In the early morning hours of September 20, 1990, 21-year-old Veronica Jill Blumhorst finished her shift at the Super Value grocery store in Mendota, Illinois. She had been recovering from an illness and, feeling unwell, decided to leave work early. At approximately 1:07 a.m., she was seen driving away from her job, just four blocks from her family's home. Her blue Chevrolet Corsica was later found parked in the family's detached garage, the door closed and locked. However, Veronica never made it inside the house. She vanished without a trace, leaving behind her personal belongings and a community searching for answers.
The morning she disappeared, Veronica was supposed to give her younger brother a ride to school. When she didn't show up, her family initially thought she might have been with her boyfriend of five months, Jeff Veverka. Concern grew when Veverka called the house later that morning looking for her. That afternoon, he reported her missing. An extensive search of the area was conducted, but turned up no sign of Veronica. Investigators found that her work smock, purse, driver's license, keys, and a rented video were missing. Police dogs were able to trace her scent from the garage to a nearby alley before the trail went cold. Authorities believe that after parking her car, she likely got into another vehicle with someone she was familiar with.
Over the years, the investigation into Veronica's disappearance has faced numerous challenges and has been marked by a frustrating lack of progress. Early in the investigation, her boyfriend was questioned and made some concerning statements, suggesting he might have been involved in an argument with her that resulted in her getting 'hurt real bad'. However, due to memory problems from a prior accident, his statements were not considered reliable by authorities, and he has never been charged in connection with her disappearance. The case grew cold over the decades, with the family growing increasingly unhappy with the local police investigation. In April 2020, the case was officially handed over to the FBI in the hopes of generating new leads. The family has also pursued their own avenues, including using cadaver dogs and psychics, but unfortunately, these efforts have not led to a breakthrough. The community continues to hold out hope for a resolution, while Veronica's family longs for the day they can finally bring her home and have the answers they have sought for so long.
Last Seen: Sep 20, 1990
