Twelve-year-old Sara Anne Wood disappeared on August 18, 1993, while riding her bicycle home from Norwich Corners Church in Sauquoit, New York. She was last seen at about 2:30 p.m. on Hacadam Road, less than half a mile from her home. Her brother last saw her cheerfully singing a Dolly Parton song before she left for her father’s church; when she did not return the family reported her missing and the community searched for weeks.

In January 1994 a janitor, Lewis Stephen Lent Jr., confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering Sara. He said he kidnapped her at knifepoint after her bicycle chain had broken, drove her to the Adirondack Mountains, and killed her, but he refused to reveal the location of her remains. Lent also confessed to the 1990 murder of another 12-year-old, James Bernardo. He was convicted and given life for Bernardo’s murder and 25 years to life for Sara’s abduction and murder.

Sara’s family established the Sara Anne Wood Rescue Center, which became the Mohawk Valley branch of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. They also organized an annual bike ride from Utica to Washington, D.C., on National Missing Children’s Day and a tree and plaque were placed at Sauquoit Valley Middle School in her memory.

If anyone knew Sara, saw her that afternoon, or has information about her final movements, can you share what you remember?