Rachael Elizabeth Garden

Left: Rachael circa, 1980

Right: Age Progressed to age 53


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: March 22, 1980

Missing From: Newtown, Rockingham County, New Hampshire

Classification: Non-Family Abduction

Date Of Birth: December 30, 1964

Age: 15 years old

Height and Weight: 5’1″ and 100 pounds

Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Hazel eyes; Rachael’s ears are pierced and she wore a dental retainer which was left behind when she disappeared

Clothing/Jewelry Description: A two tone blue ski parka, a plaid shirt with silver threads, blue jeans, brown lace up shoes, Rachael was carrying a dark blue tote bag with the word “Things” on one side of it at the time of her disappearance

NCMEC Number: 665523


Details of Disappearance

Rachael Green was last seen in Newtown, New Hampshire on March 22nd 1980. She purchased a pack of cigarettes and a pack of chewing gum at Rowes Corner Market. The store was located on Route 108. She paid $5 for them and took her change. She left the store between 9:00 pm and 9:30 pm and intended on walking to a friends home in the 50 block of north Main Street. She planned to spend the night at that location.

Rachael never arrived to her friends home and was never seen or heard from again. She was reported missing at 10:00 am the next day by her parents when she never returned. Investigators initially believed that Rachael had runaway from home. She left all of her personal belongings behind which included her dental retainer. Some investigators still hold the theory that she left.

A witness stated they had seen the girl on the night she disappeared. She was observed speaking to 3 male acquaintances who were in a dark colored car near the market. The men all had bad reputations and were involved in criminal activities. One of these men would later get arrested and convicted of assault and rape.

At some point after she disappeared, one of the men confessed to killing Rachael and that her body would be found off Route 108. Investigators dug at a site in search of her remains. Nothing was found and no charges were filed. It’s unclear if any of the men had a role in her disappearance.

While the runaway theory is still considered in the case, investigators have looked into other possibilities such as that Rachael met with foul play and is deceased.

At the time of her disappearance, Rachael was a freshman at Sanborn Regional High School. She sometimes skipped school so that she could go smoke and drink with other teenagers in the wooded area near Maple Valley. She was rebellious at the time and resented her parents rules and the fact that she had to babysit her siblings.

She had a good relationship with her siblings at the time and her loved ones describe her as a friendly, outspoken, and fun loving person. Rachael owned a horse at the time and her family said she would not have left the animal behind.

Rachael’s disappearance remains unsolved and her case is classified as a non family abduction due to the lack of evidence present in her case.


Investigating Agency

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Rockingham County Sheriffs Office 603-679-2225


Source Information

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The Charley Project

The Doe Network

NamUs