WV WV - Melissa Moreland, 21, Paw Paw, 23 Oct 1987

Gardener1850

Timeline Guru (Still Remembering Cupcake)
Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
42,107
Reaction score
117,011
61605

White
Female
Height: 62-64 inches (5'2" - 5'5")
Weight: 105-115 lbs
Light Brown Hair
Green Eyes

Clothing: A white blouse, blue jeans. high-top tennis shoes.

Jewelry: A Hampshire High School class ring from 1984 and a watch with a burgundy band.

Melissa Moreland left her father's home October 23, 1987, and disappeared. She was last seen late that night at the former High’s gas station in Paw Paw. Her parents believed she would be spending the night with a friend.

Moreland lived with her parents in Hampshire County near Paw Paw. She would come and go from the home, so some time had passed before she was initially reported missing.


Reported missing in Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia

https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/33131/

http://charleyproject.org/cases/m/moreland_melissa.html

http://www.nampn.org/cases/moreland_melissa.html
 
April 22, 2013

PAW PAW, W.Va. — Melissa Moreland’s father died not knowing what happened to his 21-year-old daughter who left his home Oct. 23, 1987, and disappeared.
---
“At times, there were some pretty decent leads. We just never found a body,” Stapleton said.

Investigators believe Moreland is dead, he said.
---
At the time of her disappearance, Moreland was 5 feet 5 inches tall and about 105 pounds. The Caucasian woman had shoulder-length light brown hair and green eyes.

Moreland was last seen wearing a white blouse, blue jeans, high-top tennis shoes, a Hampshire High School class ring from 1984 and a watch with a burgundy band.

Anyone with information about Moreland can call police at 304-258-1067.

http://articles.herald-mail.com/2013-04-22/news/38743435_1_paw-paw-enforcement-missing-persons-case
 
September 30, 1989

(Times-News/John D. Smith)Found bones may be missing girl’s PAW PAW, W.Va. (AP) — Law enforcement officials are hoping that bones and teeth found in an animal pen will shed light on the disappearance of a Hampshire County woman missing for two years. The remains, discovered along W.Va. 9 in Paw Paw, have been shipped to the state police lab in Charleston for examination. Melissa Moreland, 21, has been missing since Oct. 27, 1987, when she was last seen with some friends at a Paw Paw area convenience store, officials say. Morgan County Sheriff Bill Spitzer said officers have uncovered little information about Moreland’s disappearance. “Everybody in Paw Paw knows this girl, and I imagine there’s a lot of people who know where she is,” Spitzer said.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-sep-30-1989-p-11/
 
"More than three decades later, deputies are determined to find answers for finding Melissa “Missy” Moreland who was last seen on October 24, 1987, at the former High’s convenience store in Paw Paw, West Virginia.

Moreland lived with her parents in Hampshire County near Paw Paw. At the time of her disappearance, police say it wasn’t unusual for her to come and go from her home for long periods of time. Thus, she wasn’t reported missing immediately.

An in-depth investigation was conducted by then-Sheriff William “Bill” Spitzer into her disappearance, and then later by Sgt. Larry Bradley of the West Virginia State Police during the 1990s."

Cold Case: The Search for Melissa Moreland continues
 
Melissa Moreland
  • melissa_moreland_1.jpg
Moreland, circa 1987

  • Missing Since10/23/1987
  • Missing FromPaw Paw, West Virginia
  • ClassificationEndangered Missing
  • Age21 years old
  • Height and Weight5'2 - 5'5, 105 pounds
  • Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA white blouse, blue jeans, high-top sneakers, a Hampshire High School class of 1984 ring and a watch with a burgundy band.
  • Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Light brown hair, green eyes.
Details of Disappearance
Moreland was last seen at the now-defunct High's gas station in Paw Paw, West Virginia late in the evening on October 23, 1987. When she'd left her father's home that day, her parents thought she was going to spend the night with a friend. She has never been heard from again. Because she had a history of leaving home from time to time, she wasn't immediately reported missing.

In November 1985, almost two years prior to her disappearance, Moreland was attacked by Dwight David Blair. He also assaulted another woman. Both females testified against him in court. He was charged with sexual abuse and assault, but reached a plea agreement with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding.

Blair was sentenced to a year in jail; he could have faced a six- to forty-year prison term if convicted of the original charges. He was pardoned and released only four months into his sentence. Moreland disappeared several months later. It isn't clear whether her disappearance is related to the prior assault or whether Blair is a suspect in her case.

Moreland lived with her parents near Paw Paw at the time of her disappearance. Her father has since died. Little information is available in her case, but authorities believe she's deceased.
 
Map showing Paw Paw, WV. It borders the Potomac River and the State of MD.
1671764300553.png
 

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
136
Guests online
1,100
Total visitors
1,236

Forum statistics

Threads
589,162
Messages
17,915,003
Members
227,745
Latest member
branditau.wareham72@gmail
Back
Top