Sunday, March 17, 2024

The Disappearance of Arelie Garcia-Sanchez

Source: areliegarcia.com

Arelie Yeraldine Garcia-Sanchez has been missing since September 22nd, 2022. The then-25-year-old was last seen at her home in Salinas, California. Arelie left her residence shortly around 6:30 AM to go to work at a local Chevrolet dealership. She has never been seen again.

Arelie's final contact with family members occurred at 6:56 AM that morning, when she sent her sister Veronica a "good morning" text. She was due to get to work minutes after that message was sent, but she never arrived. Later that morning, Arelie's other sister, Elizet, received a call from Arelie's manager saying that she hadn't shown up to her job.

Both sisters then tried to get in touch with Arelie. After several unsuccessful attempts, they used the Find My iPhone app to track Arelie's phone. The app indicated that Arelie's phone last pinged in Big Sur - an area located an approximate hour's drive away from Salinas. Elizet and her husband decided to drive to that area, while Veronica stayed back and reported Arelie missing to the Salinas Police. 

Elizet and her husband eventually found Arelie's car parked along Highway 1 near the Little Sue River. The car was unlocked, and Arelie's phone and wallet were inside. The keys were still in the ignition. However, Arelie herself was nowhere to be found. 

A search is launched.

After investigators were notified about the discovery of Arelie's car, a search and rescue team scoured the surrounding area by drone, but nothing was found. The search and rescue team returned the following day and searched the area on foot with the assistance of a CHP airplane, but once again, nothing was found. 

Salinas Police Detective Edwin Cruz told reporters that another search was conducted days later, on October 2nd, 2022. According to Cruz, the area was searched "by SPD Detectives, MCSO Search and Rescue, a drone, and a trained cadaver dog," but no sign of Arelie was recovered.

The MCSO has reportedly conducted additional searches that ended unsuccessfully. Searches by Arelie's family have ended unsuccessfully as well. 

What happened to Arelie?

Source: areliegarcia.com

Arelie's fate remains unknown to this day. Her disappearance is both baffling and devastating to her loved ones. Arelie's sisters have maintained that it is uncharacteristic for her to leave without warning.

Prior to vanishing, Arelie loved spending time with her family, especially her young godson/nephew. She also had a passion for cars and enjoyed her job as a service writer at both MY Nissan Kia and MY Chevrolet in the Salinas Auto Mall. As such, it was immediately worrisome when Arelie's sister Elizet received the call that Arelie had not shown up at work on the morning of September 22nd, 2022 - as this was not in her nature at all. 

More about the morning of Arelie's disappearance.

Most reports state that Arelie left the Salinas, California apartment that she shared with her mother shortly after 6:30 AM on the morning of her disappearance. Surveillance cameras from the apartment building's parking lot captured her walking to her car, getting into it, and driving away. 

Arelie outside of her apartment building on the morning of her disappearance. (Source: kion546.com)

Based on the time Arelie left her residence, she should have arrived at work around 7:00 AM. However, it's worth noting that several reports mention that Arelie usually did not leave for work until 7:30 AM - a whole hour later than the time she left on the morning of her disappearance. It's unknown why she left early on this particular morning. It's also noted that Arelie did not appear to be dressed for work when she left that morning, either. 

Despite these circumstances, the message that Arelie sent her sister Veronica on the morning of her disappearance does not indicate that anything was unusual. The message reads, "Good morning :) I miss you & my baby, love you!" Timestamps indicate that the text was sent at 6:56 AM - just minutes before Arelie was due to arrive at work.

Texts between Arelie and Veronica. (Source: nbcnews.com)


The texts above indicate that Arelie did not reply to Veronica's response to the good morning text, nor did she respond to any subsequent messages. It's unknown what happened to Arelie after she sent that good morning text. What is known is that she did not show up for work, and that her car was later found about an hour's drive away.

Very few additional clues.

As mentioned earlier, Arelie's car was found unlocked and abandoned in the Big Sur area. Her wallet, phone, and keys were inside the car. Investigators stated that there were no indications of foul play in or around the vehicle - but extensive searches in the surrounding area did not yield any additional clues about what might have happened to Arelie. 

