Left and Center: Laurie circa, 1974
Right: Age Progressed to age 53
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: December 4, 1974
Missing From: Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: May 31, 1957
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’0″ and 110 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Blonde hair, Blue eyes, Laurie has a small brown mole on her right cheek
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A long hooded navy blue coat, a tan sweater, tan plaid pants, blue denim shoes with crepe soles, Laurie was carrying a brown leather purse with a blue flower design and a braided arm strap
NCMEC Number: 603391
Details of Disappearance
Laurie was last seen on December 4th 1974 in Spokane, Washington. She left Ferris High School at 12:30 pm because she was suffering from menstrual cramps but was unable to get a ride and ultimately decided to walk the two miles home. She was last sighted walking south on Havana Street near 37th Avenue. She never returned home and was never seen or heard from again.
Laurie was reported missing by her parents when she failed to show up to her job at the Lincoln Heights Theater. Laurie was originally considered a runaway but her family never believed this to be what happened. Laurie and her boyfriend at the time were planning to marry and she was to go with him to decide on a engagement ring on the day she disappeared. Investigators now believe that Laurie was abducted by a non family member. It’s possible that a green Pinto station wagon was seen in the area and following her as she walked home. It’s unclear if the vehicle was involved in the case.
Two days after her disappearance, the contents of Laurie’s purse were found in the area she vanished from. Laurie has tickets to a Beach Boys concert that occurred after her disappearance. Investigators found that the tickets which her father had purchased for her were in fact used but it’s unclear by whom they were used by. Police did go to the concert to see if she would attend it. She never arrived there.
37 years after Laurie’s disappearance, investigators announced that they might have found a new witness in the case. The person stated they had seen Laurie at 4:15 pm which was several hours after the last sighting of her. The person also stated he had seen an unidentified white male in his 40s-50s and a white truck with a dark colored and a Van backend nearby when she was seen.
Investigators have questioned at least 3 people in her case. One of them was infamous serial killer, Ted Bundy. Bundy killed a series of young women and girls in the Western area of the United States in the 1970s. Bundy is a suspect in the 1961 Washington disappearance of Ann Burr, the 1973 Oregon disappearance of Rita Jolly, the 1973 Oregon disappearance of Vicki Hollar, the 1974 Washington disappearance of Donna Manson, the 1974 Washington disappearance of Georgeann Hawkins, the 1974 Utah disappearance of Nancy Wilcox, the 1975 Colorado disappearance of Julie Cunningham, the 1975 Colorado disappearance of Denise Oliverson, the 1975 Idaho disappearance of Lynette Culver, the 1975 Utah disappearance of Susan Curtis, and the 1975 Utah disappearance of Nancy Baird.
Bundy has not been named a suspect in Laurie’s disappearance and investigators do not believe that he was involved in her disappearance. They still believe she was abducted and potentially murdered that day, however. Her boyfriend was also questioned extensively about her disappearance but he is not considered a suspect in the case.
At the time of her disappearance, Laurie had recently moved to Spokane just a few months prior to her disappearance. She worked on the school newspaper and also was on the schools drill team. She did what to return to California where she was from. She lived with her two parents and 5 younger siblings in their home in the 5400 block of South Custer Street. Her parents divorced after her disappearance but reconciled and married again years later. Her mother died in 2004 but her father is alive and continues to search for her.
Laurie’s disappearance remains unsolved and foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Spokane County Sheriffs Office 509-477-4760
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children