FL FL - Brenda Snouffer, 32, Palm Harbor, 2 April 1995

[Providence17]

Wow! That is interesting. Good find. So Brenda lived with him at that property showing he's owned it before she disappeared. He still lists it as his main residence and google map shows a house so he rebuilt apparently.

Edit. This story was from June 10 1985

We already checked the water behind his home on Mildred. Water was only 3 feet deep

 

[Providence17]

His brother Stuart is also a prime suspect along with his 2 friends David Atland and Steven Baker. I was told he had property in Pasco County and possibly resided in Newport Richy. We are considering looking in that area next.

 

[Cagle]

Pieces of a car with a 1995 tag, bones, and clothing found submerged in Steinhatchee, FL

This is a bit far from Brenda Snouffer's last known area, but hers is one of the few cases I can find of missing people in 1995-1996 who were missing with a vehicle. Will be interesting to watch.

 

[megs1477]

Pieces of a car with a 1995 tag, bones, and clothing found submerged in Steinhatchee, FL

This is a bit far from Brenda Snouffer's last known area, but hers is one of the few cases I can find of missing people in 1995-1996 who were missing with a vehicle. Will be interesting to watch.

It is interesting none of the articles mention the type of car it is.

 

[Cagle]

It is interesting none of the articles mention the type of car it is.

Update - It appears the person was James Toole. They found a couple cards with his last name with the remains.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Brenda Starr Snouffer – The Charley Project

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Brenda, circa 1995

• Missing Since 04/02/1995
• Missing From Palm Harbor, Florida
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 06/06/1962 (61)
• Age 32 years old
• Height and Weight 5'6, 135 pounds
• 
  
• Associated Vehicle(s) Turquoise 1993 Mazda Protege with Florida license plate number LEA14U
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• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Brenda's ears are pierced. Her maiden name is Starr and many accounts refer to her by that name.

Details of Disappearance​

Brenda was involved in a bitter divorce from her husband, Scott Irvine Snouffer, in 1995. She was preparing to testify as a witness against him and his brother, Stuart B. Snouffer, in an automobile theft trial scheduled to begin later in the year. Brenda had informed authorities that Scott and Stuart were running a "chop shop," which dismantles stolen cars so their parts can be sold.

Scott and Brenda were also embroiled in a custody battle over their six-year-old daughter, Mariel. Brenda stated she was afraid of her husband and that he had threatened her. On the very day she disappeared, someone mailed threatening letters to her home and also to the home of her friend in Ohio.

Brenda dropped Mariel off at Highland Lakes Elementary School in Palm Harbor, Florida at approximately 9:15 a.m. on April 2, 1995. She was driving her turquoise 1993 Mazda Protege with Florida license plate number LEA14U.

She never returned to pick up her daughter after school. Mariel's teachers waited three hours after classes dismissed before reporting Brenda's absence to authorities. She has never been heard from again and her vehicle has not been recovered.

Officials immediately questioned Scott regarding his estranged wife's disappearance. He maintained his innocence in her case and retained an attorney. Scott has refused to cooperate with the continuing investigation and has not been eliminated as a possible suspect.

Brenda planned to travel to the Orlando, Florida area with Mariel the day after her disappearance. They were scheduled to visit the Walt Disney World and Sea World theme parks. Brenda's loved ones said that it is uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. Authorities believe that foul play was involved in her case.

Scott's automobile theft case was delayed because Brenda was absent, and some of the charges against him were dropped because she was not available to testify. However, he was eventually convicted of grand theft auto, title fraud, Vehicle Identification Number tampering, possession of an unlawful driver's license, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and seven years of probation.

All of the charges against Stuart were dropped in 1995 because authorities did not have enough evidence to proceed without Brenda's testimony

The Snouffers' divorce was finalized in late May 1995. A judge awarded Brenda with sole custody of their daughter after her disappearance. Her mother was initially appointed as Mariel's guardian in Brenda's absence, but Scott was eventually awarded full custody of the child.

There have not been any arrests in connection with Brenda's case, which remains unsolved. Some investigators believe she left of her own accord due to stress about the divorce and the upcoming trial, but others think she met with foul play. She was employed as a registered nurse in Palm Harbor in 1995.

Investigating Agency​

• Pinellas County Sheriff's Office 727-582-6200

Source Information​

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
• The Tampa Tribune
• The St. Petersburg Times
• NamUs

Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 22, 2019; three pictures added.

 

[spartanx]

It is more than clear that the husband had something to do with it... not directly, since it would be obvious, but sending someone didn't cost him anything... with a daughter and hurting her mother... what kind of man is he? He can hate her or love her, but she will always be the mother of his daughter and for that reason he owes her respect... and since he did it with cash, his guilt can never be proven... surely whoever did it is far away or dead... free of dust and straw... I hope one day he is prosecuted and confesses where he left the body...
whatever the case
rest in peace

 

[Find Brenda]

Is her full name Brenda Lee Starr Snouffer?

Many sources list Starr as her middle name, but in a 1998 article at https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/05/10/what-happened-to-brenda-starr/.

it says her parents are Grant and Deanne Starr and that her middle name is Lee.

Can anyone confirm that this is accurate?

 

[Find Brenda]

Brenda Starr Snouffer – The Charley Project

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Brenda, circa 1995

• Missing Since 04/02/1995
• Missing From Palm Harbor, Florida
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 06/06/1962 (61)
• Age 32 years old
• Height and Weight 5'6, 135 pounds
• 
  
• Associated Vehicle(s) Turquoise 1993

Charley Project is using the wrong date. It should be April 21, 1995.

April 2 was a Sunday.