In an age where surveillance cameras are almost everywhere, it seems odd that Arelie could simply vanish without having been caught on camera. The only footage that investigators have been able to uncover - aside from the footage of Arelie leaving her residence - came from cameras outside of a general store. 

A detective told reporters that investigators "scanned footage and believe a vehicle matching [Arelie's] passed the Carmel Highlands General store -- about 40 minutes away from her apartment." Said route is reportedly consistent with the route where the car was later found in Big Sur. 

While all signs point to the car in the footage from the general store being Arelie's, it appears that this has never been officially confirmed. It's likely that the nature of the footage makes it difficult to identify the exact make and model of the car, and even more difficult to distinguish the car's driver. 

Since investigators determined that there were no signs of foul play when Arelie's car was found, it is unclear if they ever established any persons of interest in the case. There has been some online speculation that Arelie might have died by suicide, but her body has never been located - nor have any additional clues pointing to this theory. 

Where the case stands.

Arelie remains missing today. Her family members are still desperately hoping for answers.

There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could lead to Arelie's whereabouts. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Salinas Police Department at 831-775-4240.

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Sources:
Bring Arelie Home
California Department of Justice
Charley Project
The Disappeared Blog
KION 46 News
NamUs
NBC News

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Disappearance of John DeMarino

Source: News and Sentinel

John DeMarino vanished under mysterious circumstances on January 30th, 2019. The then-51-year-old was last seen during the evening at Uncle Mike's Bar in Parkersburg, West Virginia. John ordered a beer at the bar, drank half of it, then got up and walked away. He has never been seen or heard from again.

John was driving his mother's silver Ford Escape on the night of his disappearance. Four days later, the car was found abandoned at a Love's Truck Stop in Conneaut, Ohio. The vehicle was unlocked, and a phone charger and loose change were found inside. However, there were no further signs of John himself.

The car had reportedly been there for 3 to 4 days by the time it was reported. It's worth noting that the area where the vehicle was found is located on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border; an approximate three and a half hour's drive away from where John was last seen in Parkersburg. It's unknown why John would travel there, or if he even drove the car there himself. 

Before his disappearance, John had been living with his mother in Spencer, West Virginia for about five months after splitting up with his wife. He kept in frequent contact with his two children: a 19-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old-son. John's family members were immediately worried when he fell-out-of-touch. 

Additionally, the circumstances surrounding John's disappearance are quite suspicious. As previously noted, he vanished after ordering a beer at a bar and drinking just half of it. An employee who saw John get up midway through his drink thought he was just going to the restroom - but he never returned at all. It's unclear what caused him to abruptly leave, and his fate since then remains unknown. 

Years have passed without any clues to John's whereabouts. His disappearance is now considered a cold case. Detectives from both Roane County and Spencer are in charge of the investigation. If you have any information that could lead to John's whereabouts, please contact the Roane County Sheriff's Office at 304-927-3410 or the Spencer Police Department at 304-927-5616.

 
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Sources:
Charley Project
NamUs
News and Sentinel
Uncovered

Friday, March 15, 2024

The Murder of Heidi Cunningham

Source: Virginia State Police

Heidi Cunningham was found murdered inside her home in Chesterfield County, Virginia on May 5th, 2008. The 38-year-old woman's death was discovered after her parents called police to request a welfare check on their daughter. When officers arrived at Heidi's residence at the Bristol Village complex, they found her deceased inside her apartment. An autopsy later confirmed that Heidi had been strangled to death.

Bristol Village apartment complex. Source: YouTube

Heidi had moved into the Bristol Village apartment complex after separating from her husband. The couple had three children together; all three of them lived with their faither at the time of Heidi's death. Early into the investigation, police told reporters that they didn't have any reason to believe that Heidi's murder was "domestic-related." 

Neighbors of Heidi were interviewed by CBS 6 shortly after the murder. One of the interviewees later posted a video with clips of the interview to YouTube. In the video, it's mentioned that Heidi's husband told reporters "off-camera" that his wife "had a drinking problem and he wasn't satisfied with her rehab results." As a result, Heidi's husband asked her to move out of the family home; subsequently leading to their separation. 

