Bernadette Marie Caruso, 23 years old at the time of her disappearance, was last seen on September 27, 1986, after leaving her job at Shaw's Jewelry Store in Eastpoint Mall, Dundalk, Maryland. She was seen entering her car, a gray-green 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier, at around 5:05 p.m. Her co-workers mentioned that she had plans to meet her estranged husband, Michael Caruso, a Baltimore County police officer, to discuss an undisclosed matter.
Bernadette never made contact with her friend, who was expecting a call from her later that day, and neither she nor her vehicle has been seen since.
At the time of her disappearance, Bernadette and Michael were embroiled in a contentious custody battle over their three-year-old daughter. The strained relationship between the two raised suspicions, particularly as Michael was known to have threatened her in the past. Shortly after her disappearance, Michael was dismissed from the police force for an unrelated incident involving prisoner abuse. Despite these factors, no charges have been filed against him, and no formal suspects have been named in the case.
Foul play is strongly suspected due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding Bernadette's disappearance, which her family and friends described as completely out of character. Investigators have continued to treat her case as an open and unsolved matter, seeking any information that could shed light on her fate. Over the years, searches and public appeals have been made, but no significant leads have surfaced, and her case remains unsolved to this day.
Authorities continue to seek tips from the public, hoping for any development that could bring closure to Bernadette's family after decades of uncertainty.Last Seen: Sep 27, 1986
