Rachel Marie Mellon Skemp
January 31, 1996
Rachel was a 13-year-old girl who lived in Bolingbrook, Illinois. She attended Ward Middle School in 1996. One day she stayed home with a sore throat with her stepdad, Vincent, taking care of her. Her stepdad went to take their dog for a walk but before he did, he said that they were both playing video games before she fell asleep. When he left, he left the door unlocked and the last time he saw her, Rachel was laying in the bed wrapped up in a blue blanket.
While Rachel's stepdad was walking the dog, he said that the dog got loose and the walk lasted about thirty minutes, longer than he wanted to be gone. When he returned, Rachel was no where to be found.
Police stated that Vincent noticed that she wasn't where he last saw her. When her mother, Amy, arrived home with more family members, she then called the police stating that her daughter was missing at around 5:00 p.m.
The two pillows and the blue blanket that she was wrapped in were also gone and none of her winter clothes were missing. The windchill that day was twenty degrees bellow zero.
Authorities conducted a search for the surrounding area and Rachel was seen no where. There was no possible way that Rachel could had survived in that weather by herself for a few hours.
The first thought was that maybe one of her family members took her out of state, but that was proved wrong. Her bank card has not been used since she disappeared and no plane or bus ticket had been purchased that they know of.
Rachel's case reopened in 2000 when America's Most Wanted wanted to do a show based on her disappearance. Police obtained a warrant to have Vincent's blood, semen, hair particles, and saliva. Rachel's mom, Amy, still believed that either a family member had her or at least someone knew where she was.
Authorities believed foul play was involved and Vincent was the top suspect. He had a history of domestic violence and even failed when taking their lie detector test. Vincent also had several scratches on his arm but he stated he got those from repairing a car.
The case closed in 2000 but suddenly reopened in 2001. Police found out the Rachel ran away from her house and stayed with a friend a little over a year before she disappeared. Rachel did return voluntarily. Police however did not believe this was a ran away case.
While investigating, police found her diary and read a couple months before her disappearance that Vincent had kissed and inappropriately touched her.
Rachel's father, Jeff Skemp, lived in Dallas, Texas at the time of her disappearance. Amy and Jeff separated when Rachel was a toddler. Her dad did state that the day she vanished, she had contacted his mother which is something she would never do due to the fact she was not aloud to talk to her.
Jeff still keeps the same number he had just in case Rachel ever called him on that number. He also believes foul play was involved. In 2006, he held a Memorial Service for her.
There were no arrests made in the case but police investigated this as a homicide. Rachel is still missing to this day and no one will know what happened to her until she is found.
If you have heard or know someone who has heard any information about Rachel's case, please contact:
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| Rachel had short hair when she disappeared |
While Rachel's stepdad was walking the dog, he said that the dog got loose and the walk lasted about thirty minutes, longer than he wanted to be gone. When he returned, Rachel was no where to be found.
Police stated that Vincent noticed that she wasn't where he last saw her. When her mother, Amy, arrived home with more family members, she then called the police stating that her daughter was missing at around 5:00 p.m.
The two pillows and the blue blanket that she was wrapped in were also gone and none of her winter clothes were missing. The windchill that day was twenty degrees bellow zero.
Authorities conducted a search for the surrounding area and Rachel was seen no where. There was no possible way that Rachel could had survived in that weather by herself for a few hours.
The first thought was that maybe one of her family members took her out of state, but that was proved wrong. Her bank card has not been used since she disappeared and no plane or bus ticket had been purchased that they know of.
Rachel's case reopened in 2000 when America's Most Wanted wanted to do a show based on her disappearance. Police obtained a warrant to have Vincent's blood, semen, hair particles, and saliva. Rachel's mom, Amy, still believed that either a family member had her or at least someone knew where she was.
Authorities believed foul play was involved and Vincent was the top suspect. He had a history of domestic violence and even failed when taking their lie detector test. Vincent also had several scratches on his arm but he stated he got those from repairing a car.
The case closed in 2000 but suddenly reopened in 2001. Police found out the Rachel ran away from her house and stayed with a friend a little over a year before she disappeared. Rachel did return voluntarily. Police however did not believe this was a ran away case.
While investigating, police found her diary and read a couple months before her disappearance that Vincent had kissed and inappropriately touched her.
Rachel's father, Jeff Skemp, lived in Dallas, Texas at the time of her disappearance. Amy and Jeff separated when Rachel was a toddler. Her dad did state that the day she vanished, she had contacted his mother which is something she would never do due to the fact she was not aloud to talk to her.
Jeff still keeps the same number he had just in case Rachel ever called him on that number. He also believes foul play was involved. In 2006, he held a Memorial Service for her.
There were no arrests made in the case but police investigated this as a homicide. Rachel is still missing to this day and no one will know what happened to her until she is found.
If you have heard or know someone who has heard any information about Rachel's case, please contact:
Bolingbrook Police Department
630-378-4772
OR
1-800-THE-LOST
I’d love to hear what you think about this issue. Let me know in the comments!
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