Julie Ann Speerschneider was 20 when she was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, March 27, 1979, leaving the 602 Club on University Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. She planned to go to a friend’s house and may have hitchhiked; a witness later said they had picked up a woman matching her description and an unknown man and dropped them near that friend’s home. When she did not arrive she was reported missing and posters and a reward followed.

On April 18, 1981, a 16-year-old hiker found skeletal remains in woods near the Yahara River in the town of Dunn; two days later the remains were identified as Julie’s. Advanced decomposition prevented determination of cause or time of death, and no clothing, shoes, or jewelry were recovered. Investigators considered links to other unsolved killings and at one point said they had a strong suspect, but no arrest was made. Henry Lee Lucas later confessed and recanted; his confession was judged unreliable. New testing was done in 2012, but the case remains unsolved.

If anyone knew Julie, the unknown man seen with her that night, or has information about her movements after leaving the 602 Club, please come forward.