SC SC - Dail Dinwiddie, 23, Columbia, 24 Sep 1992

[SqrQn29]

I've followed this case since it happened in September, 1992. Something about this case really made an impression on me. I'm from SC and was 30 when this happened. I have periodically checked back in looking for new info. I've been to 5 points as a college student, with it being that crowded that night it doesn't make sense no one saw her get in a car or get abducted. I still believe someone remembers something from that night but they are too scared to talk. I watch every true crime documentary I can find because, I"m a junkie, and years ago spent way too much time on this forum. I've learned it's not uncommon for someone to hold in info for 30 years out of fear. Her body is somewhere, or at least parts are. I always expected a hunter to stumble across her in the woods, but no. I can't imagine her family's pain all these years. I wish LE had been a little more forthcoming with info because they have released very little and it has always seemed as if early on they threw up their hands. I read that the bouncer at Jungle Jims watched her walk up the street for a good ways until he couldn't see her anymore.
The theory that y'all have proposed that it was a family with clout that shushed this investigation makes a lot of sense. Columbia has quite a number of very wealthy, well-connected families, I mean for goodness sakes one of our Senators from Columbia, attorney Dick Harpootlian, is defending Alex Murdaugh. The good ol boy network thrives in SC.

Yeah, I recently (within the last year) heard about the Murdaugh cases which were pretty eye opening. I’m not from Columbia so I definitely wasn’t around during Dail’s case. I read through all of the news articles I could find that were archived through the library. Besides a sketch of a man (or two maybe) that could be involved but quickly ruled out, I didn’t read any new information year after year.

I agree that it looked like LE was quick to throw their hands up, whether that’s because they truly have no leads especially without a body or because someone they knew was involved may never be known.

I truly think her body is somewhere in Columbia, however I don’t think she will be found unless someone talks. I truly wish some outside eyes would take a look at the case and put some pressure on it to give her family closure.

Someone knows what happened. Someone knows where she is. How far did she get before the bouncer could no longer see her?

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I agree that someone knows and someone is going to have to talk to solve it.
I am still intrigued on this Harry Gregory as a possibility. He may not have known Dail but because he lived in the area he may have seemed familiar enough for her to get in the car with him since she had been drinking. He has proven himself over the years to be no friend of women and at a time years later, when the case is not being talked about, he threatens a vulnerable young woman by saying he will do to her what was done to Dail.
Maybe I’m just desperate to find the person responsible but this guy is my #1 suspect. That being said, unless he talks, we’ll never know.

 

[SqrQn29]

I agree that someone knows and someone is going to have to talk to solve it.
I am still intrigued on this Harry Gregory as a possibility. He may not have known Dail but because he lived in the area he may have seemed familiar enough for her to get in the car with him since she had been drinking. He has proven himself over the years to be no friend of women and at a time years later, when the case is not being talked about, he threatens a vulnerable young woman by saying he will do to her what was done to Dail.
Maybe I’m just desperate to find the person responsible but this guy is my #1 suspect. That being said, unless he talks, we’ll never know.

I definitely understand the “desperate to find the person responsible” feeling. I was taken aback with the number of people who I talked to that either hadn’t heard of the case or seemed content with “she vanished in thin air” concept.

I am not convinced HG is completely involved but I do believe he knows who is. There have been people mentioned in this forum and others who seem to live in the same vicinity. Wasn’t he the one who was good friends (or knew at least) the bartender at Jungle Jim’s? I believe it was mentioned that he frequented that bar. People saw her talking to the bartender quite often that night but the conversations were never brought up? What did they talk about?

I don’t think her case was someone’s “first time.” I think it was well thought out, planned, and executed. I think multiple people were involved. I agree people may remember things from that night that they are scared to come forward with. But I think good ole blackmail is the reason the people involved have stayed quite so long. 30 years…insane.

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 5, 2022

https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/nine-years-dateline-s-missing-america-188-still-missing-n1301708

Dail Dinwiddie

Dail Dinwiddie was 23 years old when she went missing on September 24, 1992. She had just completed an art history degree at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia and had returned to her native Columbia, South Carolina to enroll at the University of South Carolina for graduate school. The night Dail went missing, she had attended a U2 concert with some friends at Williams-Brice stadium. After the concert, the friends went to a local bar called Jungle Jim’s, now renamed The Horseshoe. Dail somehow got separated from the group and was never seen again, despite many extensive searches. Detective Kevin Isenhoward of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, who is investigating along with Columbus Police, previously told Dateline they have received many promising tips, but nothing that has yet led to Dail. As of November 2022, the case remains open. At the time of her disappearance, Dail was 5’, and weighed 98 lbs., with brown hair and eyes. She would be in her 50s today. A $20,000 is being offered for information that leads to Dail. If you have any information about what may have happened to Dail, please contact the Columbia Police Department at (803) 545-3500.

