Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP14788) and 8 other sources
On a spring day in May of 1987, a 29-year-old woman named Margie Ann Ranshaw vanished from her home in Barryton, Michigan. A mother to a two-month-old daughter, Margie was living with her parents at the time. The last time she was seen was on May 17, 1987, when she left the house to make a simple trip to the store for a gallon of milk. She departed in her car and was never seen or heard from again. Margie was a woman who contended with personal challenges; she lived with schizophrenia and would sometimes hear voices. Physically, she had a small scar near her eyebrow, blonde hair, and brown eyes.

Weeks after her disappearance, a significant but puzzling discovery was made approximately two hours away from her home. Margie's vehicle was found abandoned at a hotel situated off Interstate 96 in Howell, Michigan. The discovery of the car, however, provided no answers as to Margie's whereabouts. It was known that she had left home on previous occasions, sometimes for months at a time, and would travel by hitchhiking. However, in the past, she had always returned. This time was different.

The circumstances surrounding Margie Ranshaw's disappearance have led investigators to suspect foul play. In the absence of their mother, Margie's infant daughter was adopted and raised by her aunt and uncle. The case remains an open and unsolved missing person investigation. Despite the passage of time, the hope of finding answers for Margie's family endures. The Mecosta County Sheriff's Office continues to be the point of contact for any information regarding this long-unsolved case. The story of Margie Ranshaw is a somber reminder of a young mother who went out for a gallon of milk and never came home, leaving behind a family to grapple with her absence and an enduring mystery.

Last Seen: May 17, 1987

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

77%Possible
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP12001
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP12001 • Found Nov 29, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%145 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'2"–5'6"
Hair 100%Blond vs Blond
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP11897
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP11897 • Found Nov 2, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 19–29 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%145 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'2"–5'6"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 130–140 lb
Hair 10%Black vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Curtis Township, Michigan - unidentified case UP8371
Jane Doe — Curtis Township, Michigan
UP8371 • Found Oct 26, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%87 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"–5'6"
Weight 100%135 lb vs 130–140 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.