Account
Jul 15, 2009
Jan 03, 2024
Linda
Nickell
68
20
64 inches
130 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
In the winter of 1976, a 20-year-old woman named Linda Sue Nickell disappeared from Flint, Michigan, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades. The exact date of her last contact is uncertain, with records indicating it could be either February 2 or February 27 of that year. At the time she went missing, Linda was described as a white female with blondish-red or strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing around 130 pounds. She had a previously fractured right arm from a car crash, an injury that had healed, and had three missing teeth. When last seen, she was wearing blue jeans, a red top, and a maroon jacket. Linda's early life was marked by hardship; she grew up in poverty in a home without running water, with parents who struggled with alcoholism. Described by her sister as a "flower child" and "too trusting," Linda had dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and had been staying with her sister and brother-in-law before she vanished. The circumstances leading up to Linda's disappearance began on a cold February evening. Her sister last saw her walking from their home on Davison Road toward a local bar at the corner of Davison and Avalon Road. Linda's intention was to use the payphone at the bar to call a girlfriend. She never returned home and was never heard from again. Initially, her loved ones were not overly alarmed by her absence, assuming she had decided to stay with her friend. However, after three days passed with no word from Linda, her sister's concern grew, and she reported her missing to the police. Linda was known to use drugs recreationally and had a history of hitchhiking to travel between Flint, Tawas, and Whittemore, Michigan, which may have exposed her to greater risks. Foul play is suspected in Linda Sue Nickell's case, which has remained unsolved for many years. The investigation into her disappearance has explored various avenues, including the possibility of family involvement. Her father, who was allegedly physically abusive towards his family, was considered a possible suspect. In 2003, authorities conducted a search of his property with cadaver dogs, but the search yielded no evidence related to Linda's case. Linda's father was never charged in connection with her disappearance and passed away in the 1990s. The case remains open, a long-standing and painful mystery for a family left without answers. The overview of the case is one of a vulnerable young woman who vanished without a trace, with the investigation uncovering few leads, leaving her fate unknown and her disappearance a lingering cold case.
Feb 27, 1976
Flint
Michigan
Genesee County
20588
Michigan State Police - West Branch Post
West Branch
Michigan
Ogemaw County
48661
Craig Johnson
D/Sgt.
496 East Houghton Avenue, Michigan
9893450956
State
Law Enforcement
32-96-01
Michigan State Police - West Branch Post
6736
Blond/Strawberry
Green
Green
No
06/06/2026
