DE DE - Barbara Smith Vanwinckle, 61, Rehoboth Beach 21 May 1994

[SurrealisticSlumbers]

Barbara Smith Vanwinckle
Endangered Missing​

• Date Last Seen: May 21, 1994
• Location Last Seen: Rehoboth Beach, Sussex County, DE
• Aliases: Some agencies spell her last name "Vanwinkle." She may also be using the name "Barbara V. Hensley."

Physical Description:

• Sex: Female
• Race: White
• DOB: 12/25/1932
• Age (at Time of Disappearance): 61 years old (would now be 88 years old)
• Height: 5'4" - 5'5"
• Weight: 135 lbs.
• Hair: Graying
• Eyes: Blue
• Distinguishing Features: She has a scar on her right buttock, a scar on her lower back, and a hysterectomy scar on her abdomen.

Details of Disappearance:

Vanwinckle was last seen in the 500 block of Ocean Breeze Drive in Rehoboth Beach, DE on May 21, 1994. She has never been heard from again.

On June 9, 1994 at 10:00 p.m., her green '93 Ford Crown Victoria with the DE license plate number 83783 was found, unlocked and abandoned, in the parking lot of Rose's Department Store at the Mid-Sussex Shopping Center on Route 113 in Millsboro, DE. Police responded to the scene and found the car unsecured, and Vanwinckle's keys on the floor of the driver's side. Vanwinckle's purse was on the passenger seat, covered by a sweater. Police went through the purse and concluded that nothing had been stolen.

Vanwinckle's live-in boyfriend did not report her missing; the report was filed by another close friend. Investigators found this suspicious, and searched their residence after her disappearance was reported. Two bedrooms inside the home had bloodstains, leading authorities to declare Vanwinckle's case a homicide.

The prime suspect in Vanwinckle's disappearance committed suicide two months after her disappearance, but investigators still hope to resolve her case and recover her remains. Foul play is suspected.

Investigating Agency:

Delaware State Police
Phone: (302) 739-5939
Case # 78-94-0672
NamUs Missing Person # 6970

Source(s):
The Doe Network
NamUs
Charley Project

 

[Atombudd]

Could not find much on Barbara, however I did find an article that does spell her name without the "c", Van Winkle which seems more common and correct according to public records search. The article linked was from June 24, 1994. Barbara went missing May 21 1994 and was reported missing June 5th and her car found June 9th. I don't know if police found blood in her home after this article as it doesn't mention it. The article would also be before the unnamed suspect committed suicide.
Cape Gazette June 24 Page 3

 

[Pennysmom2]

2133DFDE - Barbara Smith Vanwinkle

Van Winkle, pg 2

Clipping found in The News Journal published in Wilmington, Delaware on 5/23/1995. Van Winkle, pg 2

www.newspapers.com