On the evening of July 12, 1981, 16-year-old Stacey Reddish left her family's home in the Wagner Houses, a public housing development in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, and was never seen again. At the time of her disappearance, Stacey was described as a Black female, 5'6' tall, and weighing around 110 pounds, with a slim build. She had black hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion.
Her distinguishing features included a small scar near her nose from a childhood case of chickenpox and a dimple under her chin.
Following Stacey's failure to return home, her mother attempted to report her missing to the authorities. However, her concerns were reportedly dismissed, with police suggesting that Stacey had likely run away or was with her boyfriend. Years later, Stacey's sister, Darlene, also tried to file a missing person report but was allegedly told that the case was too old and there were no leads to investigate. For decades, the family felt they were given the runaround, and an official missing person report was not filed until November 20, 2023, more than 42 years after she was last seen.
The case of Stacey Reddish is a poignant story of a family's prolonged search for answers in the face of institutional obstacles. For over four decades, their efforts to have Stacey officially recognized as a missing person were unsuccessful. The lack of an official report for such an extended period meant that crucial early investigative steps were missed. The New York City Police Department is now the investigating agency for this cold case. An age-progressed photo has been created showing what Stacey might look like at 60 years old in the hope that it may generate new leads. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available about what might have happened to her after she walked out of her home that summer evening.Last Seen: Jul 12, 1981
