Barbara Smith Vanwinckle, a 61-year-old woman, was last seen on May 21, 1994, in the 500 block of Ocean Breeze Drive in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and has not been heard from since. Nearly three weeks later, on June 9, her green 1993 Ford Crown Victoria was discovered abandoned and unlocked in the parking lot of the Mid-Sussex Shopping Center in Millsboro, Delaware. The vehicle, bearing Delaware license plate number 83783, was found at the Rose's Department Store.
Inside the car, investigators found Vanwinckle's keys on the driver's side floor and her purse, covered by a sweater, on the passenger seat with no personal items missing.
The report of Vanwinckle's disappearance was not filed by her live-in boyfriend, but rather by a close friend, a circumstance that investigators found suspicious. A subsequent search of the residence she shared with her boyfriend revealed a disturbing scene. Bloodstains were discovered in two of the bedrooms, which led authorities to classify her case as a homicide.
A prime suspect was identified in connection with Vanwinckle's disappearance; however, this individual died by suicide two months after she was last seen. Despite the death of the main suspect, law enforcement officials continue to investigate the case with the hope of resolving her disappearance and recovering her remains. Foul play is suspected in her case.Last Seen: May 21, 1994