Although there might have been tension between Heidi and her husband at the time of her murder, it does not appear that the husband is a suspect. In fact, several years have passed without any suspects in the case. There have been very few reports about Heidi's murder, and details about the investigation are unknown. The events leading up to Heidi's death, including the individuals she might have interacted with before her murder, are unknown as well. 

The Virginia State Police have classified this murder as a cold case. It remains unsolved today. If you have any information that could help solve the murder of Heidi Cunningham, please contact investigators at 804-717-6024 or submit a tip online. 

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Sources:
Richmond Times-Dispatch, (2)
Virginia State Police
YouTube

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Murders of Melissa Mason and Nicole Glass

Source: nbcnews.com

Melissa Mason and Nicole Glass were brutally murdered inside their Phoenix, Arizona home during December of 2010. The two women were roommates and friends; both also worked as bartenders. Melissa and Nicole were only 27 years-old at the time they were killed. 

A friend of both women stopped by their East Cambridge Avenue residence on December 3rd, 2010, and made a horrific discovery: Melissa and Nicole were dead. Police were immediately called to the scene, and it was soon determined that the women had been strangled to death. However, there was reportedly "nothing to indicate a violent struggle or fight before their deaths." There were also no signs of forced entry or a robbery. 

The case was ruled a triple homicide, as Melissa was eight weeks pregnant at the time of the murders. In fact, Melissa and her boyfriend/father of the child had attended a sonogram appointment the day before the killings. The boyfriend has reportedly been extensively questioned and has taken polygraph tests related to the case. He has never been labeled a suspect. 

Several years have passed, and the homicide case remains unsolved. The families of both Melissa and Nicole are left without justice. The murders of Melissa and Nicole have left both loved ones and investigators alike with unanswered questions: who killed these young women? And why?

More about Melissa and Nicole.

Source: thedeckpodcast.com

Melissa and Nicole met five years before their murders when they both worked as bartenders at an adult nightclub in Phoenix. The two became best friends and, eventually, roommates. Nicole purchased the single-story home where the women lived in the 4200 block of East Cambridge Avenue during 2006. 
What was once a happy living environment between two best friends quickly turned into a tragic crime scene when Melissa and Nicole were found murdered inside the home on December 3rd, 2010. 

According to reports, both women were about to begin new chapters in their life shortly before they were killed. Nicole had resigned from her job as a bartender, and she was close to finishing her communications degree from the University of Phoenix. Melissa was still bartending, but she was also pursuing a career as a dental hygienist and had recently graduated from Pima Medical Institute.

As previously noted, Melissa was also eight weeks pregnant at the time of the murders. While she had already told her sister the news, Melissa planned to surprise her mother on Christmas by telling her about the pregnancy. In fact, a Ziplock bag with a positive pregnancy test was found amongst Melissa's belongings. "Merry Xmas!" was scribbled across the bag.

The murders.

source: silentwitness.org

Melissa and Nicole were reportedly last seen alive at their home by Melissa's boyfriend. After Melissa's boyfriend left that evening, both women sent text messages from their respective cell phones. It's unclear, when, exactly, their last messages were sent.

As stated on the card above, investigators believe Melissa and Nicole were murdered sometime after 8:00 PM on December 2nd, 2010. Their bodies were discovered at 12:22 PM on December 3rd, 2010. Melissa and Nicole were found in different parts of the house, but both women had been strangled. 

Nothing was stolen from the residence, so a robbery was ruled out as a motive. There were no signs of forced entry. Both women had defensive wounds, which indicates they fought the attacker, but there was otherwise nothing to indicate a major fight or violent struggle in the home. 

Who killed Melissa and Nicole?

source: 12 News

By all accounts, Melissa and Nicole were loving and fun young women. It's hard to imagine how anyone could take such vibrant lives so senselessly, and it's even harder to imagine why. However, there are a few aspects in the lives of both women that are worth looking into for potential theories.

Melissa's boyfriend. 

Melissa's boyfriend/father of her unborn child was inevitably looked into as a potential suspect in the beginning of the investigation. Aside from the fact that it is standard procedure to question significant others of murder victims, Melissa's boyfriend was also the last person known to have seen Melissa and Nicole alive before their murders. 

