Laurie Jean Depies

Case Information:

Laurie Jean Depies vanished at age 20 from Appleton (Menasha), Wisconsin, on August 19, 1992. She disappeared after finishing a shift at the Fox River Mall and driving to her boyfriend’s apartment on West Wilson Avenue in Menasha.

Her gray 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit was found locked in the complex parking lot with her purse, overnight bag, and a Styrofoam cup of soda left inside or on the car, but Laurie was nowhere to be found.

Case Details:

Witnesses reported hearing Laurie’s car — noted for a loud muffler — arrive around 10:15 p.m., followed by a single car door closing, yet no one saw her enter the apartment or leave the lot.

There were no signs of a struggle, no broken glass and nothing disturbed around the vehicle, which led investigators to suspect she was taken quickly and without warning.

Timeline of Events:

* August 19, 1992 (approx. 10:00 PM): Laurie finishes her shift at Fox River Mall in Appleton, Wisconsin.
* August 19, 1992 (approx. 10:15 PM): Laurie’s car is heard pulling into the parking lot of the apartment complex on West Wilson Avenue in Menasha.
* August 19, 1992 (shortly after): Boyfriend, his sister and a friend search the lot when Laurie does not arrive and find her locked gray 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit.
* August 19, 1992: Personal items — purse, overnight bag, and a Styrofoam cup of soda — remain in or on the vehicle; Laurie is missing.
* 1995–2010: Multiple persons of interest are investigated over the years, and convicted killer Larry DeWayne Hall later claimed responsibility but gave no verifiable information; searches based on his claims produced no evidence.
* Ongoing: No arrests; case remains open and foul play is suspected.

Investigation:

Local law enforcement treated the scene as suspicious from the start because Laurie’s belongings were left in the locked car and there were no signs she left voluntarily.

Friends and close contacts were interviewed and several took polygraph tests; investigators later reviewed tips and persons of interest but have not developed physical evidence linking anyone to her disappearance.

Community Response:

Family, friends and community members have kept Laurie’s case in the public eye with media coverage and podcasts, and occasional renewed searches when credible tips surface.

Laurie’s mother has publicly appealed for answers and remains hopeful the case will be solved so the family can have closure.

Family Statements:

Laurie’s mother has said she wants to know what happened so she can have peace and a proper memorial for her daughter.

Friends described Laurie as unlikely to leave with a stranger, which is why investigators considered someone she knew as a possible abductor.

Physical Appearance:

At the time of her disappearance Laurie was 5’5”, about 115 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes; she sometimes wore contact lenses that could have made her eyes appear brown.

She had three piercings in each ear and a tribal-style tattoo resembling a squid on the outside of her right ankle. She was last seen wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck, black-and-white spandex shorts, black shoes, and several silver necklaces, bracelets, anklets and earrings.

Current Status:

Laurie remains missing and her case is open with Wisconsin authorities; foul play is suspected and no arrests have been made.

There has been no activity on her bank accounts or Social Security number since August 1992, and investigators continue to follow tips and leads as they arise.

Contact Information:

If you have any information about Laurie Jean Depies, please contact the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation or the Special Agent assigned to the case.

The DCI main line: Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation — To contact the local investigator listed in media reports: Special Agent Kyra Schallhorn — (920) 751-4185. NamUs entry for additional case details: 

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