August 5, 1989: Thirteen-year-old Amy and her stepfather, Marshall Midden, were returning to their home in Maple Grove after a visit to the family farm. At approximately 4:30 P.M., they stopped at a Holiday Inn gasoline station in Osseo, MN, just two miles from their home. Marshall went inside to use the restroom, but when he returned, Amy was gone. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Initially, authorities considered the possibility that Amy had run away. She had a history of running away that summer but had always returned home shortly thereafter. However, this time was different. Amy did not come back, and no one had seen her leave. The theory that she might have had a seizure and wandered off was also considered, given her condition that caused pressure on her brain. But with no witnesses to corroborate her presence at the gas station, the mystery deepened. The fact that no other witnesses reported seeing Amy at the gas station raised suspicions. Could it be that she never made it there? Her family insisted that she was happy and looking forward to starting eighth grade, making the runaway theory less plausible.
Amy's Family Speaks Out:
Amy's mother, Susan Pagnac, has been a vocal advocate in the search for her daughter. She has consistently maintained that Amy would not have stayed gone voluntarily. "She was quite happy; she was looking forward to starting eighth grade," Susan told KMSP-TV. The idea that Amy could have wandered off and disappeared without a trace seemed implausible to her family. In the years following Amy's disappearance, her case has remained cold, with few viable leads. In 2014, police and the FBI conducted extensive searches of the family's properties in Isanti County and Maple Grove. Despite the thorough searches, no new evidence was found. The frustration of not knowing what happened to Amy has been a constant presence in Susan's life. "It's kind of life-altering," she said in a 2014 interview with the Pioneer Press. "You still kind of wait for the phone call for someone to say, ‘We found her, she's coming home.’"
Comparisons to Other Cases:
Amy's case is often compared to that of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy who was abducted in rural St. Joseph, MN, just two months after Amy disappeared. Jacob's case garnered nationwide attention and was eventually solved in 2016 when Danny Heinrich admitted to killing him. Unlike Jacob's case, Amy's remains unsolved, adding to the torment of her family.
Search Efforts and Investigations:
The search for Amy has been extensive and relentless. Early on, authorities combed through the areas surrounding the gas station and their home, hoping to find any clue that might lead to her whereabouts. Despite these efforts, no significant evidence was uncovered. In 2007, investigators returned to Susan and Marshall’s home with a search warrant, spending less than a day combing through their residence. Additionally, authorities visited their farm in Isanti County, but these searches also yielded no new information. The lack of concrete evidence has left the family in a state of perpetual limbo, haunted by the possibilities of what might have happened.
Renewed Efforts and Theories:
Social Media and Public Appeal:
Despite the passage of time, Amy's family has never given up hope. They have kept the same phone number since her disappearance, hoping she might one day call. They have also created a Facebook page, "Help Find Amy Sue Pagnac," to raise awareness and keep her story alive. Age-progressed photos show what Amy might look like today, offering a glimpse of hope that she could still be found.
Vital Statistics:
Date Of Birth: June 15, 1976
Age at Time of Disappearance: 13 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'0"; 100 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Light brown hair (shoulder length at the time of disappearance); blue eyes. She has a petite build.
Marks, Scars: Amy has pierced ears, scars on her left cheek, left eyelid, and the side of her nose, and a circular scar on her left knee.
Clothing: Amy was last seen wearing sweatpants, a light-colored shirt, and sneakers.
Medical Conditions: Amy suffers from seizures due to unknown causes and requires medication for allergies.
A Plea for Information:
Amy would be 47 years old today. Her family remains steadfast in their belief that someone out there
The Ongoing Search for Answers:
As we remember Amy's story, we must keep hope alive and continue the search for answers. Every piece of information, no matter how small, could be the key to solving this decades-old mystery and bringing closure to a family that has endured unimaginable heartache. The haunting question remains: What happened to Amy Sue Pagnac?
The Family's Resolve:
In the face of relentless uncertainty, the Pagnac family has shown remarkable resilience. Susan Pagnac still clings to the hope that one day, the phone will ring, and it will be Amy on the other end, ready to come home. Each year, around the anniversary of Amy’s disappearance, the family renews their public appeal, hoping to reach someone who might hold the missing piece of the puzzle.
The Role of the Community:
Community support has been crucial in keeping Amy's case alive. Neighbors, friends, and even strangers have rallied around the family, offering support, and spreading awareness. The continued media attention and public interest serve as a reminder that Amy’s story is far from over.
Final Thoughts:
The disappearance of Amy Pagnac remains a haunting enigma. With the dedication of law enforcement and the unwavering hope of her family, the pursuit of answers continues. The truth is out there, waiting to be uncovered. Until then, we must keep Amy’s memory alive and remain vigilant in the search for justice. Every lead, every tip, and every piece of information brings us one step closer to finding Amy and bringing her home. In the shadows of uncertainty, the search for Amy continues. Her family waits for the day they will hear the words they have longed for: "We found her, she's coming home."