There was another major reason to suspect the boyfriend as well: Melissa's pregnancy. Since she was only eight weeks along at the time of her death, it's likely that the news of the pregnancy was still fresh to both Melissa and her boyfriend. The couple had also just gone to their first sonogram appointment together, which likely brought the pregnancy further into reality for both of them. 

The couple also had not been together for very long prior to Melissa getting pregnant. In fact, Melissa's family members had just recently met him at Thanksgiving, just days before the murder. If Melissa's boyfriend did not want this baby, this could have been a potential motive. However, this does not appear to be the case. According to reports, the boyfriend has cooperated with the investigation, submitted DNA, and passed a polygraph exam. 

Melissa's family members also do not believe he is the killer. Melissa's sister told reporters that the boyfriend kept in touch with them in years following the murders and was always very respectful. At this time, the boyfriend is not considered a suspect.

Nicole's charges and her mother's lawsuit.

After the news broke about the murders of Melissa and Nicole, it was also reported that Nicole had recently "pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement in a 2009 drug investigation that involved dozens of defendants." She was sentenced to probation as a result. Nicole's family said that the charges were going to be appealed. 

There has been speculation that these charges could be related to the murders, especially since dozens of people were involved. Nicole's mother, Rachel Glass, eventually hired a private investigator who reportedly received a tip that Nicole was a confidential informant for the Phoenix police while she was on probation. 

Upon receiving this information, Nicole's mother Rachel began to believe that Nicole might have been targeted for snitching. In 2016, Rachel filed a lawsuit against Phoenix police, claiming that "members of the Phoenix Police Department put her daughter to work as a confidential informant and that arrangement led to her death." 

The lawsuit states that "Phoenix police officers recruited Nicole to be a confidential informant, but failed to adequately train, watch, or protect her." The police department denied these allegations and said that Nicole was never an informant. It does not appear that the police have investigated a link between Nicole's 2009 charges and her murder. Still, there is still speculation about this being a potential motive in the case for various reasons. This topic will be revisited in a bit below. 

Various visitors at their residence & the broken gate lock.

Melissa and Nicole reportedly had several visitors to their home in the days leading up to their murders. Amongst those visitors was a man named Johnny, who had been employed by Nicole to re-finish the floors in the house. Johnny told police that he had provided Nicole with an estimate in October 2010, and his work in the house began on December 1st, 2010 - just two days before Melissa and Nicole were found murdered. 

Johnny said that he and his crew - who also happened to be his siblings - worked at the house on December 1st and 2nd. Throughout his time there, Johnny noted that Melissa was home most of the time, while Nicole came and went often. Nicole also seemed to have several visitors in and out of the house. 

One such visitor is a man named Jose, a mutual friend of both Melissa and Nicole. Jose came over to the house on December 2nd, 2010 - a day before they were found murdered. Jose was a frequent visitor to the residence, and he initiated meeting up with police after he heard that Melissa and Nicole had been killed. 

Jose told police that when he first came over on December 2nd, both Melissa and Nicole were home. Johnny and his crew were also there, working on the floors. While there, Nicole asked Jose to take out the garbage, but noted that the key to their backyard gate was missing, so he'd have to walk around the block to get to the garbage bins. 

Jose playfully replied that he was not going to walk that far to take out the garbage, but he agreed to later remove the lock from the gate altogether so Melissa and Nicole could open gate's door without the key. Jose then continued to hang out with Melissa and Nicole for a bit. 

At some point, Melissa and Nicole had to leave for a doctor's appointment. They asked Jose to tag along, but he decided to stay while the workers were in the house. While the two were gone, Jose went about removing the gate lock, as he told them he would. He eventually ended up breaking the lock gate off with a hammer. 

Jose said that he waited around for a little longer for the women to return. He called both of their phones, but his calls went unanswered. He eventually left before they returned and went to another friend's residence. 

The information that Jose provided about the broken lock gate led police to speculate whether or not the killer entered/exited the home through the backyard by going through said gate. Since Nicole stated that the key was missing, it's possible that someone had stolen it with the intent of using it to enter their house later. However, since the gate was broken at the time of the killings, the killer had access to the backyard either way. 

Johnny, the worker who was re-finishing the floors, told police that Melissa and Nicole seemed very trusting. They appeared to be comfortable leaving Johnny and his crew at the home while they weren't there, and it also appeared that they often kept their doors unlocked. 

