EARLY LIFE:
Connie Minchaca was born on October 5, 1960 to parents Carren Andrew and Wesley Ray Faulk. While growing up, her parents separated and her mother married her stepfather, Rollo Minchaca.
At the time of her disappearance, she and her family were having problems and, as a result, she was living with her father in Napa, California. The issues stemmed from her relationship with a 25-year-old man, which her family disapproved of. In order to meet with him, Connie would sometimes sneak out of her bedroom window at night. However, each time her room was found empty, her family would contact the authorities and have them pick her up en route to her boyfriend’s home.
Connie is said to have had affiliations with local gangs, but nothing more has been released in regard to this.
According to her family, she she’d run away from home at least six times in the months leading up to her disappearance.
LEAD UP TO DISAPPEARANCE:
On the afternoon of June 9, 1978, Connie had a family friend drop her off at a Western clothing store, where she was supposed to meet a friend. According to them, she’d been in a good mood when they parted ways.
Later that night, she was planning on attending a local party with her friends.
DISAPPEARANCE:
According to her friends, Connie never arrived at the party that night. She has never been seen or heard from again. It’s noted she left all of her belongings behind.
INVESTIGATION:
In the weeks following her disappearance, Connie’s family received numerous anonymous and threatening calls. The callers, which would alternate between a male and a female, made various claims, sometimes saying Connie had been kidnapped and other times saying she’d been murdered. The callers were never identified, and the calls themselves caused Carren to have a nervous breakdown.
Police questioned relatives, friends and those who knew Connie for years following her disappearance, but they were unable to uncover anything significant.
Connie’s family believes the case didn’t receive any high-profile attention at the time. While the case is currently considered cold, investigators are still working it. They have interviewed dozens of possible suspects, and they have both her DNA and dentals on file, should a body be located. They do not believe they will find her alive.
THEORIES:
1) A primary theory held by those who have looked into the case is that Connie ran away, likely due to the issues she was having with her family. Her parents don’t believe this to be the case, especially since she left behind all her belongings on the night she disappeared.
2) A theory brought about by a Reddit user is that Connie may have been a victim of the East Area Rapist, also known as the Golden State Killer. They feel Connie physically fits the typical victim targeted by Joseph DeAngelo and that the timeline of her disappearance fits with the timeline of his crimes. It should be noted that this theory has not been discussed elsewhere.
AFTERMATH:
Wesley Ray Faulk passed away on April 16, 1993.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Connie Gail Minchaca went missing from Napa, Napa County, California on June 9, 1978. She was 17 years old, and was least seen wearing a pink blouse, a black leather jacket and blue Levi’s jeans. At the time of her disappearance, she stood between 5’5″ and 5’6″ and weighed approximately 120 to 130 pounds. She has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.
She is known to sometimes use the last name “Faulk Minchaca”. Some law enforcement agencies spell her middle name “Gayle” or her last name “Menchaca”.
Currently, the case is classified as endangered missing. If alive, she would be 60 years old.
Those with information regarding the case are asked to contact the Napa Police Department at either 707-253-4451 or 707-257-9223.
Image Credit: NamUs
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