SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
Former Member
Missing Since: June 23, 1991 from Spring Lake, North Carolina
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: January 13, 1984
Age: 7 years old
Height and Weight: 4'5, 59 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Sandy brown hair, brown eyes. Jennifer has scars on her right temple and between her eyes. She has a freckle on the tip of her nose. Her nickname is Jenny.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A one-piece bathing suit with orange, yellow, pink and turquoise squares and squiggle shapes.
Details of Disappearance
Jennifer was reportedly last seen leaving her family's residence at Holly Hills Mobile Home Park in the 1400 block of north Fort Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake, North Carolina on June 23, 1991. Jennifer planned to walk to a neighbor's home at approximately 1:15 p.m. She never arrived at her destination and has not been heard from again. She was reported missing at 6:00 p.m. Extensive searches of the area did not produce any evidence as to her whereabouts.
At the time of her disapperance, Jennifer's parents were divorced but were still living together. Her father, Alan Patterson, failed a polygraph exam following his daughter's 1991 disappearance. He was viewed as a possible suspect by law enforcement at the time, and police said there was no evidence that Jennifer ever left her home that day. Alan was involved in a custody dispute over Jennifer at the time of her disappearance, and he was scheduled to take a paternity test. When interviewed by police, he initially said Jennifer had disappeared as a result of the custody dispute and was alive and being cared for. He later maintained that he was speaking hypothetically and did not intend for his statements to be taken as fact.
Jennifer's parents separated and moved away to different states a few months after she disappeared. Her father maintains his innocence in her disappearance, stating he was at work when she went missing. Authorities said that they planned to question Alan again in 2002. They now call him their prime suspect.
Investigators stated that forensic technology that was unavailable in 1991 may help solve Jennifer's case in the 21st century. They suspect she is deceased. Jennifer's disappearance remains unsolved. The mobile home park where she lived has now been abandoned.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Spring Lake Police Department
910-436-0350
