IL IL - Nancy O'Sullivan, 15, South Holland, 7 March 1974

I've been reading this story, and I've noticed a lot of misconceptions about the case. First of all, South Holland was a great town in 1974. I lived 1.5 miles from where the girl disappeared. The 1300 block of 168th place ran into the frontage road, which ran parallel to I94. She could easily get a ride on the frontage road, which was a fast way to get from route 6 to 170th Street. Plenty of traffic on the frontage road.
Also, I've read comments about it being a lower class area, and the south side of Chicago. Ridiculous. My father was a lawyer, and our neighbor was a doctor. Everyone had wealth, to live in that area. You were either a tradesman, owned a company, or had a profession. The same goes for Homewood, where they moved to. I didn't know the girl or the boys, and I was only 4 months older than her, so they either attended McKinley or Greenwood school, which were in that area.

Everyone hitch-hiked in 1974, so many scenario's seem plausible. The fact that she left her purse behind is odd, but she was only 15. The purse probably held nothing of value. The story regarding the 3 brothers and no police interviews, was just poor journalism, at best. I'm sure the police talked to the boy's, that were similar in age. She was 15, and they were apparently young as well, because none of them were mentioned, as drivers. I just find many of these comments to be far fetched. You may be trying to help in some way, but if you have zero knowledge of the area or the people involved, you're not helping. I hope they find Nancy some day.
 
She could have told her parents that she was visiting those boys, but actually had been planning on meeting someone else. The boys could have mistakenly thought she was hitchhiking when she knew the driver all along.
 
I located this: Greg Smith (1959-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial
But I'm rather sure he's not "our Greg" because there's no mention of any brothers.
1661337754338.jpg
 
Still Missing

JAN 28, 2023

Missing: Nancy O'Sullivan (IL)

Nancy O'Sullivan, Age Now: 63, Missing: 03/07/1974. Missing From HOMEWOOD, IL. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: Homewood Police Department (Illinois) - 1-708-206-3420.
 
Impressible little girl with a free and fleeting personality.. surely some mentally ill person saw some possibility of doing something with her... her parents with a hole in their hearts that will never be covered... I just hope that her death was not painful ..
rest in peace
 
May this be Greg Smith?
And one of these may be Neil?
 
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Does anyone know the address in homewood in were the o'sullivans lived...Also, the chicago heights address from where she was last seen?
 
Hi all!

A later reply as I've finally spoken with my lovely mama. You are all doing such awesome research! My little bit to add is not much, I didn't have my math right :blushing: and my dear mom is a bit older than Nancy. She doesn't remember the case or the family name, she had just graduated high school in her new home town the year prior to Nancy's disappearance. However, I can at the least give some insight into the schools in the area at the time and I will, promise, to speak to my two aunts who are closer in age to Nancy as soon as I see them.

The big Catholic grade school in South Holland at the time was Holy Ghost. It is now closed. My mom informed me that there were three in her neighboring town at the time as well. Apparently a lot of these south suburban town had multiple Catholic schools. It's possible that Nancy attended Holy Ghost at some time before her family moved to Homewood. Since she was 15 went she went missing, she could have also attended Seton Academy in South Holland. I believe this is still an all girl's high school, but that might have changed. If she was in a public school it would have been Thornton, in Thornton, IL. In Homewood, the Catholic elementary school was Infant Jesus of Prague, but it is possible that there were others operating at that time. If she was at a Catholic high school it is possible it was Marion in Chicago Heights. The public high school would have most likely been Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

She told me that there used to be a TON of Catholic schools in the area, many of them now closed. When I told her about this case she asked me to send her the link so she could read about it, which of course, I will. When I read her the opening post, she also said that there was no way this girl hitch hiked from the end of someone's driveway. That wasn't how it was done. From one of the main drags, maybe, but certainly not from someone's home.

I don't know if any of this helps, but maybe someone with more sleuthing skills will find something!

Always, MOO
St Agnes and St Kieran are a few more catholic schools in the area. The junior high would of been James Hart.
 

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