Valarie Lynn Sloan was an 18-year-old woman who vanished from Peoria, Illinois, on September 30, 1993. She had brown, shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was between 5'2' and 5'6' tall and weighed between 120 and 130 pounds. She was known to sometimes use the last name Stenstrom. The circumstances surrounding Valarie's disappearance are limited, with reports simply stating she was last seen in Peoria on that late September day. Since that day, she has not been seen or heard from again.
The investigation into Valarie's disappearance took a significant turn when convicted serial killer Joseph Miller became the primary suspect in her case. Miller, who was found guilty of murdering five women, confessed in 2004 to killing Valarie. He also claimed responsibility for the death of another woman, Stacey Morrison, who also went missing from Peoria in 1993. Miller provided a specific detail to authorities, stating that he had buried Valarie's body in a shallow grave near a road construction site on War Memorial Drive. This road was undergoing widening at that time, leading to the grim possibility that her remains could be buried under the pavement if his confession is accurate.
Despite his confession, authorities have not charged Joseph Miller in connection with Valarie Sloan's disappearance. There is uncertainty regarding the credibility of his statement, as he has a history of lying to the police. Some investigators believe he may be claiming responsibility for crimes he did not commit in order to gain attention. As a result, Valarie's case officially remains unsolved, leaving her family and community without answers. The lack of resolution has meant that for decades, the question of what truly happened to Valarie Lynn Sloan has been unanswered, and her case is a somber reminder of the pain and uncertainty that surrounds missing persons' cases.
Last Seen: Sep 30, 1993
