Left and Center: Shannon circa, 1986
Right: Age Progressed to age 47
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: July 6, 1986
Missing From: Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: September 21, 1969
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5’4″ and 110 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Blue eyes, Shannon has a light brown birthmark on the back of her right arm and has red discolorations on the back of her neck and the base of her hairline, her ears are pierced
Clothing/Jewelry Description: An aqua colored shirt, black jogging shorts, sneakers, Shannon was wearing a gold chained necklace with a heart pendant on it and also wearing a gold watch, she may have possibly been wearing an engagement ring and other rings
NCMEC Number: 601579
Details of Disappearance
Shannon was last seen in Owensboro, Kentucky on July 6th 1986. She was last seen at approximately 12:30 pm as she walked from 2nd and Poplar Streets to 12th and Haynes Streets so she could visit a family friend, John Reneer, who lived approximately 2 miles away from her home at the time. Shannon apparently never arrived at the location.
Investigators initially believed that that Shannon had left home voluntarily. They now do not believe this as she took no other personal belongings with her and she told no one of any plans to leave.
Not long after Shannon’s disappearance, a man who identified himself as “Dwayne” called her mother and claimed that Shannon and him had run off together to get married. The caller has never been identified but investigators believe that the call was a hoax. They theorize it might have been made to mislead the investigation into her disappearance.
Shannon has never been seen or heard from again. Investigators believe her case is linked to the disappearance of David “DeWayne” Bell who vanished 5 days after Shannon did in Owensboro. The two had known each other and were at a friends home together the day before Shannon went missing. Investigators believe that DeWayne might have had vital information regarding Shannon’s disappearance.
Investigators have long suspected that John Reneer was involved in Shannon and DeWayne’s disappearances. He was a former friend of DeWayne’s family. He claimed that he was innocent of any wrongdoing in Shannon or DeWaynes case. He claimed that DeWayne implicated himself and his own father, David, in Shannon’s disappearance. He confessed to strangling her when she went missing.
Reneer states he has tape recorded the confession and gave it to police. The tape and any of its record remained undiscovered until 2005. Reneer stated he wanted to kill DeWayne and his father after hearing of their involvement in the case but never had the chance to do so. Reneer has passed a polygraph in relation to his role in Shannon and DeWayne’s disappearance.
DeWayne’s father maintains his innocence in Shannon’s case. He also stated he did not believe his son was involved in it either. He believes that Reneer was responsible for her disappearance and that DeWayne found out about it and was killed so he wouldn’t tell police. Investigators still believe that Reneer was involved in Shannon’s case despite the taped confessions. It should also be noted that David has given inconsistencies in his story of events leading up to the disappearance of his son.
David has not been charged with his sons case or Shannon’s. Investigators have also considered that Shannon and DeWayne’s case might be linked to the Owensboro abduction and murder of a 23 year old woman who disappeared from the area on June 17th 1986. Her body was discovered near a boat ramp on October 2nd 1986. No connection to that case has been proven. In 2005, investigators searched a field across the railroad tracks near Kentucky 279 for Shannon’s body. Nothing was found but investigators believe her remains were there at ons point after her murder.
At the time of her disappearance, Shannon was a student at Owensboro High School and made good grades and marks. She also had a steady boyfriend at the time she disappeared. Shannon’s case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected. Some agencies may classify her disappearance as a non family abduction.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Owensboro Police Department 270-687-8888
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children