341DFNJ - Melissa Diane McGuinn

Melissa in 1988; Age-Progressed by NCMEC to 17 years; 24 years; 28 years; 32 years

Name: Melissa Diane McGuinn
Case Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Missing Since: March 6, 1988
Location Last Seen: Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey

Physical Description

Date of Birth: August 3, 1987
Age: 7 months old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 2'4"
Weight: 16 lbs.
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Pigmentation mark on right triceps

Identifiers

Dentals: Unavailable
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Available, Nuclear DNA

Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: White flowered quilted overalss; dark pink hooded sweater; pink socks
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance

Melissa was abducted from her home in the 600 block of Lamberton Street.

Melissa was last seen in the company of a woman who was living with Melissa's parents. The woman told police she'd taken Melissa outdoors without the mother's permission but gave varying accounts of what happened next; she was kidnapped, she was dropped or thrown into the Delaware river, she was exchanged her for drugs.

The woman, who is mentally disabled and functions at the level of a 4-or 5-year-old, was charged with kidnapping. She was later ruled to be incompetent to stand trial and the kidnapping charge against her was dropped in December 1989.

Despite extensive searches, including an abandoned factory and dragging the Delaware River, Melissa's body was never found. Police believe Melissa may still be alive. Her disappearance remains unsolved, and her case is classified as a non-family abduction.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: Trenton Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 609-989-3905
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: P80662358

Agency Name: New Jersey State Police-Missing Persons Unit
Agency Contact Person: Det. Erin Micciulla
Agency Phone Number: 609-882-2000
Agency E-Mail: missingp(at)njsp.org
Agency Case Number: N/A

NCIC Number: M289626497
NamUs Case Number: MP6381
NCMEC Number: 708328

Information Source(s)

NamUs
NCMEC
NJ State Police
Philadelphia Daily News - Mar. 7, 1988
ABC News

Admin Notes

Added: Prior to 2006; Last Updated: 1/21/22 - By: hb