In the summer of 1985, a family dispute at a motel on the outskirts of Somerset, Pennsylvania, marked the beginning of a long and sorrowful mystery. On June 30, 10-year-old Marisa Alexandria Shuglie and her 35-year-old mother, Janet, were seen for the last time. The family, including Marisa's father, Frank Shuglie, and her two younger brothers, were staying at the Coleman Motel. That morning, an argument erupted between Janet and Frank, reportedly concerning Marisa. The confrontation escalated, and after Frank allegedly slapped Janet, she took Marisa and left the motel room. The mother and daughter walked to a nearby car dealership, where Janet sought a ride to Pittsburgh, where she had relatives. The owner was unable to find them a ride, and Janet then mentioned they would walk to see a local priest, something she reportedly did regularly for counseling. They were last seen walking south, in the direction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. They have not been seen or heard from since.
The actions of Frank Shuglie in the hours and days following the disappearance of his wife and daughter drew suspicion from investigators. According to Marisa's younger brothers, who were four and five at the time, their father went out to look for Janet and Marisa but did not return to the motel room until late that night, his clothes covered in mud. The very next day, Frank thoroughly cleaned the motel room, going so far as to wash the walls, before checking out. He then took his sons to his hometown of Jeanette, Pennsylvania, and shortly after moved to an apartment in Pittsburgh. It wasn't until July 3, several days after they were last seen, that Frank reported his wife and daughter as missing to the Pennsylvania State Police.
The investigation into the double disappearance soon uncovered more disturbing behavior. About a month later, Frank Shuglie approached two men who were fishing and offered them money and plane tickets to Hawaii to kill Janet, injure her aunt and uncle, and kidnap Marisa. He believed her relatives were hiding them from him. The men reported the offer to law enforcement, and Frank was later recorded in a meeting with undercover officers posing as hitmen. He was subsequently arrested and convicted of criminal solicitation. While he served time for these charges, he has never been charged in connection with the disappearances of Marisa and Janet, though he remains the primary suspect. The case saw a potential new lead in 2019 when Janet's high school class ring, which had been found more than two decades earlier, was turned over to the police, though details about where it was discovered have not been released. The disappearance of Marisa and Janet Shuglie remains an unsolved case, a painful void in the lives of their family who continue to seek answers about the fate of a young girl and her mother who vanished after a morning of discord.
Last Seen: Jun 30, 1985
