19. COLD CASE: Rachael Runyan (Sunset, Utah)

Utah True Crime

Rachael Runyan was kidnapped from a park in Sunset, Utah on August 26, 1982. Three weeks later, her body was found in a creek bed in a nearby county. One of Utah's most notorious cold cases, Rachael's murder ultimately proved a catalyst to establish the "Rachael Alert" child abduction alert system, which remained in use in the state of Utah until 2003, when the state adopted the national AMBER alert child abduction emergency alert system.

Rachael’s abduction and murder remains unsolved.

Her assailant is described as an African American male 25 to 35 years old, 6 feet tall, slender to medium build, with a mustache. The vehicle involved is described as a mid size blue car with possible wood grain on the sides. (Note: as recently as 2022, her assailant has been described as Hispanic, according to her older brother who was present at the time of her abduction.)

If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Rachel Runyan, please call Cold Case Tip Hotline: 833-DPS-SAFE (833-377-7233).
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Rachael_Runyan
https://www.abc4.com/news/the-justice-files-woman-claims-uncle-killed-rachel-runyan/
https://truecrimetime.com/rachael-runyan/
https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/the-justice-files-woman-claimed-uncle-killed-rachael-runyan-pt-2/
https://ksltv.com/503937/utah-family-pleads-for-help-in-40-year-old-cold-case/

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