HOUSTON – This week’s Missing in Houston focuses on the stories of 10 women who disappeared from the Houston area during the 1990s.
SEE ALSO: Missing in Houston: The unresolved cases of Houston’s missing men from the 90s
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Despite the passage of time, their cases remain unresolved, and we aim to shed light on these cold cases in hopes of finding new leads and bringing closure to their loved ones.
Stephanie “Taxi” Buehler
Stephanie Michele Buehler, also known by the nicknames “Taxi,” “Michele,” or “Shelly,” has been missing since September 8, 1990. The 19-year-old was last seen in Houston. Stephanie has brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5′7″ tall and weighing approximately 125 lbs.
She has distinctive tattoos, including a red and black heart with the word “Taxie” along with a musical note and a zigzag on her left shoulder, a skull smoking a cigarette on her left breast, a red rose with a spider web on the back of her right shoulder, and the phrase “Wicked Innocence” with a long-haired skull on her right shoulder.
On the day she disappeared, Stephanie was wearing a black shirt, black pants, and a black belt. She was last seen near the corner of Westheimer Road and Beltway 8 in Houston after her car had a flat tire. Authorities believe she attempted to walk the half-mile back to her home from that location but never arrived. Foul play is suspected in her case.
Tara Breckenridge
Tara Suzette Breckenridge, 23, has been missing since August 4, 1992. Tara has brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5′5″ tall and weighing between 110 and 120 lbs. She has several distinctive scars: one under the left side of her lower lip, another under her left arm, and one on the left side of her body. She was known for keeping her fingernails long and painted red.
Born on September 30, 1968, Tara was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt, blue shorts, and sandals. She also wore a Del Rio High School class ring engraved “Class of 1991″ and either contact lenses or eyeglasses. Her dental records are available, and her two upper front teeth are discolored in the middle.
On the night of August 3, 1992, Tara worked her evening shift as a waitress at The Men’s Club, an upscale adult night spot in the 3300 block of Sage in Southwest Houston. It was a slow night, and management decided to send two waitresses home early. Tara volunteered to leave early, which was unusual for her. The club’s security guard walked her to her car, and she drove off without incident. This was the last time she was seen.
Her red 1986 Pontiac Fiero was found abandoned and locked by her live-in boyfriend, Wayne Hecker, at 7:00 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Loop North near 12th Street, about three miles from the club. The car’s alarm and flashers were off, and a can of mace she always carried was left inside. There were no signs of a struggle, but the car’s alternator belt was missing.
Hecker is considered a possible suspect in Tara’s disappearance. Their relationship was strained, and Tara had discussed leaving him. Hecker claimed he was at a pool hall fifteen minutes away when Tara left The Men’s Club. He reported calling her earlier that evening but not speaking with her. Hecker stated that when he arrived home at 5:00 a.m. and found Tara missing, he went out to look for her. Witnesses at the club Hecker was at said he left around midnight and returned around 1:45 a.m. Hecker has not been charged and maintains his innocence.
Foul play is suspected, and Tara has not been seen or heard from since.
Vivian Elliott
Vivian Joyce Elliott, also known by the aliases Joi Elliott, Joy Elliott, Fannie, Francis, or Kathleen, has been missing since September 16, 1992. Vivian is a 49-year-old white female with brown hair and blue eyes. She stands between 5′6″ and 5′8″ tall and weighs between 110 and 120 lbs. Vivian wears reading glasses and has pierced ears. She is also missing two of her front bottom teeth and has a discolored top front tooth.
At the time of her disappearance, Vivian was last seen wearing a red blouse and white pants. No information is available regarding any jewelry or additional personal items she may have had with her.
Vivian was last seen on September 16, 1992, in Houston, but she may be in Chula Vista, San Diego County, California. Despite extensive searches, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Jayne Winship Davis
Jayne Elizabeth Winship Davis, 24, has been missing since April 30, 1993. Jayne has brown hair and hazel eyes, standing 5′6″ tall and weighing approximately 130 lbs. She has a scar on the bridge of her nose, birthmarks on her hip and on the calf of her leg, though it is unknown whether they are on the left or right side.
On April 30, 1993, Jayne intended to travel from Houston to Brenham to visit her in-laws, planning to return to her Houston home a few days later. It is unclear whether she ever left the Houston area. Jayne left behind a 2-year-old son when she disappeared, and foul play is suspected in her case.
Jane McDonald-Crone
Jane McDonald-Crone, 34, has been missing since November 14, 1993. Jane has long reddish-brown hair and green eyes, stands 5′11″ tall and weighs approximately 140 lbs.
On the morning of November 12, 1993, Jane left her home near Magnolia, Texas, to go to her job at Baker-Hughes Tool Company in Houston. That same evening, she reportedly visited several clubs in northwest Harris County: City Limits Club, Willie’s Night Life Club, and Twigs Club.
