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Michelle Nicholaou Missing Person Case

Last seen in Holyoke, Massachusetts on Dec 20, 1988

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Victim Details

Dec 4, 2013

Jan 12, 2024

Michelle

Nicholaou

59

22

60 inches

100 lbs

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Dec 20, 1988

Holyoke

Massachusetts

Hampden County

01040

Unknown

22886

Holyoke Police Department

Holyoke

Massachusetts

Hampden County

01040

138 Appleton Street, Massachusetts

4133226900

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.holyokepd.org/

01-248-1V

Holyoke Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 9, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP22818) and 11 other sources
Michelle Nicholaou, a 22-year-old woman, was last seen in December 1988 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. At the time of her disappearance, Michelle was living with her common-law husband, Michael Nicholaou, a Vietnam War veteran. According to reports, Michael was controlling, and Michelle's personality changed after they got together. Prior to her disappearance, Michelle had briefly left Michael, taking their two children with her, but returned after he found them.

Michelle vanished under suspicious circumstances, with her family discovering her home abandoned, but fully prepared for Christmas. Despite multiple efforts by her family to locate her, Michelle and her children remained missing for years. Michael gave inconsistent stories, sometimes claiming Michelle had run away with a drug dealer, and other times implying she had died.

In the years following her disappearance, Michael moved between states with their children, and in 2005, he fatally shot his second wife and stepdaughter before taking his own life. Authorities suspect Michael's involvement in several serious crimes, including the Connecticut River Valley murders, and consider him a prime suspect in Michelle's disappearance. Despite this, Michelle’s body has never been found, and her case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Dec 20, 1988

Links to Additional Sources (11)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Surviving the Connecticut River Valley Killer: Jane Boroski tells her ...">Surviving the Connecticut River Valley Killer: Jane Boroski tells her ...
  • 2355DFMA - Michelle Marie Ashley Nicholaou - Doe Network
  • Michelle Marie Ashley Nicholaou - The Charley Project
  • Killer's son finds solace in unlikely ally
  • Man that got away? | News | rutlandherald.com
  • The Connecticut River Valley Murders | Crime Scene Cleanup
  • TRACKING A GHOST - Tampa Bay Times
  • Despite disappearing over 35 years ago Michelle Nicholaou has still ...
  • MA - Michelle Ashley Nicholaou, 22, Holyoke, Nov/Dec 1988
  • Where Is Michelle Nicholaou? Air Date - Facebook
  • Michelle Nicholaou | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    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.

    81%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Medford, New York
    UP13134 • Found Dec 7, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 75%99 mi away
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%135 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — New Bedford, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP7253
    Jane Doe — New Bedford, Massachusetts
    UP7253 • Found Oct 30, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 99%Est. 30–45 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 76%96 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%127 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Sayville, New York
    UP11852 • Found Mar 8, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–39 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 74%105 mi away
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%4'11" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%93 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7390
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
    UP7390 • Found May 18, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 17–22 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 70%126 mi away
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%139 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6326
    Jane Doe — New York, New York
    UP6326 • Found Nov 9, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 23–33 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 71%121 mi away
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%105 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6805
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
    UP6805 • Found May 10, 1997
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 70%126 mi away
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'2" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%115 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP6822
    Jane Doe — Queens, New York
    UP6822 • Found Aug 17, 1997
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 71%119 mi away
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%118 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP6955
    Jane Doe — Staten Island, New York
    UP6955 • Found Sep 6, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 22
    Race 100%White
    Location 67%139 mi away
    TimingFound 9 months after last seen
    Height 52%5'4" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%110 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — New Britain, Connecticut - unidentified case UP8821
    Jane Doe — New Britain, Connecticut
    UP8821 • Found Oct 11, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 98%Est. 25–35 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%39 mi away
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 36%5'5" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8125
    Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
    UP8125 • Found Apr 8, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 22 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 69%128 mi away
    TimingFound 16 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%105 lb vs 100–140 lb
    Hair 60%Black 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 Nicholaou was 22 when she was last seen in December 1988 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She had... ...Read More
    01/11/2023

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