Disappearance of Joanne Elaine Coughlin

Joanne Elaine Coughlin (24 June 1953 – declared legally dead in 1985), was an American woman from Youngstown, Ohio, who has been missing since 27 December 1974.

Events prior[]

Coughlin attended Youngstown State University, majoring in theatre, and was an actress. The day of her disappearance, she wrote a check for her latest life insurance premium, but no money was taken out of her bank accounts.^[1]

Disappearance[]

Coughlin was last seen on 27 December 1974 when she supposedly entered a health spa in Boardman Township, Ohio. She had plans to meet her boyfriend at his home later that night, but never arrived and was never heard from again.^[2] Coughlin's niece claimed she was never at the spa that day, and that the signature provided on the sign-in sheet was forged. It is also claimed that no one saw her in the spa on that day.^[1] Her vehicle has also never been located.^[2]

Authorities theorize Coughlin was robbed and murdered while on her way to the health spa by someone who disposed of her vehicle, with her body inside, in a stone quarry near the Pennsylvania border. The area was searched extensively by police and it is believed that her remains may have been concealed by sediment.^[3]

See also[]

• Cold case (an unsolved criminal case)
• List of people who disappeared

References[]