Shaylene Farrell craved a cold drink, but upon checking the refrigerator, she couldn’t find what she desired. Only a bottle of unsweetened Lipton iced tea with lemon would suffice. Grabbing her mother’s car keys, she informed her younger sister, Colleen, that she was heading to a nearby grocery store for the iced tea. Promising to return soon, Shaylene left her Piqua, Ohio home for the last time. It was 10:00 am on August 8, 1994.
Colleen watched from the window as her mother’s 1981 Chevy Malibu backed out of the driveway and headed towards the Pick-N-Save, about a mile and a half away, where Shaylene had started working part-time two weeks prior. All the employees knew Shaylene, but none saw her at the market that morning. Initially, her sister wasn't worried when Shaylene didn’t return home, thinking she had met up with friends. Shaylene had celebrated her 18th birthday six weeks earlier and likely felt no need to inform her younger sister of her whereabouts.
Their mother, Darlene Farrell, was in New Jersey visiting her own mother, who was hospitalized with health issues. Darlene’s fiancé, Duane Childers, had stayed behind, working the overnight shift at a local manufacturing plant and had just gone to bed when Shaylene left that morning. He didn’t realize she hadn’t returned until he woke up for work that night.
Shaylene’s manager at Pick-N-Save called their home that evening, looking for Shaylene who hadn’t shown up for her 7:00 pm shift. When Duane got up to prepare for work, Colleen informed him that Shaylene hadn’t returned and hadn’t gone to work. Annoyed rather than worried, Duane assumed Shaylene had skipped work to joyride with friends, possibly taking advantage of her mother’s absence and full access to Darlene’s car.
By morning, with still no sign of Shaylene, Colleen grew increasingly concerned. When Duane returned home after his night shift, he was alarmed to find Shaylene still missing. He called several of Shaylene’s friends, but none had seen her since Sunday, the day before she disappeared. Realizing it had been more than 24 hours since anyone had seen Shaylene, Duane contacted the Piqua Police Department to report her missing and notified Darlene, who arranged to cut her trip short and return to Ohio the following day.
The police initially presumed Shaylene had run away, as she was legally an adult and free to come and go as she pleased. However, she had left with only enough money to buy an iced tea, leaving behind her identification, money, and clothing.
A brief search led police to the car Shaylene had driven, parked at Pick-N-Save since the morning of her disappearance. There was no sign of Shaylene or any indication of where she might have gone after leaving the car. No evidence of foul play was found in the car or the parking lot, and investigators were uncertain whether she had left voluntarily or been taken.
Detectives interviewed everyone who knew Shaylene and found no indication she planned to run away. Her friends reported she was excited to start her senior year at Piqua High School and had dreams of becoming a teacher. She loved her family and had no significant problems that might prompt her to leave.
A few months earlier, Shaylene had been caught smoking pot by her mother, which led to her moving in with a friend temporarily. She maintained regular contact with her family and returned home after a few weeks. This incident didn’t cause a rift between her and Darlene, who viewed it as a typical teenage phase. Darlene assured Shaylene she was always welcome home if upset.
Despite Shaylene’s family’s belief that she had been abducted, the police found no evidence. Concerned by her abrupt disappearance without personal belongings or notifying friends, they sought public assistance. Authorities informed the media that Shaylene might have been taken against her will and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Investigators found no witnesses who recalled seeing Shaylene in the Pick-N-Save parking lot, despite the area being busy. It seemed likely she entered a car with someone she trusted or thought she knew, as there were no signs of struggle.
The local newspaper covered Shaylene’s disappearance, prompting numerous tips. Many claimed sightings of Shaylene, but none were confirmed. One report suggested she was seen on I-75 with an unknown man, but police couldn’t verify it was Shaylene.
Shaylene’s best friend, Amy, was convinced Shaylene had been abducted. She knew Shaylene wasn’t planning to leave town, as they were in constant contact.
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