Left: Reidenbach, circa 1981; Right: Age-progression at age 46 (circa 2010), 51 (circa 2016), 58 (circa 2023)
Left: Reidenbach, circa 1981; Right: Age-progression at age 46 (circa 2010), 51 (circa 2016), 58 (circa 2023)
Name: Michele Reidenbach
Case Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Missing Since: September 22, 1981
Location Last Seen: Evans City, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Date of Birth: December 29, 1964
Age: 16 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 110 pounds
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Shelly
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Chain smoker.
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Available
Clothing: Last seen wearing blue jeans; a wine-colored, v-necked sweater.
Jewelry: Gold necklace with a "knot" pendant.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Reidenbach was last seen at her after-school job in Evans City, Pennsylvania on September 22, 1981. She had an after-school job addressing envelopes and writing advertisements for the owners of Mel Den, an appliance store at 240 S. Main St. in Zelienople. She left her job at 4 to walk to a pharmacy located a half-block away, to buy some cold medicine. She then intended to return to the store. The clerk told police that Reidenbach bought cold medicine and left the store. Michele was last seen at a supermarket parking lot on South Main Street in Zelienople. It was the last confirmed sighting of the girl.
She was a senior at Seneca Valley High School at the time of her disappearance.
She wasn't having troubles at home and was very attached to her family. She was devoted to an older sister who was paralyzed and in the hospital. Police found Reidenbach's purse and school books at Mel Den. She was a chain smoker who was never without her cigarettes. She had more than $100 tucked in a drawer at home, money saved for a class ring, that she would probably have taken if she had run away. She had her senior photos taken that afternoon.
Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 724-284-8100
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: D1-220475
Agency Name: Zelienople Borough Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 724-452-3003
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: D1-220475
NamUs Case Number: 2907
NCIC Case Number: M814253755
NCMEC Case Number: NCMC601875
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
NamUs
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania State Police
Post Gazette 9/22/06
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 11/05/2023 - By: kc
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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