FL FL - Heidi Ann Zampell, 22, Naples, 18 June 1987

[Magz]

Ronald Lee Hanifen, Jr (1969-1974) - Find A Grave...

The father of James Helle-Hanifen is Ronald L. Hanifen.
ETA or stepfather
The older James Helle is NOT directly related if he is even related at all.

 

[Magz]

33 years ago today marks the last day Heidi was seen.

 

[Magz]

34 years missing. Where is Heidi?

 

[Bit of hope]

Sorry, for not digging in totally but did Arthur Sims had sons her age?

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

Sorry, for not digging in totally but did Arthur Sims had sons her age?

Close, but not exactly, maybe? I think I found an obituary for his wife, and based on those names, I think this could be their family (Jan 12, 1971). If so, Stephen would have been born roughly mid-1969 (so about 4 years younger than Heidi?), and Bruce looks to be older than that. There is a Bruce Sims in Naples associated with other names in the family who was born in Aug 1963, which would make him about 23 at the time of Heidi's disappearance. I believe that Bruce graduated from Lely High in 1981, while Heidi graduated from Naples High. However, she was living in Lely Estates at the time of her disappearance, and they could have well known each other from church or any number of other activities.

 

[Bit of hope]

Close, but not exactly, maybe? I think I found an obituary for his wife, and based on those names, I think this could be their family (Jan 12, 1971). If so, Stephen would have been born roughly mid-1969 (so about 4 years younger than Heidi?), and Bruce looks to be older than that. There is a Bruce Sims in Naples associated with other names in the family who was born in Aug 1963, which would make him about 23 at the time of Heidi's disappearance. I believe that Bruce graduated from Lely High in 1981, while Heidi graduated from Naples High. However, she was living in Lely Estates at the time of her disappearance, and they could have well known each other from church or any number of other activities.

Thank you @Nancy Drew RN. Very interesting info. So maybe she went down to the Sims home to look for one of the sons for whatever reason. I wonder if LE ever looked into a possible connection between Heidi and the Sims sons. I can't help thinking: pregnant.

 

[Magz]

Thank you @Nancy Drew RN. Very interesting info. So maybe she went down to the Sims home to look for one of the sons for whatever reason. I wonder if LE ever looked into a possible connection between Heidi and the Sims sons. I can't help thinking: pregnant.

The NAMUS for Heidi says she has an approximately 8 inch scar on her lower abdomen and 2 hearing aids. I wondered if she possibly had chemo. Some forms can damage hearing creating the need for hearing aids. If so pregnancy could be doubtful. Just adding that for consideration.

 

[Magz]

The Obit

Close, but not exactly, maybe? I think I found an obituary for his wife, and based on those names, I think this could be their family (Jan 12, 1971). If so, Stephen would have been born roughly mid-1969 (so about 4 years younger than Heidi?), and Bruce looks to be older than that. There is a Bruce Sims in Naples associated with other names in the family who was born in Aug 1963, which would make him about 23 at the time of Heidi's disappearance. I believe that Bruce graduated from Lely High in 1981, while Heidi graduated from Naples High. However, she was living in Lely Estates at the time of her disappearance, and they could have well known each other from church or any number of other activities.

The obituary says Betty Jo has a daughter named Sharon. The picture description says sister Carol. I’m confused. Carol looks grown. Is this Betty Jo’s sister or an editor mistake in the paper.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

The Obit

The obituary says Betty Jo has a daughter named Sharon. The picture description says sister Carol. I’m confused. Carol looks grown. Is this Betty Jo’s sister or an editor mistake in the paper.

I was a little confused on that myself, but enough of the names are the same (Betty Jo[e], Arthur, Stephen, and Bruce Sims, correct city, roughly correct ages) that I'm inclined to think that it's them. I'm not sure if they had Sharon's name wrong, she goes by something different now, or if this is some other person. Or this could even be a completely different Arthur and his family. However, I will note that I found an obituary on Newspapers.com for Arthur's father, and it references his sister, Miss Carol Sims. So this could be her, and the age, as you noted, might be more consistent with this. Unfortunately, it didn't list the grandchildren.

 

[Bit of hope]

The Obit

The obituary says Betty Jo has a daughter named Sharon. The picture description says sister Carol. I’m confused. Carol looks grown. Is this Betty Jo’s sister or an editor mistake in the paper.

It looks like sister Carol was bicycling along and daughter Sharon wasn't there....

 

[Magz]

Heidi was last seen 35 years ago today.

 

[alb1on]

Returning to the Zampell family for a moment; in #5 I mentioned that a Zampell family owns a major property and construction company in Massachusetts. I can now confirm that Heidi is part of this family. the obituary of her aunt at Remembering the life of Lena Zampell 2012 notes that she worked for the company and lists Heidi's father as her brother. This means nothing in terms of the investigation but reinforces my surprise that the case has attracted so little attention given the wealth of the wider family.

 

[theshadow45]

Heidi has been missing for 36 years today.

 

[spartanx]

Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where there is almost nothing to go on since the friend died and the pastor already distanced himself from the whole matter for the same reason...

Let's assume Helle and Sims are telling the truth. They left her with only a handbag and makeup bag at night, after work. Now I can only speak for myself, but to me, a small bag means I'm going out somewhere like a party or a club....but she was in a wooded area. which would suggest something like a bonfire, as long as it wasn't too boggy.

I wonder if there were regularly parties or bonfires in the area. It was the end of June, the universities would have finished for the summer; It's possible that she met some people venting and she went to a party where something happened, and due to her location and surroundings, her body was quickly taken over by the elements and animals....
either way
rest in peace

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Heidi’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Heidi has been missing for 37 years today.

 

[theshadow45]

Today is Heidi’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Heidi has been missing for 38 years today.