Penny Dawn Lease, a 23-year-old woman from Rantoul, Illinois, disappeared on a summer day, leaving behind a life and a family who continue to seek answers. On June 2, 1989, her father dropped her off at the Omni Fitness Center on East Healey Street in Champaign, Illinois, for her regular workout. She was dressed in gym clothes and was carrying a large duffel bag. After her workout, Penny was reportedly seen leaving the fitness center with a male companion.
Tragically, this was the last time she was ever seen or heard from again, sparking a long and frustrating investigation into her disappearance.
In the years following her disappearance, the investigation into what happened to Penny Lease has been met with few leads and a painful lack of closure for her loved ones. Foul play is suspected in her case, and the possibility of a connection to a suspected serial killer, Larry DeWayne Hall, has been considered. Despite the ongoing efforts of the Champaign Police Department and the Urbana Police Department, her case remains unsolved. The passage of time led to a somber legal milestone in 1996 when Penny was declared legally dead. This declaration, however, did not close the book on her case, as it remains an active investigation with law enforcement still seeking information that could lead to a breakthrough.
Penny Lease is described as a white female with blonde, wavy, medium-length hair and long bangs. She has brown eyes and freckles. Distinctive features include pierced ears and a four-inch scar on the inside of her upper right arm. At the time of her disappearance, she was approximately 5'8' tall and weighed around 150 pounds. The case of Penny Dawn Lease is a haunting example of a life interrupted, a young woman who vanished without a trace, leaving a permanent void in the lives of those who knew and loved her. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance on that June day in 1989 remain a mystery, a puzzle with missing pieces that her family and investigators hope to one day find.Last Seen: Jun 2, 1989
