SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
Former Member
Missing Since: December 29, 1989 from Miami Township, Ohio
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: January 17, 1972
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5'1, 120 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, hazel/green eyes.
Details of Disappearance
Karen and her then-sister-in-law, Christy Spencer, were driving along Interstate 275 in Miami Township, Ohio on December 29, 1989. Karen and Christy had an argument regarding plans for Karen to move to Florida with her brother and Christy at approximately 3:00 a.m. that morning. Karen got out of the vehicle near the Madiera - Loveland exit on Interstate 275 at that time and began walking north. Christy drove away; Karen has not been heard from again.
A woman driving the same night on Interstate 275 claimed that she offered a ride to a young woman fitting Karen's description sometime later in the early morning hours. According to the witness, the girl appeared to be cold and was walking along the road at a brisk pace and headed southbound. This would contradict Christy's statement, which said that Karen was walking in the opposite direction when she last saw her. The witness said that she pulled over to offer assistance to the girl. An unidentified young male in a red pickup truck with Kentucky license plates pulled in front of the girl on the shoulder of the road. The witness stated that the girl seemed to recognize the driver and smiled. The witness then drove away, assuming the girl received a ride from the male. It has not been established that the unidentified young woman was Karen. The woman did not come forward until 1990 when she saw Karen's photograph on television.
The Spencer family dealt with a hoax regarding Karen's fate in 2000. A male caller claimed that Karen was buried in Kentucky; however, the story ended up being proven false and the man was charged with interferring with a police investigation. He was fined $500 and given a sentence of 45 days in jail.
Karen has never been located. She is originally from Reading, Ohio and was a high school senior at the time of her disappearance. When she vanished she was carrying very little money; only $7 in cash and two paychecks totalling $23. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance. Investigators have a suspect in her case, but he has not been publicly identified. Her case remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Miami Township Police Department
513-732-2231
NCMEC
Charley Project