Carol Lynn Sullivan was 12 when she was last seen standing at her school bus stop in Osteen, Florida, about 6:50 a.m. on September 20, 1978. She disappeared that same day. Twelve days later a skull identified as hers was found inside a rusty paint can more than two miles from the bus stop; the rest of her remains were never recovered.

Investigators treated the discovery as a homicide. The paint can and traces of specialty automotive paint found with the skull have been cited as key physical evidence, but they have not produced a definitive break in the case. Over the years some theories have linked her death to serial killers active in Florida in the late 1970s, including Ottis Toole and Charlie Brandt, but no concrete evidence has connected either to Sullivan’s killing.

The case remains cold, with detectives in Volusia County continuing to investigate and hoping to bring answers for the family. If anyone knew Carol, attended the same school, lived along the route from the bus stop that September, or has information about a rusty paint can or specialty automotive paint in the area, please come forward.