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Karen Penson Missing Person Case

Last seen in Tacoma, Washington on May 26, 1983

Victim Details

Jan 15, 2010

Jun 19, 2023

Karen

Penson

74

31

62 inches

105 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

May 26, 1983

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

No

8119

Tacoma Police Department

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

98409

3701 South Pine Street, Washington

2535915950

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/police

83-1460259

May 26, 1983

Tacoma Police Department

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

Oct 14, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP4743) and 2 other sources
In the spring of 1983, a 31-year-old woman named Karen Ann Penson vanished from her home in Tacoma, Washington, leaving behind a life and a family who would search for answers for decades to come. She was last seen on May 21, 1983. At the time of her disappearance, Karen was described as a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing at 5'2' and weighing around 105 pounds. Her husband of twelve years, Michael Penson, told authorities that the two of them had an argument, after which Karen supposedly called a friend to come and pick her up. According to his account, he left their residence before her friend arrived, and when he returned, Karen was gone. She was never heard from again. The initial days of her disappearance offered a grim clue when, on May 26, her purse, containing her belongings, was discovered wet on a beach, suggesting a troubling and mysterious end to her last known movements.

The investigation into Karen's disappearance was complicated by a lack of evidence and leads. The primary narrative of her last moments came from her husband, Michael, whose account of a simple argument followed by her departure left many questions unanswered. The couple reportedly had a history of domestic problems, a detail that cast a shadow of suspicion over Michael's version of events. For years, the case grew cold, with no new information surfacing to point investigators in a definitive direction. Karen's parents passed away without ever learning what happened to their daughter, and the passage of time seemed to bury any hope of resolving the case. The official investigation stalled, leaving the question of Karen's whereabouts to linger in the minds of her loved ones and the community.

A shocking and violent turn of events years later brought a renewed, albeit somber, focus to Karen Penson's case. In 2001, Michael Penson, who had since remarried and was living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, shot his second wife. When police responded to the scene, Michael aimed his weapon at the officers, who then fatally shot him. His second wife survived the attack. This violent act shed a new and disturbing light on his potential involvement in Karen's disappearance nearly two decades earlier. While it is unclear if he was responsible for her vanishing, authorities noted that his death left them with no further leads to pursue in her case. The overview of Karen Penson's case is one of enduring mystery and suspected foul play, a story that began with a domestic dispute and ended with a violent act by the last person known to have seen her, leaving her disappearance an unsolved tragedy.
Last Seen: May 26, 1983

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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  • Karen Ann Penson - The Charley Project
  • Karen Penson Missing Person Flyer | Tacoma, WA - CaseTrace

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    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.

    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Kent, Washington - unidentified case UP14083
    Jane Doe — Kent, Washington
    UP14083 • Found May 27, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%13 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 32 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'4" vs 5'2"
    Weight 100%106 lb vs 105 lb

    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.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    I recently stumbled upon Karen Ann Penson's case, and something that struck me was the finding of... ...Read More
    01/15/2024
    I'm new to this case and have been doing some digging into Karen Ann Penson's disappearance. One... ...Read More
    12/14/2023

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