Tawnya Knight was 15 when she vanished from Spring Hill, Kansas, in December 1996 after leaving a party and intending to walk a short distance to a friend’s house. Initial hopes that she had run away faded as she failed to contact family. Her skeletal remains were found on June 7, 1997, in a field in the 21000 block of U.S. 169, about a third of a mile from the party. Scene details indicate a violent struggle: her jeans were turned inside out and her bra was torn.

A private investigator, Jeff McDonald, later proposed a theory that classmates lured Knight away, alleging two planners and two who carried out the killing, nicknaming suspects the heavy and the mastermind. One of the primary suspects called the heavy died before a planned interview. No arrests have been announced and detectives say they continue to re-examine evidence and follow leads. If anyone knew Tawnya, attended that December 1996 party, or has information about people who were with her that night, please come forward.