Mary Jo Lee Long was 17 when she was last seen on December 27, 1981, in Gardena, California. Originally from Austin, Minnesota, she had moved earlier that year to live with her father despite her mother’s objections. She returned to Minnesota for Christmas and then went back to California shortly before disappearing.

Mary Jo was enrolled at Gardena High School but had been absent for some time prior to her disappearance. Her family did not file a missing person report until 1988, and her mother later died in a 1989 car accident. There have been very few leads, and authorities say her case remains unsolved; family members hope information about her boyfriend at the time might help.

If anyone knew Mary Jo, her movements in late December 1981, or the boyfriend mentioned, can you share what you remember?