Jose, Johnny, and the crew all cooperated with the investigation, and all provided DNA samples to the detectives. None of them have ever been publicly labeled as suspects in the case. 

A call about Melissa's ex.

On December 14th, 2010 - just 11 days after the murders - a woman called Phoenix police and stated that Melissa's ex-boyfriend had a history of stalking and making threatening comments. The caller said she believed that if Melissa's ex-boyfriend had found out that Melissa was pregnant with another man's baby, it may have "set him off."

Investigators wanted to question the ex-boyfriend after receiving this information, but it took a while for them to track him down. Detectives were eventually able to arrange an interview with him in early 2011. The ex-boyfriend told investigators that he and Melissa were once engaged, and he had lived with her and Nicole for a time before they ended their relationship.

The ex-boyfriend also seemingly admitted that their relationship had some bumps in the road. He said that he did not like how many men came and went at Melissa and Nicole's residence. It's possible this caused a rift in their relationship, but he denied having ever threatened Melissa, and he denied involvement in the murders. 

Melissa's ex-boyfriend also told police that he was unhappy when he heard about her pregnancy because he thought it was too soon for her to be starting a family with a new boyfriend. However, he claimed that he did not know she was pregnant until after her death. 

Questions about an intended target.

The ex-boyfriend agreed to provide a DNA sample to investigators. He also told police that he did not believe Melissa was the intended target; that it had to have been Nicole. It's noted that this notion has been implied by several other people, including Melissa's boyfriend at the time of the murder, Melissa's family members, and Nicole's own mother. 

At first, there were seemingly reasons to believe there was more of a motive for Melissa's killing than Nicole's. Not only was Melissa newly pregnant by a new boyfriend, but she also was allegedly struggling with an ex-boyfriend who had threatened her life. However, the boyfriend/father of the child immediately cooperated with the investigation, and the ex-boyfriend eventually cooperated as well. 

As noted, both Melissa's new boyfriend and ex-boyfriend stated that they did not believe she was the intended target of the killings. Melissa's sister Samantha also does not seem to believe she was the target. In 2023, Samantha told reporters, " I believe that my sister was collateral damage. Wrong place, wrong time." 

This statement from Samantha sort of echoes what was said by both Melissa's boyfriend and ex-boyfriend - that Melissa was not the target in the killings. It appears that those close to the investigation believe that Nicole was the intended target. 

As previously noted, Nicole's mother believes that Nicole was an informant for the police at the time of her death, and that she was killed as a result. Phoenix police deny that Nicole was an informant, but it's unlikely that they'd willingly offer up that information if she was actually working with them. This also leads to questions of a police cover-up playing a role in the deaths of Melissa and Nicole. 

It's worth noting that this theory has never been confirmed. Detectives have remained quiet about the status of the investigation, and there are conflicting reports about their work on the case. While Melissa's mother seems to have a more positive relationship with the detectives, Nicole's mother's lawsuit implies her relationship with investigators is not so great. 

Where the case stands today.

There are several viable theories about who might have killed Melissa and Nicole. At this time, no arrests have been made, nor have any suspects been publicly labeled. Years have passed without answers or justice. 

There is a monetary reward of $10,000 for anyone with information that could help solve this case. If you have information that could help the investigation, please contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Disappearance of Heather Emmalee Bush

Source: Facebook

Heather Emmalee Bush has been missing since January 15th, 2005. She was only 13 years-old at the time of her disappearance. Heather was last seen at her grandparents' house in Modesto, California. She left the residence at some point on the day of her disappearance and never returned. Heather has never been seen or heard from again. 

Heather's disappearance was classified as a runaway case from the beginning, and it remains at that status today. Details about Heather's life at the time she vanished are unknown. The events leading up to her disappearance are unknown as well. 

A flyer for Heather's missing persons' case describes her as a Caucasian female with brown hair and blue eyes. The poster also states that she has a burn mark on her abdomen and is missing the tip of her left pinky finger. Heather was approximately 4'11" and 110 pounds when she went missing, but since she was only 13 years old at the time, it's possible that she would be taller today. 

