Audrey May Herron disappeared from State Route 23 in Catskill, New York, on the evening of August 29, 2002. Since that fateful night, neither Audrey nor the 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee she navigated down the secluded, dimly wooded road during the rain has been observed.
It has now been nearly two decades and a year since Audrey's enigmatic vanishing, leaving behind a void of lingering questions. At the time of her disappearance, Audrey, a mother of three, contentedly wed, and part-time nurse, approached life with exuberance. Her family recalls her as a nurturing and empathetic individual, cherished by both patients and friends.
On that ominous night, following the completion of a late shift at a local hospital, Audrey commenced a 12-mile, 15-minute journey along State Route 23 to return home. A colleague trailed her for approximately five minutes before diverging onto a different route. What ensued afterward remains a perplexing mystery; Audrey never reached her intended destination.
In the early hours of the subsequent morning, around 6 a.m., Jeff Herring, Audrey's spouse, contacted Shirley Olmstead, Audrey's mother, seeking information about his absent wife. Initially nonchalant, Shirley responded negatively before returning to slumber. An hour later, growing increasingly anxious, Jeff called again, expressing his disquiet over Audrey's failure to return. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Shirley enlisted the help of a family member employed in law enforcement.
The quest for Audrey spanned the 12-mile radius from the hospital to her residence, aided by infrared helicopters. Concerns arose due to the wet conditions on the road, speculating that Audrey might have taken an alternative route, potentially resulting in a vehicular mishap. However, no evidence of a recent crash was discovered along the roadway.
Investigations disclosed no activity on Audrey's credit and debit cards post that night. Her cell phone exhibited no connectivity, suggesting either a depleted battery or possible deliberate destruction of the phone.
In the ensuing weeks, authorities meticulously scoured the area, including draining water from lakes in the hope of locating a submerged vehicle. Every lead was pursued, yet no traces of Audrey or her Jeep emerged.
Notably absent from community search endeavors and candlelight vigils for Audrey was her spouse, Jeff. He abstained from participating in the quest for his vanished wife, earning the label of "uncooperative" from the police, who noted his apparent reluctance to assist in Audrey's retrieval.
Despite outward appearances of contentment before Audrey's disappearance, the uncertainty surrounding individuals' inner thoughts became palpable. While police have not officially confirmed whether Jeff underwent a polygraph test due to the ongoing investigation, a source indicates that he did, yielding inconclusive results. Jeff has chosen to refrain from engaging with reporters, adding an additional layer of mystery to Audrey's disappearance.
The contemplation of Audrey voluntarily absconding is encircled by conflicting indicators. Audrey's mother, Shirley, and daughter, Sonsia, returned from a month-long vacation on the very day Audrey vanished. They conversed earlier in the day, and Audrey, eager to reunite with her family, had plans to visit them the following day.
Sonsia conveyed, "During my absence, my mom and I communicated frequently, if not daily, then every other day. She remained in contact with my grandmother, and I conversed with her during our journey home."
Shirley vehemently asserted that Audrey would not willingly abandon her offspring. Dismissing speculations of Audrey engaging in an affair and leaving her family for another, Audrey's friend, Marie Parker, affirmed, "Certainly not. One of us would have known; you confide in your girlfriends, you understand? So, no. She wasn't that woman."
Professionally, Audrey secured a substantial salary increase on August 29, a fact she proudly shared with her husband, Jeff, during a phone conversation from work around 9:30 p.m. This accomplishment seems incongruent with the notion of her voluntary disappearance.
The circumstances surrounding Audrey's disappearance persist as an enigma, with conflicting details rendering it challenging to form definitive conclusions about whether she departed of her own accord or if other factors are in play.
Rob Herron, Jeff's affluent father, shared his viewpoint with Crime Watch Daily, expressing skepticism about Audrey's survival. He theorized that her car might have been "crushed, shredded, or placed in a container and shipped somewhere." Surprisingly, the police did not find this statement peculiar enough to warrant further investigation.
Law enforcement diligently pursued over a thousand leads, including a seemingly implausible idea that Jeff's father, a prosperous golf course owner, might have incurred debts to the Russian mob, resulting in Audrey's abduction for ransom.
Suspicions linger about Jeff's involvement in Audrey's disappearance, as a source informed Criminal Matters that they believe Jeff may be withholding information. The source pointed to Jeff's inconclusive polygraph result, his reluctance to aid in the search efforts, and overall lack of cooperation, hinting that answers might be closer than they appear.
Despite an exhaustive investigation, the police have yet to identify any suspects or substantial leads in the case. They maintain that "no one has been ruled out" as they persist in their efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding Audrey's disappearance.
If you possess any information or have encountered Audrey, kindly reach out to the New York State Police, Troop F, Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Catskill, New York, at 518-622-8600 or via email at [email protected]. Audrey is described as a Caucasian female with dark blonde to light brown hair, hazel eyes, a mole on the inside of her right knee, and a scar on her right thumb. She is known to smoke cigarettes. Your assistance could be pivotal in unraveling the mystery of Audrey's disappearance.
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