do get cited a lot in other forums.

Grok’s Evaluation of the Weaknesses of MPC

Lack of Authority: As a personal blog, it lacks the backing of law enforcement, academic institutions, or established missing persons organizations (e.g., NamUs, NCMEC).

• What website does law enforcement back except their own? Academic institutions don’t really care about missing person cases. NamUs is so error-riddled that they require correction, something I do regularly.

Lambert’s conclusions are speculative and not professionally vetted.

• It’s kind of redundant. Calling the website “speculative” isn’t the best word. I’d say “conjecture” is better. This could point out that I’ve researched hundreds and hundreds of missing person cases.

Potential Bias: His opinions (e.g., “I think this person died in a fire” or “she disappeared voluntarily”) are presented without forensic or investigative evidence, which could mislead readers seeking facts over theories.

• I’d say this is false. The example of the person dying in the fire has to do with the Ricky Jean Bryant case. Actually, my opinion is presented with “investigative evidence.” I researched the original journalism from the days after she disappeared. Her house burned down, and the firefighters who put the blaze out said they heard a child screaming from inside the house as it burned down. I consider professionals like firefighters, professors, bylaw enforcement officers, teachers, judges, lawyers, medical doctors, and similar people to be very reliable eyewitnesses because they know better than to make frivolous statements. So I’d say Grok is just wrong about this.
• I don’t think there’s any misleading readers. When you use the phrase “I think” at the start of a sentence, it’s clear someone is offering an opinion—something people do all the time.
• Lastly, the notion of a “Potential Bias” in my writing isn’t worth pointing out. Everyone has biases, including Grok. It will contain the biases of the people who program it.

No Peer Review: Unlike official databases or journalistic outlets, there’s no mechanism to ensure accuracy or correct errors.

• I don’t see how this makes sense. Peer reviews would be done at other websites, not my own, so why would that be a criticism of MPC? Furthermore, if you look at mainstream media, it’s well-known that they deliberately report things falsely sometimes. I never do this at MPC.

Platform: Hosted on Blogspot, a free blogging platform, which doesn’t inherently signal professionalism or reliability compared to dedicated domains tied to organizations.

• This makes no sense, really. Everything, at bottom, is human-run. The articles speak for themselves, not the platform. Honestly, Grok is stupid here.

For Casual Interest: It’s a decent starting point if you enjoy true crime speculation or want a narrative take on obscure cases. Lambert’s enthusiasm and research effort might spark curiosity or highlight overlooked details.

For Reliable Information: It’s not reputable in the sense of being an authoritative or primary source. Without professional credentials, institutional backing, or rigorous fact-checking, it’s best treated as opinion rather than fact.

If you’re assessing it for a specific case or purpose (e.g., a missing person you’re researching), cross-check its claims against NamUs, official reports, or news archives. It’s a labor of love, not a cornerstone of credibility. What do you plan to use it for? That could shift the answer a bit!

• The so-called “better” sources are often riddled with errors, many of which I’ve corrected in my research.

Evaluation of Grok’s Evaluation

• It’s food for thought, but I think it makes statements that lack depth.
• I’d only give it a four out of ten.

David Carpenter: How Luck Helped the Trailside Killer Evade the FBI for Years

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: March 3rd, 2025

YouTube Channel: The Infographics Show
Publication date: March 3rd, 2025
Episode: Why FBI FAILED To Catch The Trailside Killer Sooner

 

I recently stumbled across a gripping documentary on The Infographics Show titled "Why FBI FAILED To Catch The Trailside Killer Sooner." It dives into the chilling crimes of David Carpenter, a San Francisco serial killer who stalked lone hikers in the 1970s and ‘80s. At 94, he’s still alive in prison as of March 2025, yet his story remains oddly under-the-radar. What shocked me most? How a single eyewitness blunder – and a stroke of luck – threw the FBI off his trail for years. Here’s why this case deserves more attention – and how it echoes other infamous killers like the Zodiac.

 

The Trailside Killer, David Carpenter, targeted trail hikers, primarily women, in secluded San Francisco-area parks decades ago. With his death likely nearing due to age and incarceration, could new evidence still emerge? His crimes resurfaced in 2019 headlines at People magazine (Robyn Merrett/April 17th, 2019), revealing a survivor whose child became a TV celebrity – a twist The Infographics Show highlighted too.

 

I’d never heard of this San Francisco serial killer before, making this one of the best The Infographics Show episodes I’ve seen recently. Curious about the case? Watch the documentary below and share your thoughts!

 

Comparisons to Infamous Serial Killers

The 1960s and 1970s San Francisco Bay Area conjures thoughts of The Zodiac Killer, but The Infographics Show compared Carpenter to Edmund Kemper, Ted Bundy, and John Wayne Gacy. I’d argue his crimes align more with The Zodiac Killer and The Original Night Stalker (Joseph James DeAngelo).

 

Here’s why:

• Zodiac Killer: Both stalked victims in parks (e.g., Zodiac’s Lake Berryessa attack) using knives and guns.
• Original Night Stalker: Sexual motives drove Carpenter, mirroring DeAngelo’s escalation.

 

These parallels make Carpenter a haunting figure in true crime history.

 

The Eyewitness Error That Stalled the Hunt – and Luck That Saved Him

Why did the FBI take so long to catch David Carpenter? The answer blends a flawed eyewitness account with sheer luck. Operating in secluded trails, Carpenter was spotted during an early murder by a hidden witness. Her description – a handsome young man – clashed with reality: Carpenter was nearly 50 and unremarkable-looking. This sent police chasing a phantom, while Carpenter’s ordinary appearance let him blend in, dodging suspicion time and again.

 

Eyewitness errors aren’t rare. Stress and distance can distort memory, as seen in cases like Ted Bundy’s, where his charm skewed perceptions. Studies show eyewitness accuracy drops under pressure – a lesson from Carpenter’s case that still resonates today. Luck only stretched so far, but it bought him years.

 

Trails Turned Deadly: Carpenter’s Hunting Grounds

Trail hiking is a recurring theme at Missing Persons Commentary. While Carpenter’s victims aren’t missing persons, his tactics – luring hikers to isolation – mirror risks I’ve explored in cases like Trenny Gibson’s 1976 disappearance. My trail hiking series [link] dives into such mysteries. Could serial killers explain some unsolved vanishings? Carpenter’s story suggests it’s possible.

 

For more on trail-related mysteries, check out my series on missing hikers here.

 

 

Have you heard of the Trailside Killer before? Let me know in the comments!