Age-progressed picture of Heather. (Source: NCMEC)

In recent years, relatives of Heather have been trying to spread awareness about her disappearance on Facebook. Other than that, though, there has been very little reporting on Heather's case. News about her case appears to be nonexistent. 

Detectives in Ripon, California have agency over Heather's case. If you have any information about Heather's disappearance and/or whereabouts, please contact the Ripon Police Department at 209-599-2102.

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Sources:
California Department of Justice
Charley Project
Facebook
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Websleuths

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The Disappearance of Trang Huyen Tran

Source: KOCO.com

Trang Huyen Tran has been missing since April 5th, 2015. That day, the then-32-year-old woman went shopping with her mother in Midwest City, Oklahoma. During their shopping trip, Trang mentioned that she had plans to meet up with someone at 5:00 PM that evening. After parting ways with her mother, Trang's family never saw or heard from her again. 

Trang was reported missing the following day by a co-worker after she did not show up at her job. Her absence at work immediately raised red flags, as she was reportedly a very reliable employee. Investigators went to Trang's residence in Oklahoma and found her vehicle parked in its normal spot. Her personal items and pets were left in her apartment. However, Trang herself was nowhere to be found. 

Family members describe Trang as a private and introverted person. She was reportedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance, but her family did not know about the pregnancy until after she was reported missing. The father of her child has not been publicly identified. Trang also did not tell her mother who she planned to meet up with on the evening of her disappearance. As such, Trang's family has little clues about what might have happened to her. 

Years have passed, and very little information about Trang's case is available. Her page on Charley Project states that "she may be traveling with a Caucasian male named Tyson," but it is unclear where that information originated. Trang's case was eventually handed over to homicide detectives. 

Trang's disappearance is considered a cold case. She remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Oklahoma City Police Department at 405-297-1129.

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Sources:
Charley Project
KOCO News 5
News 9
Oklahoma Cold Cases

Sunday, March 3, 2024

The Suspicious Disappearance and Death of Nicole Mallatt

Source: KSHB 41

Nicole Mallatt was amongst the millions of people in the United States who were preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday during November 2019. The 36-year-old was looking forward to having quality time with her children, as they planned to make their Thanksgiving meal together. Unfortunately, this never got to happen, as Nicole vanished on November 26th, 2019 - just two days before the holiday.

At the time of her disappearance, Nicole lived with her boyfriend, Brad Shreve, and their four children in Bates County, Missouri. Their residence on SW County Road 3508 is considered to be located in a rural area. Nicole was last seen just down the street from her residence on the evening she vanished. 

According to reports, Nicole's ex-husband Richie Mallatt picked her up near her home that evening. Richie later told investigators that the two spent approximately 45 minutes together before he dropped Nicole off in the same area where he picked her up. A short time later, a neighbor driving by saw a woman who he believed to be Nicole standing on the side of that same road. After that final sighting, Nicole was never seen alive again. 

Nicole was reported missing on November 29th, 2019. A few days later, searchers found Nicole's backpack, shoes, and cell phone alongside a creek located near the area where she was last seen. Investigators also searched Nicole's residence but did not disclose if any evidence was found. 

Nearly a year passed without any further sign of Nicole. Then, on November 3rd, 2020, a farmer plowing his field found a pair of sweatpants with a human femur bone inside them. He then discovered several more human remains alongside a nearby creek - the same creek where Nicole's items had been found almost a year earlier. 

Police were called, and the responding investigators immediately had a hunch that the remains belonged to Nicole. Three days later, it was confirmed that the remains were, in fact, that of Nicole Mallatt. However, an autopsy was unable to confirm an exact cause of death. This, in addition to many other suspicious aspects of Nicole's case, have left several unanswered questions.


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What happened to Nicole?

Source: Facebook

As previously noted, Nicole spent time with her ex-husband Richie Mallatt shortly before her disappearance. While this inevitably leads to questions about Richie's potential involvement, he has never been publicly labeled as a suspect. Additionally, a neighbor believes that he saw Nicole after Richie dropped her off that evening.

That neighbor, Josh Mellenbruch, told reporters in 2023 that he saw a woman matching Nicole's description standing on the side of SW County Road, wearing a hoodie and carrying a backpack. Mellenbruch explained that "he slowed down and asked Nicole if she needed a ride since she was standing out in the dark. She declined the ride, saying she was waiting on someone to pick her up."

