Mid-August 1996, a young girl was left home alone while her dad went to work. When he returned several hours later, she was gone. On the day she went missing, Trudy Appleby was 11 years old and still enjoying her summer break from school. The search for Trudy has lasted 24 years. She is still not home, but police believe they are getting closer to the truth as to what happened to her that day.
Related Images
Trudy Appleby at 11, the age of her disappearance. (Image Source)
The billboard requesting any information on Trudy’s disappearance. (Image Source)
Dennis Appleby, Trudy’s father. (Image Source)
Trudy, age-progressed to 30 years old. (Image Source)
Kelly Carlson, Trudy’s best friend’s mother. (Image Source)
Brenda Gordon (L), Trudy’s Mom, and Trudy’s best friend Amber (R). (Image Source)
Moline Detective Michael Griffin from an interview with the Quad City Times. (Image Source)
William ‘Ed’ Smith, deceased. Described by police as ‘Person of Interest’. (Image Source)
David Whipple. Described by police and self-described as ‘Person of Interest’. Picture taken from the Illinois Sex Offender website. (Image Source)
Case Resources
- Interview with Moline Police Detective Michael Griffin, 08.24.2020
- Interview with Kelly Roland Carlson, 08.15.2020
- Moline Police Department Facebook post naming additional Persons of Interest in Trudy Appleby Case, 08.19.2020
- Campbell’s Island lot searched for Appleby clues known to law enforcement, kwqc.com by Mark Stevens, 10.03.2017
- Cadaver dogs search property on Campbell’s Island regarding Trudy Appleby case, find items but no remains, Kwqc.com 10.02.2017
- Friends and family members of Trudy Appleby speak out, Kwqc.com by Emily Blume, 08.21.2019
- Boat seized as part of Trudy Appleby investigation, qconline.com by Anthony Watt, 01.08.2019
- UPDATED: Boat seized as part of Trudy Appleby investigation, Quad City Times, qctimes.com by Anthony Watt, Lee News Network, Thomas Geyer, 01.08.2019
- Missing – Help Bring Me Home for Trudy Appleby, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reviewed 08.19.2020
- New persons of interest named in Trudy Appleby case, wqad.com by Connor Day, 08.19.2020
- Missing Children Wiki – Trudy Appleby, downloaded 08.17.2020
- Police release new information on Trudy Appleby disappearance, Kwqc.com, 08.17.2017
- Dennis Appleby says prime suspect in daughter’s disappearance was always on my radar, wqad.com by Chris Minor, 08.17.2017
- Appleby witness says someone is hiding a secret, but it’s not him, wqad.com by Chris Minor, 08.18.2017
- Illinois Sex Offender Information – David Whipple, Isp.state.il.us, 08.19.2020
- Trudy Appleby case: Friends say family needs closure, qctimes.com by Brian Wellner. 08.03.2012; Updated 08.04.2012
- Two more named as people of interest in Appleby disappearance, Quad City Times, qctimes.com by Anthony Watt, 08.19.2020
- I Want This to End: A History of The Trudy Appleby Case. Quad-City Times, qctimes.com, 08.17.2017 updated 08.19.2020
- Moline Police Department Facebook Post where a Person of Interest is named, 08.17.2017
- Cadaver dogs: attending camp with canines trained to smell death. Theguardian.com by Liz Lucking. 09.08.2015
- People Observe Missing Girl’s 12th Birthday. The Hawk Eye. Associated Press. 09.06.96 (Link not available.)
Special Thanks
- Retired Police Chief R. T. Finney for suggesting this case
- Retired Captain Trevor Fisk for coordination of information on this case
- Capt. Aaron Hattabaugh (Retired), Professional Voiceover Artist; opening and closing announcements
- Mitch Marlow, Theme music “The Takedown” – songwriter, producer and recording engineer