A Mother's Hope:
As Susan Pagnac reflects on the past three decades, her hope remains unshaken. "You don't expect them to vanish, and the last thing you ever expect is not only did they vanish, but you don't see or hear from them again for 30 years," she said. "But we will never stop searching, never stop hoping. Amy, we love you and miss you. We will never give up or stop searching." This is more than a story of loss; it is a story of unyielding hope and the relentless pursuit of answers. The mystery of Amy Sue Pagnac's disappearance remains, but so does the determination to find her and bring her back to the family that has never stopped waiting.
Someone claiming to be an old neighbor on websleuths:
"This case has me intrigued as I lived on that street within a dozen houses away when Amy went missing. I vividly recall that house and the general state of disrepair it was in at that time, and it appears from photos and video that the situation has not changed.
I moved out around the end of 1989; I had no knowledge that this girl had gone missing at the time. My daughter who was 9 at the time casually knew the younger girl. I recall telling her strictly that she was forbidden to go into that house after she reported she had been in there.
At the time Amy went missing, my daughter tells me that the inside of the house had no carpeting. She also states that it appeared to be a hoarder situation or close to becoming one.
What
disturbs me is this: I remember that as we were preparing to move, the
appearance of some heavy landscaping equipment, and also the night digging.
This was not 1993. This was 1989. I recall thinking "why are they doing
landscape when the house clearly needs to be painted, windows repaired,
etc?" Then I pondered the urgency of the night digging, the lights being
on the loaders, etc. Around that time the front landscaping project appeared,
the stacked wall containing the birch. And I remember thinking "so they
spent all that money on renting equipment and the end result looks shoddy at
best?" I must apologize for my judgmental thoughts however it just didn't
make any sense to me, to lay out that type of money for a landscape project and
to have an amateur at best end result.
My question now is, from the looks of what I can gather, where they dug was behind the garage. Why didn't they dig up that front area with the raised stacked stonework and the birch trees? That and the perimeter landscape was the focus of that landscape project within the next 60 days after her disappearance. The house sat on that lot wide open as you can see from the other homes on that street until Amy disappeared. Then the landscape project ensued. I drove past this house twice a day for at least 4 years, nothing changed until the end.
Also, the brick work on the front of the house. On the far right, next to the lower window, that is the original brick work. The brick on these homes was decorative only. What would necessitate them to tear off 3/4 of the brick, and then replace it with shoddy mismatched brick?
One last question and this has been bothering me. It was pointed out to me that on the stepdad’s Facebook page, he posted a link to an article regarding the Jacob Wetterling case on what appears to be the same day police interviewed the Pagnac's in their home. Just days before the search warrant was issued.
Any insight would be welcome. Thank you"
Additional comments posted by a user believed to be Amy's mother:
"I am Amy's mother. Many of you have had a lot of good questions. Regarding the statement, that Amy "suffered from fits of anger", I have no idea why that statement is there. I have no idea what they meant. Amy has never been violent or harmed anyone.
Yes, there was a witness that saw Amy and her father leaves the farm. A private investigator is the one that found that witness and provided the information to the police.
This same private investigator found somebody that had known Amy prior to her going missing. This person stated that she had talked to Amy. It was sometime within the 1st 2 weeks of her going missing. This information was also provided to the police.
There was a call to one of missing children’s organizations, stating they felt that Amy was too young to be with the people she was with. Amy also identified herself as Amy Sue Pagnac. The location of this was at a bus or train station on the West Coast. Amy used almost the exact same statements with both individuals, with regard to why she wasn't at home. This information I was shown to me by the original detective that was on the case.
Amy's case was considered a run-away case for several months. After they decided that it was not a run-away case, the procedures of the investigation were: we invited them into our house to look for anything that they wanted; giving them the keys to the farm for which they searched in 1990; more interrogations of us including the Hennepin County Sheriff department interviewed Amy's father for several hours, they cleared him, the detective showed me their report; verified what we had told them, including the timeline; there are other things, but it is too long and detailed.
After all that, the original detective on Amy's case made it perfectly clear to us that he was certain that Amy was the victim of a nonfamily abduction.
February or March of 1990, 2 different undercover private investigators, from a Nonprofit missing child organization, stated that they spotted Amy in a strip club, in the Midwest. Before they could act to rescue her she was moved to elsewhere. I believe these investigators did see Amy.
Maple Grove Police Department moved to a different building unfortunately, many of the records on Amy's case were lost. Timelines, witnesses, gas receipts etc.
Because of lost records, these 2 individuals need to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and provide them more information about the situation, including the individuals they saw Amy with.
We have made ourselves available almost anytime the police asked, except for when one was in the hospital, etc. We have called many times asking for updates, or if there's anything else we can do, etc. Usually, they never get back to us. We have been interviewed by local law enforcement, several times. They complained we don't tell them anything different or new.
Yes, Amy's father is a male. Usually, men do use the restrooms a lot faster than women; even men that washed their hands well usually are a little bit faster. But you know sometimes one has to do more than urination.
Both
Marshall and I are listed as Amy's parents on her birth certificate."
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