A SUSPECT has been arrested in the nearly three-decade-old disappearance of an 11-year-old girl.
Jamison Fisher, 50, is accused of luring little Trudy Appleby into his car, sexually assaulting and strangling her before dumping her body in 1996.
Trudy Appleby disappeared in 1996 when she was just 11 years old[/caption]
Jamison Fisher, 50, has now been accused of strangling her to death[/caption]
Cops have been searching for answers ever since Trudy disappeared from her home in Moline, Illinois, about three hours east of Chicago, on August 21, 1996.
Detectives said that she was last seen getting into a vehicle with a white man who appeared to be in his 20s, but they never tracked down a suspect.
On the day that she vanished, Trudy had asked her dad if she could go swimming with a friend, but he said no.
After reviewing phone records, cops determined that the little girl had snuck out of the house behind her parents’ backs.
Trudy has never been seen again since that day, and her remains are still missing.
On Thursday, a grand jury pinned her disappearance and murder on Fisher, who was already in jail for an unrelated crime.
Fisher has been a person of interest in Trudy’s death since 2020.
They named him after identifying two other suspects who have now died.
Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said that the charges come after years of collaboration with Henry County law enforcement.
He said that detectives will be pursuing all new leads that crop up in this case, including clues that could lead them to her remains.
“The arrest of Fisher marks a turning point in this mystery that has spanned nearly three decades,” he said.
“While nothing can bring back young Trudy to her family, the relentless pursuit of justice honors her memory and the unwavering support of her loved ones and our community.
“The Moline Police Department is committed to seeking the truth for Trudy and her family and to ensure that justice is served.”
FAMILY’S HOPE
Trudy’s heartbroken family has held a candlelight vigil on August 21 every year since she disappeared.
They are set to meet again this year at the Moline Police Department.
Fisher has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death.
Officials said that they suspected him of kidnapping, but couldn’t press charges because of the statue of limitations.
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