Samantha Ann Clarke, 19, disappeared from her home in Orange, Virginia, during the early morning hours of September 13, 2010. She had told her younger brother she was going out and left with only her key; when their mother returned from an overnight shift Samantha had not come back. The family reported her missing two days later. She was known as Sam and was described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch to 5 feet 4 inches, about 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Distinctive tattoos and multiple piercings were noted.

Investigators early on identified Randy Allen Taylor as a person of interest after phone records showed he called Samantha’s home multiple times before she vanished; he denied involvement and no charges were filed in her case at that time. Taylor was later convicted in the abduction and murder of Alexis Murphy, a development that renewed scrutiny of Samantha’s disappearance. In January 2021 the Orange County Police Department reclassified Samantha’s case as a homicide, citing new information and forensic advances, but her remains have not been recovered despite searches including dives in Green Acres Lake. The investigation remains active.

Anyone who knew Samantha, saw her on September 13, 2010, or has information about her disappearance is asked to come forward.