 

[megs1477]

I saw the above post and i meant to go back and finish reading, but forgot. A few days I was looking at UID’s in Florida and one looked incredibly familiar. It took be a bit to make the connection, but it was Dail that the reconstruction drawing reminded me of. Aged and tired.
The UP was wearing a. Charleston VA scrub top. Had several healed broken bones). If you go through the details step by step, the idea that Dail may have been kidnapped and trafficked (rare and seemingly unlikely) couldn’t be refuted. The old injuries could have been part of the “breaking in” process I could not find a single thing to strongly rule out a connection.
I spent a few hours in photo software overlaying their photos and if you use the partial skeleton photo from the reconstruction against the photo that is most straight on of Dail from Namus, all the important features match.
Finally, there are rumors a serial killer may have been involved in Dail’s disappearance. A look into his history shoes ties to FL 1-2 hours away at most.
So I submitted the match.

 

[BethAnn777]

Error

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I saw the above post and i meant to go back and finish reading, but forgot. A few days I was looking at UID’s in Florida and one looked incredibly familiar. It took be a bit to make the connection, but it was Dail that the reconstruction drawing reminded me of. Aged and tired.
The UP was wearing a. Charleston VA scrub top. Had several healed broken bones). If you go through the details step by step, the idea that Dail may have been kidnapped and trafficked (rare and seemingly unlikely) couldn’t be refuted. The old injuries could have been part of the “breaking in” process I could not find a single thing to strongly rule out a connection.
I spent a few hours in photo software overlaying their photos and if you use the partial skeleton photo from the reconstruction against the photo that is most straight on of Dail from Namus, all the important features match.
Finally, there are rumors a serial killer may have been involved in Dail’s disappearance. A look into his history shoes ties to FL 1-2 hours away at most.
So I submitted the match.

Thank you !
Is it possible for you to post a link to what you found so we can look at it too?

 

[megs1477]

Thank you !
Is it possible for you to post a link to what you found so we can look at it too?

Wow. I tell you, since my MS Dx. I still have it pulled up in the next tab to link. My sincerely apologies!!

FL - FL - Sanibel Island, WhtFem, 30-50, #UP5316, floating in the Gulf, Oct 1995

(Many apologies if this has been posted, but I promise I've looked all over for it!) The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Demographics Sex: Female Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian Estimated Age Group: Adult Estimated Age Range (Years): 30-50 Estimated Year of...

www.websleuths.com

https://www.namus.gov/api/CaseSets/NamUs/UnidentifiedPersons/Cases/5316/Images/57949/Original

 

[SqrQn29]

Wow. I tell you, since my MS Dx. I still have it pulled up in the next tab to link. My sincerely apologies!!

FL - FL - Sanibel Island, WhtFem, 30-50, #UP5316, floating in the Gulf, Oct 1995

(Many apologies if this has been posted, but I promise I've looked all over for it!) The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) Demographics Sex: Female Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian Estimated Age Group: Adult Estimated Age Range (Years): 30-50 Estimated Year of...

www.websleuths.com

https://www.namus.gov/api/CaseSets/NamUs/UnidentifiedPersons/Cases/5316/Images/57949/Original

I recall reading that one finger on both of Dail’s hands were curved. I didn’t see that detail in the namus unidentified persons link, however, they didn’t give a lot of detail so who knows.

While searching other missing cases, I remember reading that Horry County was quite the trafficking hub in the early 90s in South Carolina

 

[megs1477]

I recall reading that one finger on both of Dail’s hands were curved. I didn’t see that detail in the namus unidentified persons link, however, they didn’t give a lot of detail so who knows.

While searching other missing cases, I remember reading that Horry County was quite the trafficking hub in the early 90s in South Carolina

It doesn’t seem like a lot of care is put into getting those details complete and exact all the time unfortunately.

I also was hung up in the craniotomy on UID. You can’t rule out childhood surgery, etc. So many unknowns. The big thing was the possible smoker note on UID. Dail had severe asthma so wasn’t a smoker. I tried to research if post mortem could look similar, but only found pages and pages of anti smoking campaigns. It’s very frustrating.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I recall reading that one finger on both of Dail’s hands were curved. I didn’t see that detail in the namus unidentified persons link, however, they didn’t give a lot of detail so who knows.

While searching other missing cases, I remember reading that Horry County was quite the trafficking hub in the early 90s in South Carolina

You are right. This is from True Crime Files:

“Dail is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. One finger on each of her hands is noticeably curved. At the time of her disappearance, Dail was 23 years old, 5 feet tall (152 centimetres), and weighed 96 pounds (44 kilograms). She was last seen wearing a forest green pullover shirt, a blue nylon L.L. Bean jacket tied around her waist, faded blue jeans, and tennis shoes.”

