Theresa "Terry" Rideout, a 36-year-old woman living in Chandler, Indiana, disappeared on September 2, 1994. She was last seen leaving her job as a waitress at a Burger King in Evansville. Rideout had completed her shift, made the nightly business deposit, and then seemingly vanished. A friend reported her missing on September 11, 1994, after she failed to show up for her next shift and could not be located.
At the time of her disappearance, she was without her own car, which had mechanical issues, and was believed to have been driving her boyfriend's red pickup truck. Her personal belongings, including an uncashed paycheck, were left behind at her home, and only her dog, River, was also missing.
The investigation into Theresa's disappearance took a dark turn when her fiancé, Jack Barnett, was found deceased on September 10, 1994, in a motel room in Mount Vernon, Indiana. His death was ruled a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Barnett had checked into the motel alone, and the truck he was driving, the same one Theresa was thought to have been using, was found at the motel. Investigators had hoped Theresa might appear at Barnett's funeral, but she did not, which heightened suspicions of foul play. A note was found at the scene of Barnett's death, but it made no mention of Theresa. The close timing of these two events led investigators to strongly suspect a connection and that foul play was involved in her disappearance.
Over the years, the case has grown cold, with no new significant leads to locate Theresa. The prevailing theory among law enforcement and those familiar with the case is that her boyfriend may have been responsible for her disappearance before taking his own life. Another theory that has been considered is the possibility of their involvement in the drug trade, which could have led to foul play from another party. Despite the lingering questions and the passage of time, Theresa's case remains an unsolved mystery. She was legally declared deceased in August 2002. The lack of a crime scene or the discovery of her remains has left her family and the community without answers for decades. The Warrick County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police continue to list her as a missing person, and the investigation remains open should any new information come to light.Last Seen: Sep 2, 1994
