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Michelle Ellis Missing Person Case

Last seen in Indianapolis, Indiana on Aug 2, 1978

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Victim Details

Apr 7, 2014

Oct 28, 2022

Michelle

Ellis

71

23

64 inches

115 lbs

Black / African American

Female

Aug 2, 1978

Indianapolis

Indiana

Marion County

46202

15104

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

Indianapolis

Indiana

Marion County

46204

Headquarters, Indiana

3173276160

Local

Law Enforcement

http://Indy.gov/egov/city/does/impd/pages/home.aspx

521195EA

Aug 2, 1980

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

Black

Brown

Brown

No

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP24121) and 12 other sources
Michelle Ellis, a 23-year-old woman, went missing from Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 2, 1978. She was last seen leaving her home at 8:00 a.m. that morning. About an hour later, her red 1973 Oldsmobile Omega was found abandoned on Fall Creek Parkway, just half a block from a gas station. The vehicle had run out of gas, and inside, police discovered her keys, purse, and various personal belongings, including her identification and a small amount of cash. The driver's side door was locked, but the passenger door was open, adding to the mystery.

At the time of her disappearance, Michelle was a part-time model and a student at the Herron School of Art at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She had recently quit her job at a Sears store but had not yet collected her final paycheck. Witnesses reported seeing her walking away from her car and also described another vehicle pulling up behind hers with its hazard lights on, although no further details were available.

In December 1980, Michelle’s parents received a cryptic phone call from someone claiming to be her, but the caller hung up before they could confirm her identity. This call has never been verified, and Michelle has not been heard from since. Despite several theories, including speculation about her mental state at the time, her case remains unsolved, with no significant leads emerging in the decades since her disappearance. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward to help bring closure to her family.
Last Seen: Aug 2, 1978

Links to Additional Sources (12)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs
  • Michelle Ellis - The Charley Project
  • The DoeNetwork -
  • 4074DFIN - Michelle Ellis - Doe Network
  • The Doe Network on X:
  • 1978 IN Michelle Ellis missing - Newspapers.com™
  • The DoeNetwork - #missing Michelle Ellis, Indianapolis ... - Facebook
  • What happened to Michelle Ellis in 1978? Last seen at her ... - Reddit
  • IN - IN - Michelle Ellis, 23, Indianapolis, 2 Aug 1978 | Websleuths
  • #missing Michelle Ellis, Indianapolis, Indiana - Missing since 8-2 ...
  • MICHELLE ELLIS On August 2, 1978 in Indianapolis, Indiana, 23 ...
  • Michelle Ellis, 23: Vanished In 1978, Car Was Found Abandoned

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Thornton Township, Illinois - unidentified case UP17038
    Jane Doe — Thornton Township, Illinois
    UP17038 • Found Apr 19, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 66%146 mi away
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 94%130 lb vs 115 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Alsip, Illinois - unidentified case UP8511
    Jane Doe — Alsip, Illinois
    UP8511 • Found Sep 23, 1980
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 64%154 mi away
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 89%133 lb vs 115 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP124458
    Jane Doe — Chicago, Illinois
    UP124458 • Found Dec 3, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 62%164 mi away
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%123 lb vs 115 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Michelle Ellis was 23 when she vanished from Indianapolis on August 2, 1978. She was last seen... ...Read More
    07/19/2024

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