Right 2: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 53 years; 59 years
Right 2: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 53 years; 59 years
Name: Simone Stephanie Ridinger
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: September 2, 1977
Location Last Seen: Natick, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Date of Birth: January 5, 1960
Age: 17 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Hair Color: Blonde, long and wavy
Eye Color: Brown
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Birthmark on lower back; small mole on upper right forehead
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Available, entered into CODIS
Clothing: Blue jeans with rips and patches; white t-shirt; white high-top sneakers
Jewelry: Silver and turquoise necklace; silver spoon rings; bracelets
Additional Personal Items: Small gray duffel bag containing her Rainbow Restaurant waitress uniform (blue pull-over vest and dark blue polyester skirt)
Simone was last seen when she left her place of employment, the Rainbow Restaurant located at 9 South Main Street in Natick at around 3:00 p.m. on September 2, 1977. She had planned to hitchhike from work to Cape Cod and then take a ferry to Martha's Vineyard where she was to meet her mother for Labor Day Weekend. When she did not arrive at Martha's Vineyard, her family assumed she had changed her mind. When they returned home, they realized she was missing and alerted police on September 11.
In 1986, a man came forward after seeing an article in the paper about Simone's case. The man claimed that on September 3, 1977, at around 6:45 a.m. he was pulled over by a State Trooper on Route 128 (Route 95) just south of Route 109 in the Westwood, Massachusetts area. The man stated he was heading to Osterville (on Cape Cod) to pick up clock parts. This man claimed the trooper had a girl in his cruiser and upon learning he was heading to Cape Cod, the Trooper asked if the man would give the girl a ride since she was headed there, too. The man agreed to drive her and claimed he dropped her off at the airport rotary in Hyannis (just off Route 28) and the woman walked off toward a Howard Johnson or a Ground Round restaurant. The man provided a description of the girl which was "16-18 years old, 5'7", 135-140 lbs., medium build with dark blonde curly hair. She was wearing blue jeans, grubby white sneakers, a blue pull over blouse, was carrying a small grayish duffel bag, and wearing 'gaudy' jewelry."
In 2016, after a couple of years of follow-up investigations, five former co-workers of Simone's were located and interviewed for the first time. One of them was confirmed to have been working with Simone at the Rainbow Restaurant back on September 2, 1977. During her interview, she provided a description of what she recalled Simone wearing when she left. "She changed out of her waitress uniform and put on blue jeans, white high-top sneakers, and had a white t-shirt on. She put the waitress uniform (a blue pullover vest and blue skirt) into a small gray army style duffel bag and immediately started thumbing for a ride." The woman stated that many of the waitresses brought a change of clothes because they all hated the uniform. She also stated that she recalled Simone telling her she was going to meet her mom on the Vineyard.
The clothing description from the man in the 1986 interview was not made public until 2017. Investigators have been looking into the man's story since 2014 when Simone's case was re-opened.
Foul play is suspected.
Agency Name: Sherborn Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Det. James Godinho
Agency Phone Number: 508-653-2424
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 77-5565
NCIC Case Number: M203410371
NCMEC Case Number: 1060967
NamUs Case Number: 2779
NamUs
NCMEC
FBI ViCAP
Cape Cod Times - Sept. 24, 2017
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 7/4/22 - By: hb
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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