52: Tracy Neef

On March 16, 1984, seven-year-old Tracy Neef was dropped off late at school by her mother, never to be seen alive again. Within hours, tourists found her remains 40 miles away, near Nederland, Colorado. Despite extensive efforts from law enforcement, a bungled crime scene and lost evidence led to the murder remaining unsolved nearly 40 years later.

Tracy's family, described as a loving and happy unit, was torn apart by the tragedy. On the day of her disappearance, Tracy had been late to school due to a traffic incident involving her mother. The security measures of the time were different from today; when Tracy went missing, it was nearly seven hours before anyone realized she hadn’t arrived at school. Tragically, she had already been abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered.

Investigators struggled to find leads with no descriptions of her abductor or vehicle. Hair samples found on her body would later be lost or contaminated, making it much more difficult to solve the case. Over the years, despite advances in forensic technology, those hairs could not provide conclusive answers. A potential suspect, notorious serial killer Scott Kimball, was not linked directly to the crime despite his connections in the area.

The emotional repercussions for Tracy’s family were profound, resulting in her parents' divorce, yet both remain united in seeking justice for their daughter. The episode underscores the hope that someday new evidence or witnesses may surface to solve the case, drawing attention to the ongoing impact of such tragedies on families and communities.