Jane was last seen wearing dark jeans, a light-colored blouse with long sleeves, and white sneakers. Her husband reported her missing on November 15, 1993.
The next day, her 1982 blue Ford Mustang, with Texas license plate number FXY-01G, was found abandoned in Magnolia, Texas, a few miles from her home on Decision Street near the intersection of Robert’s Cemetery Road. A work crew in the area reported seeing the car at this location on November 13, 1993, at about 7:00 a.m. Her purse and identification were not found in the car, and there were no signs of violence, although the textbooks she used for her community college classes were there.
At the time of her disappearance, Jane was attending North Harris County College in Tomball, Texas. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Jane has not been seen or heard from since. Foul play is suspected in her case.
Wandolyn Holland
Wandolyn Ann Holland, also known by her nickname “Little Bit,” has been missing since January 6, 1994. She was last seen in the area of Sharondale Drive and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houston, Texas. Wandolyn is a 32-year-old woman with black hair and brown eyes. She stands between 4′11″ and 5′1″ tall and weighs between 87 and 97 lbs.
Born on September 25, 1961, Wandolyn has distinctive features, including pierced ears and nose, a scar above the left side of her upper lip, and a scar on the right side of her nose. At the time of her disappearance, she was last seen wearing a scarf on her head, a jacket, and faded jeans.
Despite extensive searches and investigations, Wandolyn has not been seen or heard from since. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear.
Tina Bowen
Tina Louise Bowen, 18, has been missing since July 14, 1997. She was last seen at her residence in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas. Tina has shoulder-length light brown hair and brown eyes. She stands between 5′6″ and 5′7″ tall and weighs around 120 lbs. Tina has pierced ears.
Born on November 17, 1978, Tina was last seen wearing a Duke University sweatshirt, shorts, and flip-flop sandals.
Tina was last seen inside her home at 517 Silverdale in Conroe. She lived with her parents, and her mother last saw her asleep at around 3:30 a.m. on July 14. When her mother checked on her again at 9:00 a.m., Tina was gone. Later that day, her mother reported her missing after learning that Tina was not with her boyfriend.
Investigators suspect foul play in Tina’s disappearance. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Tina has not been seen or heard from since.
Catherine Hammel
Catherine Ann Hammel, also known as Cathy, has been missing since March 23, 1998. Cathy is a 28-year-old woman with long brown/auburn hair and brown eyes. She stands 5′3″ tall and weighs approximately 120 lbs. She has a small scar near her left eye and pierced ears.
Cathy was last seen wearing a purple “24-Hour Fitness” T-shirt, gym shorts, and white tennis shoes. She was also carrying a black purse and wearing earrings and a ring with the letter “C”.
On the day of her disappearance, Cathy left her workplace at 24-Hour Fitness at 2 p.m. with a coworker who dropped her off at her residence. She was seen by her daughter’s father when she arrived home, but has not been seen since. Her boyfriend, who is also the father of her daughter, reported that he left home about an hour later but returned at 6:00 p.m. to find Cathy missing.
Initially, Cathy’s disappearance was treated as a missing person case. However, Houston police homicide detectives later took over the investigation, suspecting foul play. They believe Cathy was murdered and her body disposed of in a trash dumpster. Cathy was a hardworking and dedicated mother who juggled multiple jobs to support her boyfriend and daughter. She was reportedly well-liked and had many close friends.
Denise Perez
Denise Lynn Perez, also known as Denise Lynn Pirhala, has been missing since May 1, 1998. She was last seen in Pearland, Brazoria County, Texas. Denise is a 45-year-old woman with brown hair and green eyes. She stands 5′7″ tall and weighs approximately 180 lbs. She has a distinctive scar on her left breast and two large lumps on her back.
Born on November 13, 1952, Denise was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. Despite extensive searches, Denise has not been seen or heard from since her disappearance.
Hope Moore
Hope Ann Moore, also known as Hope Ann Autry, has been missing since April 25, 1999. Hope has blonde hair and green eyes. She stands 5′0″ tall and weighs approximately 145 lbs. Distinguishing features include scars between her eyebrows, on her left knee, and on her right elbow, as well as a burn on her right hand near her thumb.
Born on January 3, 1967, Hope was last seen wearing blue flowered shorts in Galveston. She was known to wear rings on all her fingers, a rope necklace, and garnet earrings.
Hope was not reported missing by her spouse and has not been seen or heard from since. Following her disappearance, there has been no activity on her Social Security number. Her spouse pawned her jewelry and cashed forged checks in her name. Although Hope owned a brand-new vehicle at the time, it was found in the possession of her spouse, and she did not leave in it.
Despite being presumed deceased, Hope’s body has never been found.