EARLY LIFE:
Michelle Deanne Crawford was born on September 26, 1977, to Kathy and John Crawford. Growing up in Lawton, Oklahoma, she was said to be a generous, hard-working and responsible person who was liked by everyone who knew her. She was also known to be a bit of an introvert, with only two close friends.
At the time of her disappearance, Michelle was employed part-time at Gibsons’ Department Store and lived with her parents at 2219 Northwest Lincoln Avenue. She was studying English at Cameron University, having secured a full scholarship for the upcoming semester. She’d hoped to one day become a teacher.
DISAPPEARANCE:
There is a slight discrepancy regarding the last time Michelle was last seen. Some reports state it was around 9:00 PM on the evening of June 8, 1999, while others claim it was 11:00 PM. She and her parents had all just gotten off work, with Kathy getting ready for bed and John sitting at the computer. Michelle told them she was heading to the movies with a friend, at which point she left the house in the family’s grey four-door 1986 Honda Accord.
When her parents awoke the next morning to find Michelle wasn’t home, they weren’t initially worried. They assumed she’d gotten up early to get in a session at the gym, before heading to her shift at Gibsons’ Department Store. However, when her employer called Kathy to say she hadn’t shown up, they knew something was wrong.
Not wanting to waste any time, John and Kathy reported their daughter missing to the Lawton Police Department.
INVESTIGATION:
Upon speaking with Michelle’s two friends, it was learnt that neither of them had planned to go to the movies with her on the evening of June 8. The 21-year-old also hadn’t mentioned what theatre she was going to.
A few days after Michelle was reported missing, on June 13, 1999, the family’s Honda Accord was discovered at 1127 East Gore Boulevard, between the Best Western Hotel and the Montego Bay Apartments. It had been parked crookedly and the doors were locked, apart from the one on the driver’s side. While the missing woman’s purse and other belongings were found within the vehicle, there were no signs of her at the scene.
Since she went missing, neither the 21-year-old’s bank account, nor her social security number (SSN) have been used. There’s a purported theory her body was buried on private property in the Mountain View area of Oklahoma, but this is unsubstantiated, and there are few leads in the case.
Despite the lack of information, the investigation into Michelle’s disappearance remains open. Given the circumstances, foul play is suspected.
DETAILS:
Michelle Deanne Crawford went missing from Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, on the evening of June 8, 1999. She was 21 years old, and was possibly wearing denim shorts and black open-strap sandals. She was also driving the aforementioned grey four-door 1986 Honda Accord, which has since been accounted for.
At the time of her disappearance, Michelle stood between 5’1″ and 5’3″ and weighed 119-125 pounds. She has a fair complexion, with long strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. She has three surgical scars from a heart operation she had when she was an infant, one in the centre of her chest and two on her abdomen.
CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michelle’s dentals and DNA are available for comparison. As aforementioned, foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Lawton Police Department at either (580) 581-3250 or (580) 581-3270. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers at (580) 355-4636.
Image Credit: NamUs
Stories of the Unsolved 