On the evening of March 11, 1987, Diana Jane Braungardt, an 18-year-old high school senior from Festus, Missouri, finished her part-time shift as a clerk at the Venture store in Crystal City. It was around 10:00 p.m. when she clocked out, telling her coworkers she was heading home to study for a test she had the next day at Festus High School. She was last seen walking towards the parking lot where her family's yellow 1982 Ford Escort was parked.
At the time of her disappearance, Diana was wearing her Venture smock, bright turquoise pants, a white shirt with a colored print, a short black coat, and brown loafer-type shoes, and she was carrying an off-white cloth purse.
When Diana, a responsible teenager who always called if she was going to be late, didn't arrive home, her parents grew worried. Her father drove to the Twin City Mall and found her car in the nearly empty parking lot, but there was no sign of his daughter. Her parents' concern deepened, and they began calling her friends, none of whom had seen her. The following morning, with still no word from Diana, they reported her missing to the Crystal City Police Department. Investigators found no signs of a struggle in or around the car, leading them to believe she never made it to her vehicle. Her purse and the jacket she was wearing, which belonged to her brother, were never found.
Witnesses later came forward stating they had seen a young man talking with Diana in the store's parking lot before she vanished. He was described as a white male in his early twenties, approximately 5'10' tall, with a medium build and dark hair; a composite sketch was created, but the man has never been identified. In the years that have passed, Diana's case has grown cold. Despite ongoing investigative efforts, which have included exploring connections to other crimes and following up on various leads, no significant breakthroughs have occurred. The disappearance of Diana Braungardt remains an unsolved case, a painful mystery for her family and community who remember her as a bright young woman with plans for the future.Last Seen: Mar 11, 1987
