The Vanished Smile: The Unsolved Abduction and Murder of Morgan Jade Violi

A Summer Day Turned Tragic

On July 24, 1996, seven-year-old Morgan Jade Violi was abducted in broad daylight from the parking lot of the Colony Apartments in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Morgan and her six-year-old friend, Destiny Miller, were returning from the playground when a man driving a maroon 1978 Chevrolet van approached them. The man initially grabbed Destiny, but she managed to escape. He then seized Morgan, threw her into the van, and sped away. Morgan's older sister, Heather Coleman, heard her scream and saw the van driving off, but initially thought the girls were playing. Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his twenties with collar-length sandy brown hair, a mustache, some beard, and a distinct sharp nose .

The Immediate Aftermath

The abduction occurred just hours after a court awarded Morgan's mother, Stacey Violi, custody of Morgan and her two sisters. Morgan's father, Glen Violi, did not attend the hearing, claiming he was unaware of it. The community and law enforcement launched an extensive search. Authorities received numerous tips, and the FBI became involved. Despite these efforts, Morgan remained missing for months .

Discovery of the Van and Remains

Three days after the abduction, the maroon van was found abandoned at a truck stop in Franklin, Tennessee. It had been stolen from Dayton, Ohio, the day before Morgan's kidnapping. On October 20, 1996, a woman's skeletal remains were discovered near an old barn in Robertson County, Tennessee, about 40 miles south of Bowling Green. The remains were identified as Morgan's through dental records and forensic analysis. A yellow barrette and hair consistent with Morgan's were found at the scene .

Investigation and Suspects

Morgan's father, Glen Violi, became a person of interest due to the timing of the custody hearing and his absence. He underwent multiple polygraph tests, which he reportedly failed. However, he maintained his innocence, and authorities eventually cleared him as a suspect. Another individual, Tony Scott Redemann, was questioned due to his resemblance to the suspect sketch, but he was also ruled out ....Read More

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