Judith Odonnell Missing Person Case

Sep 01, 2010

Jan 12, 2024

Judith

Odonnell

64

19

70 inches

130 lbs

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

In the autumn of 1980, a 19-year-old woman named Judith Erin Odonnell vanished, leaving behind a family searching for answers for decades. Originally from upstate New York, Judith, who was also known by nicknames like Judy and Tuffy, had moved to the vibrant and gritty world of New York City with aspirations of becoming a singer or an actress. The last confirmed sighting of Judith was on November 30, 1980. She was in Baltimore, Maryland, where she had been visiting with her family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Her family drove her to the bus station for her planned return to her residence in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. She had a ticket for the bus, but what happened after her family said their goodbyes remains a painful mystery. Judith’s life in New York City was a stark contrast to her dreams. The pursuit of fame had led her down a difficult path, where she became entangled in drug use and sex work, and at times experienced homelessness. She was known to frequent shelters and spent time at places like Covenant House. Despite these struggles, her family maintained that she always made an effort to stay in contact with them, which made her sudden silence so alarming. She had promised her family she would be home in Oswego for Christmas, a promise that would go unfulfilled. When Christmas came and went with no word from Judith, the hope of her return began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of dread. Her family does not believe she would have voluntarily cut off contact, leading to the suspicion that she met with foul play. Over the years, the investigation into Judith Odonnell's disappearance has yielded no definitive answers, and her case has grown cold. She was known to hitchhike, a risky habit that could have placed her in a vulnerable position. Distinctive features, such as scars under her chin and on her left arm, have been circulated in public appeals for information. Her sister, Maureen, has never given up hope of finding out what happened, a long and heart-wrenching vigil that has spanned more than three decades. At one point, with the discovery of human remains on Long Island, there was a brief, agonizing period where her family wondered if Judith could be among the victims, but she was not. The case of Judith Odonnell is a somber story of a young woman with dreams who moved to the big city and vanished. The lack of resolution leaves her loved ones in a state of perpetual uncertainty, forever waiting for the day they might finally learn her fate.

Nov 30, 1980

New York

New York

New York County

2110

New York State Police - Fulton

Fulton

New York

Oswego County

13069

Peter Lazarek

Investigator

1013 South 1st Street, New York

3155936194

State

Law Enforcement

2007-164

1992-10-19

New York State Police - Fulton

Brown

Blue

Blue

09/15/2026