On a cool evening in Foley, Missouri, on March 10, 2005, 13-year-old Bianca Noel Piper vanished after being dropped off for a walk. The eighth-grader had been having difficulties with anger management and, after a disagreement over chores, her mother dropped her off on McIntosh Hill Road, about a mile from their home, a therapeutic technique suggested by Bianca's therapist.
Bianca, who was diagnosed with ADHD and severe bipolar disorder, had found success with this method the previous night. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a gray Adidas sweatshirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers, and was carrying a flashlight. When she didn't return home, her mother reported her missing that evening. Bianca has brown hair and brown eyes, and at the time she went missing, she was 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds. She has pierced ears and scars on her arms, legs, and abdomen.
Initial search efforts were extensive, covering a wide area with investigators on horseback, four-wheelers, and with search dogs, but they yielded no trace of the missing teen. Initially, it was thought she may have gotten lost and succumbed to the freezing temperatures, but as the search continued without success, the theory shifted towards abduction. Bianca had no history of running away, and both her mother and her mother's boyfriend passed polygraph tests and were cleared as suspects. Over the years, hundreds of leads have been investigated, stretching as far as Oregon, but none have led to Bianca. The case garnered national attention and was featured on television programs in an effort to generate new leads.
The investigation into Bianca's disappearance has remained open, although it is now considered a cold case. In 2007, investigators looked into a possible connection to Michael J. Devlin, who was convicted of kidnapping and holding two other boys captive, but no evidence was found to link him to Bianca's case. More recently, in February 2023, authorities drained a septic tank near where she was last seen, though the results of that search have not been publicly detailed. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office has also indicated they are re-examining evidence with new forensic technology. The case remains a painful mystery for Bianca's family and community, who continue to hold out hope for answers. Despite the passage of time, the search for Bianca Piper continues, with her family and law enforcement dedicated to uncovering the truth of what happened on that March evening.Last Seen: Mar 10, 2005