It appears that it was never confirmed that the woman Mellenbruch saw was, in fact, Nicole, but it certainly seems plausible. There were no other reported sightings of Nicole after that instance. 

Before Nicole's disappearance.

According to reports, Nicole sent messages to friends and family members in the weeks leading up to her disappearance that indicated that she was going through a hard time. In October 2019, she sent a text message to her aunt that said "I don't know what to do anymore. If I don't leave here soon, he's only going to end up killing me." 

Nicole sent messages of similar nature to other people around the same time. She also had a long phone conversation with a woman named Heather Smith - Nicole's friend of over 20 years. Heather told reporters that Nicole said she was going to leave after Thanksgiving "if things continued to go the way they were going." If Nicole was, in fact, serious about leaving after Thanksgiving, it seems all the more suspicious that she vanished right before the holiday. 

It also seems likely that Nicole was referring to her live-in boyfriend, Brad Shreve, in the aforementioned messages. However, according to investigators, Nicole did not identify anyone by name in the texts. Still, suspicions about Brad are present.

Relationship with Brad Shreve.

Nicole and Brad had been together, seemingly off and on, for 18 years. The couple had four children together. At some point throughout those 18 years, Nicole married another man before seemingly getting back together with Brad. 

Nicole's family and friends told reporters that domestic violence was present in her relationship with Brad. In 2018, Brad was charged with assault after getting into a physical altercation with Nicole and another man at their home. In October 2019, Nicole reportedly called police about a "domestic disturbance", but when officers showed up at the house, she stated she actually told dispatchers to not send anyone.

During that incident, Brad ended up being arrested for illegally growing marijuana and for felony possession of a weapon. According to the police report, both Brad and Nicole told the deputy that their dispute was verbal, so no charges related to a domestic disturbance were filed. 

On November 25th, 2019 - just a day before Nicole vanished - she reportedly messaged her sister-in-law, saying that she might need to stay with her for a few days due to a fight she had gotten into with Brad. 

Brad has acknowledged that he and Nicole were, in fact, fighting shortly before her disappearance. However, he denies any involvement in her disappearance and death. In 2023, Brad told a reporter that he went to his father's house in Butler, Missouri on the day of Nicole's disappearance. The reporter corroborated this with Brad's father, but it's unclear if police have been able to confirm this alibi.

Searching for Nicole.

Reports state that Nicole was reported missing by Brad's family on November 29th, 2019. The initial missing persons advisory stated that Nicole "might have suicidal ideations." Nicole's family members do not believe she was suicidal, nor do they believe she would voluntarily be out-of-touch with her children. 

As mentioned earlier, a search for Nicole turned up her cell phone, shoes, and backpack - but not Nicole herself. The items were located alongside a creek, approximately 100 yards away from the property line of Nicole's residence.

Search teams during a search for Nicole. (Source: KSHB 41)

Months passed, and Nicole remained missing. Meanwhile, the relationship between Nicole's family and Brad's family began to deteriorate. Nicole's loved ones reportedly pointed the finger at Brad; claiming he was responsible for Nicole's disappearance. During June 2020, police were called several times about threats being made towards Brad and his family by Nicole's supporters. 

Nicole is found - but why did it take so long?

Nicole's partial remains were found by a farmer plowing his property on November 3rd, 2020. According to reports, her remains were found just 500 yards away from where her items were found in November 2019 - and just 600 yards away from her own property line. 

Many have questioned how Nicole was not found during the professional searches shortly after she went missing. While it seems possible that she was simply not spotted, some have questioned if her remains were placed there after the searches were conducted. 

An inconclusive autopsy.

Due to the fact that Nicole's remains were bones at the time they were found, investigators were not able to conduct a toxicology examination. The state of the remains also did not reveal an obvious cause of death. 

Investigators have not labeled Nicole's death as a homicide, but the case is still open. Police are still searching for clues and leads.

Where the case stands.

In 2023, it was reported that detectives have a few "persons of interest" who they have not publicly named due to the ongoing investigation. It is also believed that people who have not spoken up know about what might have happened to Nicole. 

Nicole's loved ones are hoping to find answers. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.