Left and Center: Wendy circa, 1982
Right: Age Progressed to age 52
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: April 7, 1982
Missing From: Clearwater, Pasco County, Florida
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: July 14, 1965
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5’9″ and 110 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Brown eyes, Wendy was pregnant at the time of her disappearance, she has a circular dog bite scar on the outside center of her left thigh, she may use the last name “Freeman” and the alternate DOB 07/21/1965
Clothing/Jewelry Description: Turquoise jewelry
NCMEC Number: 601962
Details of Disappearance
Wendy Lynn Huggy was last seen in Clearwater, Florida on April 7th 1982. On that day, her grandmother dropped her off near where her uncle lived in Clearwater. She was dropped off a few blocks from his apartment complex known as Patrician Apartments at Nursery and Belcher Roads.
Wendy was supposed meet him that day. At some point, Wendy ran into a friend of hers that lived in the same apartment complex and she went with that friend and her mother to Clearwater Beach. Since Wendy did not own a car at the time, she got a ride from the beach to the Countryside mall. She called her grandfather from the mall and told home that she was getting a ride home from a man named, Don.
Wendy was meant to be home with her grandmother early in the evening. Wendy was supposed to start a job at the fast food restaurant known as “Wendy’s” the next day. Wendy never arrived back home and was never seen or heard from again.
Wendy’s grandparents reported her missing approximately 2 days after she was last seen. Authorities immediately assumed her to be a runaway and closed her case after 2 weeks of investigation. Wendy was married at the time and although she was under the age of 18, she still had the authority to leave without warning.
Her grandparents filed another report after she hadn’t contacted them in 3 years. Authorities started to look into the case and investigate other possible causes of her disappearance. Authorities at one point believed that Wendy could’ve been a possible match for a Jane doe found in the Gulf Coast of Florida. The woman was murdered and then dumped off of Anna Maria Island in 1982.
Wendy’s dental records were compared to the victim in 2001 but no match was found. The woman was identified as Amy Hurst in 2011 and her husband was arrested and charged with her murder. Amy was reported missing in November of 1982 after her sister stated she hadn’t contacted her in months.
While authorities believe that Wendy likely met with foul play and is deceased, they have no suspects in her disappearance.
At the time of her disappearance, Wendy was married and lived in Illinois but the marriage was unhappy so when Wendy’s grandparents moved to Florida she went with them. She also went to escape her mother who she often got into conflicts with. Wendy had dropped out of high school prior to her disappearance but she did receive her GED certificate and was hoping to go to Cosmetology school.
Wendy’s mother was a flight attendant at the time of her disappearance and was unable to care for her at times. Her mother and grandparents have since passed away but she has an aunt, her uncle, and a half brother who are still looking for her.
Wendy’s disappearance remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Pasco County Sheriffs Office 727-844-7755
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children