On August 14, 1981, in East Moline, Illinois, a concerning scene unfolded at the home of 19-year-old Regina McCorkle. That morning, Regina, a young mother, spoke with her mother, Emma Mason, before she left for work around 8:30 a.m. A short time later, at 9:30 a.m., Regina had a telephone conversation with her boyfriend, making plans to pick him up so he could apply for a job. However, she never arrived. When her mother returned from work that afternoon around 4:45 p.m., she was met with a disturbing sight. Regina's car was still in the driveway, and both the front and back doors of the house were locked from the inside. Hearing her grandson crying, she was forced to break into the home. Inside, she discovered her two-year-old grandson locked in a bedroom, distressed but unharmed. Regina, however, was nowhere to be found.
A search of the residence revealed an eerie sense of normalcy abruptly interrupted. There were no signs of a struggle. All of Regina's personal belongings, including her clothing, purse, and her recently purchased 1979 Mustang, were left behind. The only items missing were the nightgown she had been wearing and the top sheet from her unmade bed, a detail her family found uncharacteristic. Her slippers, which she habitually wore inside, were found on her bedroom floor. Investigators noted that a screen from a basement window had been removed and was lying on the floor, but they were unable to determine if it had been displaced from the inside or the outside. This left open the possibility that this was the only way someone could have exited the locked house.
The investigation into Regina's disappearance has spanned decades, becoming the oldest unresolved missing person case in East Moline. In the initial stages of the investigation, Regina's boyfriend cooperated with police, passed a polygraph test, and was cleared as a suspect. Her ex-husband, however, declined to take a polygraph. He informed authorities that he had gone to her house around 10:00 a.m. on the day she vanished but left after receiving no answer at the door. Over the years, police have pursued various leads, but unfortunately, none have led to a resolution. Regina's family firmly believes she would not have willingly abandoned her young son. The case remains open, a painful and enduring mystery for her loved ones and the community.
Last Seen: Aug 14, 1981