Case File Theories​

Source: jt

That’s interesting to me. My middle fingers on both of my hands are “noticeably curved”. It’s family trait I share with my sister, mother, and grandmother.

 

[SqrQn29]

It doesn’t seem like a lot of care is put into getting those details complete and exact all the time unfortunately.

I also was hung up in the craniotomy on UID. You can’t rule out childhood surgery, etc. So many unknowns. The big thing was the possible smoker note on UID. Dail had severe asthma so wasn’t a smoker. I tried to research if post mortem could look similar, but only found pages and pages of anti smoking campaigns. It’s very frustrating.

Yeah that is frustrating. The fact that she’s been missing for 30 years with no leads is very frustrating.

Brittanee Drexel was found very close to where people had been searching for her and I still think Dail is somewhere in Columbia or at least South Carolina.

 

[SqrQn29]

You are right. This is from True Crime Files:

“Dail is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. One finger on each of her hands is noticeably curved. At the time of her disappearance, Dail was 23 years old, 5 feet tall (152 centimetres), and weighed 96 pounds (44 kilograms). She was last seen wearing a forest green pullover shirt, a blue nylon L.L. Bean jacket tied around her waist, faded blue jeans, and tennis shoes.”

Case File Theories​

Source: jt

That’s interesting to me. My middle fingers on both of my hands are “noticeably curved”. It’s family trait I share with my sister, mother, and grandmother.

Right! Both of my pinky fingers are curved!

 

[Junebugs]

Part of the information above is entwined with the disappearance of Paula Merchant.

 

[SqrQn29]

Part of the information above is entwined with the disappearance of Paula Merchant.

How so?

 

[Let’s see here]

Would like to start a thred on this missing woman. It’s like she vanished off the face of the earth. Her parents need answers. She went missing in the Five Points area of Columbia, SC after going to a U2 concert with friends at age 23. Below is an age progressed photo of what she would look like ten years ago. At age 43. She would be approximately 53 now.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Dail has a thread here.

SC - SC - Dail Dinwiddie, 23, Columbia, 24 Sep 1992

I've followed this case since it happened in September, 1992. Something about this case really made an impression on me. I'm from SC and was 30 when this happened. I have periodically checked back in looking for new info. I've been to 5 points as a college student, with it being that crowded...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Let’s see here]

Just wanted to post this poster with an age-progressed rendering that was done ten years ago.

 

[Junebugs]

How so?

How so?

I’m new on this site so bear with me. I’ve tried to go back and locate the post I was referring to, but can’t locate it now.

it started out by talking about Dail Dinwiddie, then it moved into talking about a guy who was involved with initials of BH (,jr) and another guy named Mike (?). it also stated this BH guy lived with his mom on Wando St. (in the area of Five Points) and he was a known drug dealer in the area.it talked about a car being burned, and etc. There was more to it but I don’t recall all of the article right now. All this about BH & Mike, with a burned car was all pertaining to Paula Merchant. Paula is related to me by marriage, so I know. I sure wish I could find the article, then I could tell you exactly what the difference was.

**I do recall in the article there was a comment about Dail, supposedly a school friend (?) was talking about how she basically would only date upperclassmen, or something similar. And I don’t see that here either, so perhaps what I read was on a different thread/article? I’ll keep trying to locate it. Thanks

 

[SqrQn29]

I’m new on this site so bear with me. I’ve tried to go back and locate the post I was referring to, but can’t locate it now.

it started out by talking about Dail Dinwiddie, then it moved into talking about a guy who was involved with initials of BH (,jr) and another guy named Mike (?). it also stated this BH guy lived with his mom on Wando St. (in the area of Five Points) and he was a known drug dealer in the area.it talked about a car being burned, and etc. There was more to it but I don’t recall all of the article right now. All this about BH & Mike, with a burned car was all pertaining to Paula Merchant. Paula is related to me by marriage, so I know. I sure wish I could find the article, then I could tell you exactly what the difference was.

**I do recall in the article there was a comment about Dail, supposedly a school friend (?) was talking about how she basically would only date upperclassmen, or something similar. And I don’t see that here either, so perhaps what I read was on a different thread/article? I’ll keep trying to locate it. Thanks

Ahh okay…BH may actually be HH that was talked about but Butch was the name he went by I believe…and I remember the comments surrounding Mike…

There isn’t a lot of information out there regarding the disappearance of Paula Merchant. I do remember the burning car being related to her case and not necessarily Dail’s. As far as BH on Wando, I was understanding that to be related to Dail’s…so you are saying that’s probably Paula’s case?

I truly hope you all get answers. I’m not originally from South Carolina but was baffled when I started digging and didn’t find much.