Left and Center: Sandy circa, 1984
Right: Age Progressed to age 46
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: September 19, 1984
Missing From: Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: November 25, 1966
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’2″ and 111 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Brown eyes, Sandy has an appendectomy scar on her abdomen, her right ear is smaller then her left ear and the top of it turns downwards, Sandy has facial freckles and was known to smoke cigarettes in 1984
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A gray cropped shirt with the initials “SH” on the front, pink jogging pants, and a pair of flip flops
NCMEC Number: 603597
Details of Disappearance
Sandy Rea was last seen in Shawnee, Oklahoma on September 19th 1984. On that day, Sandy planned to walk to a convenience store located near Highland Street and Bryan Road so that she could purchase a pack of cigarettes and ended up catching a ride with passing friends to a bowling alley where her cousin was employed at the time.
Her cousin told authorities that Sandy wanted to leave the establishment and asked for a ride but he was unable to provide her one as he was not allowed to leave work. She apparently placed several calls from the alley afterwards to several people and asked for a ride.
Sandy was last seen at approximately 9:00 pm as she walked away from the Bowling Alley with an unidentified individual. Sandy has never been seen or heard from since.
Authorities initially believed that Sandy had runaway but her mother does not believe this and has expressed her belief that Sandy met with foul play and was no longer alive. Sandy was known to ask strangers for rides and her mother believed that she had gotten a ride from someone and met with foul play afterwards.
Investigators have formed several theories about Sandys disappearance. One of them involved Sandy’s boyfriend she had at the time of her disappearance. He was said to be physically abusive towards her and at one point they lived together at one point. Several weeks before her disappearance, Sandy moved in with a girlfriend but still saw her boyfriend.
Authorities have also considered the possibility that Sandy died due to a drug overdose while at a party and that the party goers disposed of her body in order to avoid trouble. Sandy was known to be a “party girl” when she disappeared. Investigators believe someone that Sandy has seen that night knows more about her disappearance then they have let on. No one has come forward with any substantial information regarding the fate of Sandy.
There were also rumors at the time that regarded local prominent men on the Shawnee area at the time. It was rumored that these men would exchange drugs and alcohol for decades with underage teenager girls. It’s possible these events didn’t even happen and there’s no evidence that Sandy was involved in these activities.
While some agencies list Sandy as a stranger abduction, her case is being investigated as that of an endangered missing person but authorities suspect Sandy was the victim of foul play.
An investigator who worked on Sandy’s disappearance believes she may have attended some sort of a party on the night she vanished but there is no evidence to point towards this theory. Sandy’s disappearance remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Shawnee Police Department 405-273-0989
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children