IL IL - Trudy Appleby, 11, Moline, 21 Aug 1996

[missacorah]

This 11 year old has been missing since 1996.
Her father left for work and raised the alarm when he returned and could not find her. Meanwhile trudy had been seen getting onto a vehicle with a male driver between 930 and 10am that day and had taken some swi mming kit with her.

Trudys family strongly believe that David Whipple, the father of one of Trudys friends was involved in her disappearance although he has naver been publicly named.He was involved in charges of child molestation after she had gone missing but it is not clear who these charges were made by. Trudy often attended days out with this family. Usually to the river. Was this where Trudy was taking her swimming kit?

Be interested to hear your theories!

 

[rayray]

http://www.childsearch.org/trudy_appleby.html

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance


Missing Since: August 21, 1996 from Moline, Illinois
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: September 4, 1984
Age: 11
Height: 4'8"
Weight: 75 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue/Green
Race: White
Gender: Female
<LI>Clothing: Black bicycle stretch shorts, white socks
and blue deck shoes. NCIC Number: M-956021571
<LI>Case Number: NCMC822441


​

Details of Disappearance
Appleby's father departed from their family's residence to report to work at approximately 9:00 AM on August 21, 1996 in Moline, Illinois. A neighbor saw Appleby enter a silver or gray box-style vehicle near their home at approximately 10:30 AM. The driver of the vehicle is described as being his twenties at the time with curly brown hair. The suspect was wearing a baseball cap. Neither Appleby nor her suspected abductor have been seen again.

Authorities believe that Appleby may have known the vehicle's driver. Her family's residence was located off of the main road and was not visible from the street. She took a swimsuit and a towel before departing from her home. She left approximately $200 behind, which her father said she saved for an upcoming vacation. Appleby's parents believe that David Whipple, the father of one of her friends, was involved in her case. He was convicted of child molestation charges after Appleby vanished. Whipple took several of his family members to Credit Island near Davenport, Iowa on August 21. Appleby frequently accompanied Whipple's relatives to the river. Her parents theorize that she may have been injured in an accident or was the victim of foul play during the excursion. Investigators have been unable to determine if Appleby accompanied Whipple's family to Iowa. He has never been named as a suspect in her disappearance, but authorities said he remained a person of interest. Appleby's case remains unsolved.

http://www.doenetwork.us/nampn/cases/appleby.html

age progession to 19:

[url="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/idigvb20/ApplebyAP.jpg"]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/idigvb20/ApplebyAP.jpg[/url]

trudy at time of disappearance:

 [url="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/idigvb20/Appleby1.jpg"]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f348/idigvb20/Appleby1.jpg[/url]

 

[Soonerbebe]

My prayers are with Trudy and her family.

 

[bykerladi]

Does anyone have a picture of the friend's father who was a suspect? Um, I mean "person of interest".

 

[missacorah]

Nope 'fraid not. As far as I know he has hot been publicly deemed a suspect at all and has not been arrested. Its just the families gut feeling that he is involved.

 

[Bobbisangel]

I can't imagine LE not investigating that man whose family Trudy would go swimming with. It makes sense that she would grab her swimming suit and towel and go with him if he stopped by or called to see if she wanted to go. He probably led her to believe that his family would be there too but he had other ideas when he picked her up. He has since been arrested for child molestation! Come on LE get this guy.

 

[missacorah]

Thats what I mean - he was arrested on unrelated child molestation charges after Trudys disappearance and was obviously a suspect by then -somebody must be covering him with an iron clad alibi, do you think? I believe his name is David Whipple but cant find anything on him.

 

[christine2448]

I am been trying for some time to identify a UID found in Arizona in 1999. I came across Trudy's poster and thought they look similar...age, stats, etc also seem to line up.


I sent this information to LE a couple of days ago, this morning I rec'd a reply.

