Account
Apr 15, 2010
Jul 17, 2023
Rachanda
Pickle
47
13
55 inches
90 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
In the summer of 1990, in a remote area of Linn County, Oregon, 13-year-old Rachanda Pickle vanished from her home. On the morning of July 10th, she was last seen watching television. At the time of her disappearance, Rachanda, a young girl with brown hair and brown eyes, stood at 4'7" and weighed around 90 pounds. She had a scar on her forehead and her ears were double-pierced. That day, she was believed to be wearing black pants, a t-shirt, possibly with a New Kids on the Block logo, and LA Gear tennis shoes. The last person to report seeing her was her stepfather, John Arthur Ackroyd, a highway mechanic for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Rachanda's mother was at work, and Ackroyd claimed he had come home for a break and then left again, only to find Rachanda gone upon his return later in the day. It wasn't until the following day that Rachanda was reported missing. The investigation into Rachanda's disappearance quickly focused on her stepfather. Friends of Rachanda reported that she was afraid of Ackroyd and had shown up to school with bruises she attributed to him. She often sought to spend the night at friends' houses to avoid going home. Investigators found Ackroyd's behavior following his stepdaughter's disappearance to be suspicious; he didn't seem upset and knew specific details like her clothing size but not her date of birth. The family's home, located at a remote highway maintenance compound at Santiam Junction, showed no signs of a struggle. An extensive search of the surrounding areas, including the Santiam Junction, Hoodoo Ski area, and Big Lake areas, was conducted for several weeks but yielded no clues as to her whereabouts. The remote location of their home meant there were few other children her age in the vicinity. Years passed without any sign of Rachanda, and her case grew cold, though investigators continued to suspect Ackroyd's involvement. In 1992, Ackroyd was arrested and later convicted for the 1978 murder of Kaye Jean Turner, receiving five life sentences. This conviction brought renewed scrutiny to Ackroyd's connection to his stepdaughter's case. With advancements in technology, evidence from Rachanda's disappearance was re-examined, leading to a significant breakthrough. In April 2013, John Arthur Ackroyd was indicted for the murder of Rachanda Pickle. The following year, he entered a no-contest plea deal. As part of the agreement, he would not seek parole for the murder of Kaye Turner and would remain in prison until his death. Ackroyd never revealed the location of Rachanda's remains, and her body has never been found. He died in prison in late 2016. The case of Rachanda Pickle is a somber tale of a young girl whose life was tragically cut short, leaving her family and community with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss.
Jul 10, 1990
Sisters
Oregon
Linn County
No
26877
Linn County Sheriff's Office
Albany
Oregon
Linn County
97322
Andy Franklin
Captain
1115 SE Jackson Street, Oregon
5419673950
County
Law Enforcement
90-5971
Linn County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/03/2026
