CA CA - Susan Robin Bender, 15, abducted, Modesto, 25 Apr 1986

[S.Chupco]

I am responding late and I hope you see this post @Jakk_Runt.
Questions regarding your post, if you or anyone else know the answers:

1. Do you know for sure that the relative who went missing and Susan are one in the same? Or are you not sure?

2. Does anyone know if Susan’s mom was a known drug user and prostitute?

3. Was Susan known to be neglected?

4. Does Susan’s family or friends confirm that her knickname was booger?

5. A family friend had a green van and was found to have her possessions in his home? What does her family and friends say about this? Her mom might not be talking, but what about everyone else?

My biggest question with all of this is, is Susan the same girl you are taking about in your story? For sure?

Thank you!

No my cousin wasn't neglected she was very well taken care of. No one in our family has ever heard or called her boogers. Yes my aunt was known to use at this time. The man we believe is responsible was not a family friend he was a man my aunt worked for shortly. The guy who posted this stuff was born about 10 years after my cousin went missing. He is not related to Suzie he is only related to me by marriage on my dads side. As for what our family thinks about Raymond Stafford or Gregg Jon Tunningley (as he now calls him self) having all her belongings she left with in his home & van, we believe he is the one who made her disappear. He is a predator with a very crazy & sorted criminal history. But because there is no body he will never be held accountable even though its obvious he is responsible. This is a true nightmare for out family.

I am responding late and I hope you see this post @Jakk_Runt.
Questions regarding your post, if you or anyone else know the answers:

1. Do you know for sure that the relative who went missing and Susan are one in the same? Or are you not sure?

2. Does anyone know if Susan’s mom was a known drug user and prostitute?

3. Was Susan known to be neglected?

4. Does Susan’s family or friends confirm that her knickname was booger?

5. A family friend had a green van and was found to have her possessions in his home? What does her family and friends say about this? Her mom might not be talking, but what about everyone else?

My biggest question with all of this is, is Susan the same girl you are taking about in your story? For sure?

Thank you!

 

[StillDiggin]

An arrest has been made in the decades-old disappearance of 15-year-old Modesto girl Susan Robin Bender.

Bender disappeared on April 25, 1985. She was reportedly seen getting into a green van at the Greyhound bus depot in Modesto.

On Thursday, the Modesto Police Department announced the arrest of Raymond Lewis Stafford.

Arrest made in 1986 disappearance of Modesto teen Susan Robin Bender

An arrest has been made in the decades-old disappearance of 15-year-old Modesto girl Susan Robin Bender.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[megs1477]

An arrest has been made in the decades-old disappearance of 15-year-old Modesto girl Susan Robin Bender.

Bender disappeared on April 25, 1985. She was reportedly seen getting into a green van at the Greyhound bus depot in Modesto.

On Thursday, the Modesto Police Department announced the arrest of Raymond Lewis Stafford.

Arrest made in 1986 disappearance of Modesto teen Susan Robin Bender

An arrest has been made in the decades-old disappearance of 15-year-old Modesto girl Susan Robin Bender.

www.cbsnews.com

Sometimes it takes way too long…but it’s still so nice when it finally gets there. I’m glad Susan and her family finally have their Justice.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 18, 2023

Mother never lost hope for update in decades-old case of missing 15-year-old Modesto girl

On Tuesday, investigators announced an arrest related to the case.

www.cbsnews.com

[...]

PC never lost hope, but the quest to find her daughter was agonizing until this week.

"I'm grateful, I'm glad that the system has finally decided to step up and do something instead have me wondering," said Chupco in an exclusive interview with CBS13.

[...]

Bender's mother revealed she always suspected Stafford was behind her daughter's disappearance after she uncovered the pair carried a secret relationship.

Currently, Modesto investigators said Stafford is in jail on charges of murder with special circumstances.

[...]

Now in the final act, Chupco says the one thing she has never wrestled with is forgiveness toward Stafford.

"I have in my heart," she said. "If I carry that ugly nasty feeling about wanting to kill this man, and just – I'd be down where he is walking on the ground."

 

[LadyL]

Wow glad they were able to finally arrest him.

 

[spartanx]

I can only say that this girl, so young and pretty, left me doing adolescent things... maybe she was looking for more attention from her mother or she should have received more information, maybe I don't know about drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. some advice from parents Children can be useful in life... my mother used to say, don't even trust your shadow... they can always betray you...
either way
rest in peace

 

[thefragile7393]

Is the the same person who was found to have her things in his possession? I can’t tell from the link

Edit-yep, looks like so based on earlier posts. Glad to see something happening finally

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The documents state that Bender was at a bus stop in Modesto, and she was supposed to be heading to Carmel, according to her mother.

That’s when she was spotted getting into a green van. That van turned out to be a rental and was eventually traced back to Stafford.

According to the documents, a former employee of Stafford reportedly said that he had confessed to killing a woman not long after Bender’s disappearance.

Stafford had allegedly confessed to strangling the woman for 40 to 45 minutes with a cord or wire, before burying her body somewhere near Yosemite National Park.

Regarding the green van, Stafford’s former employee had stated that Stafford was very concerned about making sure that the van was cleaned out before it was returned.

Stafford’s driving route was also analyzed by investigators.

It was stated that Stafford claimed he drove to various parts of the Central Valley to visit friends but when detectives drove the same route in the same vehicle, the mileage didn’t match what Stafford had claimed.

Outlined in the documents was also an alleged fake kidnapping that was orchestrated by Stafford and others.

Court documents outline chain of events in Modesto cold case

Raymond Lewis Stafford, 76, to be extradited for alleged involvement in 1986 murder

www.kcra.com

 

[tarabull]

Long-missing California teen may be buried in Yosemite​

 

[SophieRose]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/missing-california-teen-buried-yosemite-18334883.php

In the course of their investigation, they allegedly learned that Stafford had briefly worked with Susan's mother Patricia Chupco; Chupco told the Modesto Bee that she believed Stafford may have formed a relationship with Susan after calling their home phone.

 

[jillolantern]

Some of her personal belongings, such as a diary, phone book and clothing, were found in a suspect's home. He was questioned by police, then released due to lack of evidence.

Is there any more detail on the belongings? Photos?

 

[jillolantern]

The man we believe is responsible was not a family friend he was a man my aunt worked for shortly.

It seems like there was a deeper relationship if Susan was with him willingly. Can you shed any light on that? In other words, if Susan's mom just worked for him for a week and had a bad experience, why would Susan have befriended him? Was there a longer relationship prior to the mom working for him, for instance?

 

[Caring1]

 

[Leprikawn]

Sadly a person that would do this didn't stop. There are probably more victims and LE needs to work with LE in all of the places he has lived.