Here is the info on the UID and autopsy picture side by side w/Trudy:



Located alive on January 26, 1999 in the vicinity of I-10 eastbound at milepost 173 in Pinal County, AZ.
The victim died the following day at the hospital.
She either fell, jumped or was pushed out of a moving vehicle.
Cause of death is undetermined.
Approximate Age: 13-18
Gender: Female
Height: 64 inches
Weight: 110 to 130 pounds
Race: White
Complexion: Light
Hair Color: Blonde (note, probably dyed, the roots are brown)
Hair (Other): 16
Eye Color: Blue
Identifying Characteristics: Tattoo of a blue "heart" on left side of chest.
Jewelry: Two gold earrings with black stones, one gold earring with clear stone, silver navel ring.
Primary Investigating Agency

Investigative Agency: Maricopa County Medical Examiner
Phone: (602) 372-1126
Website: www.maricopa.gov/medex/unidentified


Here is a pic of Trudy and UID side by side




I can't get them to post! I usually have no problem with this!

Heres a link to the pics






Thanks so much Christine. I will get this info to my Sgt. who monitors information that comes in on Trudy. That is a very good photo of the victim. What a tragedy! I appreciate you placing them side by side. That really helps too. I will get back to you Christine.

 

[LisainWV]

wow Christine...they do look alot alike. Good eye - the hair color would have thrown me off completely.

Keep us updated. If that is her, how many questions will arise as to what was going on for 3 years or so.

The un id'ed girl has a thread in the cold case file. did you post your pictures there?

 

[christine2448]

Hi Christine. I was the person that responded to your email. Sgt. Titus is my supervisor in charge of that case. He informed me that he has already been in touch with Maricopa County and our DNA in regard to Trudy did not match with their victim. Thank you for you assistance though. It is appreciated. You sound like a very dedicated citizen.

Captain Greg Heist
Moline Police Department

 

[OceanEyes]

Wasn't a boyfriend of her sister suspected at one time? Or is that a different case I'm thinking of?

 

[meggilyweggily]

I think you're thinking of Amber Barker. http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/barker_amber.html

 

[Rle7]

I will never forget the look on Brenda Gordon's face as she tried to imagine what life would be like if Trudy Appleby had never disappeared. She couldn't image. Even trying was too painful.

Time doesn't heal all wounds. Nearly twelve years after her daughter went missing Brenda's pain seems so strong, so persistent it's as though she has lived August 21, 1996 every day for more than a decade.

As I studied tapes of candle light vigils and birthday gatherings my heart broke over and over for Trudy's family. Amazingly, the police say they still get leads.

http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=6512455&nav=menu81_1_2

 

[Pandora]

I get a "Google Alert" on any and all things related to Johnny Gosch. This was in my e-mail this afternoon:
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=351156

I was unable to find a thread on Trudy Appleby, so I thought I'd post it here. If anyone knows of a Trudy thread, please request that it be moved.
Thanks!

I did a bit of searching and also found the following:
http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=992206
http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...aseNum=822441&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
http://www.find-missing-children.org/Posters/poster488.htm

 

[meggilyweggily]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/a/appleby_trudy.html

 

[raindrops300]

And

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1533dfil.html

 

[Ang50]

When I saw the name, I knew exactly who this was. This is one case that I wonder so much about...

 

[hoppyfrog]

http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_be0ffff8-9384-11de-ab21-001cc4c03286.html

28 Aug 09

The likelihood of a link between the unsolved case of a missing Moline girl and the case of a California girl who also was abducted but walked into a police station this week may be slim, but police will look into it, regardless.


Trudy Appleby was 11 years old when someone snatched her from her home on Aug. 21, 1996. Jaycee Dugard also was 11 and was abducted while walking to the bus stop near her home in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., on June 10, 1991.


Trudy's mother, Brenda Gordon, said such a success story, "just adds one more piece of hope for my family that could come home and that she's still alive."


Gordon said she has had to come to terms with her daughter's disappearance.


"The first few years I was heavily medicated and gained weight and it was pure hell," she said. "This time of year, you just stay in limbo. Christmas and Mother's Day, though, are hard.


"Other than that I try to keep as near to being Brenda as I can," she said. "My family does the same. We just try to carry on."


more at link


age-progressed pic
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.town...1-001cc4c03286.preview-300.jpg?_dc=1251431124

 

[White Rain]

Bumping for Trudy...for some reason, she of all people, was on my mind today.

 

[Auramyst]

Hoping and praying for Trudy's safe return to her family...