A woman's body is discovered in Greene-Sullivan State Forest In the summer of 1994, a sense of unease settled over the small town of Bloomfield, Indiana, when 33-year-old Rita Buffington was reported missing on July 28th. A Caucasian woman with a mild mental disability, Buffington's disappearance sparked immediate concern among her family and the local community. For ten long days, there was no word of her whereabouts, leaving her loved ones to grapple with a growing sense of dread.
The search for Rita came to a tragic end on August 6, 1994.
Her body was discovered approximately 18 miles from her home, in the serene yet remote surroundings of Shake Lake No. 2 within the Greene-Sullivan State Forest, near the town of Dugger. The discovery confirmed the community's worst fears. An investigation determined that Buffington had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her case was officially classified as a homicide.
Despite the passage of time, the murder of Rita Buffington remains an unsolved cold case, a lingering shadow over Greene County. Law enforcement officials have pursued leads and identified individuals of interest over the years, yet a definitive suspect has never been named. The Greene County Prosecutor has voiced the ongoing frustration of investigators, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to convene a grand jury and bring charges against any individual. The case continues to be a painful reminder of a life cut short, leaving a family without answers and a community still waiting for justice.
