Im wondering about the Rachael Runyon case. Ive searched several times but can not get the entire story anywhere. Can someone fill me in or direct me to a web page with all the details. Is it correct that it is still unsolved?

Thanks
SJP:confused:

Unfortunatly, there doesn't seem to be any new information about this case, which is still unsolved after all these years. If you can find the "Scariest UM Moments" thread, Composite Sketch posted a few interesting links. However, I noticed none of them stated any information about the message written in the laundromat bathroom, which makes me speculate that it's possible the message was false or fake, which would make sense, as I feel the muderer wanted to turn the police in a different direction. Plus, for some reason, I can't imagine the guy in the sketch being a satanic cult leader. But then again, looks are deciving...

However, chances are slim that this case may be solved... :(

That case was so sad, especially if their theory is right and it had to do with child pornography and satan worship. I did find an article about Rachel Runyan at: utahchiefs.org/rachel_alert.htm. Its interesting in the article they talk about the nationwide
"Amber Alert" that they have now, well in Utah it was originally called the "Rachel Runyan Alert" and they recently changed it so there wouldn't be any confusion. They do have a "Rachel Runyan Award" instead. I thought that was interesting.

Thanks for that info. I did find all the info about the Rachel alert, being changed to amber alert and I did think the case was still unsolved BUT what Im looking for is the story, the entire story. Ive never heard what happened, never seen the UM episode, and until just recently had never heard of Racheal Runyon. I was born in 76 and this happened in the early 70's. Can someone give me a breif overview of the case???????

Thanks
SJP

Actually, this case occured in the early 80's. (1982, I believe)

Basically, Rachael was playing with her friends the day she was kidnapped. A man came up offering candy. Rachael accepted, and then was snatched away by the man. Days later, Rachael's body was found in a creek, half of her body submerged in water. Police released a sketch of the man:

http://www.utap.org/Unsolved/runyons.jpg

Then, the story got a twist. The killer scrawled a message on a laundromat bathroom which stated that went along something like "I killed the Runyan girl! Beware!" and signed it with an upside down cross and a 666, where the whole satanism theory comes in. An informant for the police also got information that before Rachael was killed, she was forced to do a pornographic snuff film. Police asked local pedophiles if they had seen the tape by showing a picture of her wearing the same dress she wore the day she disseapeared, but nothing ever was solved. That's basically what the UM segment said...

Personally, I think that the bathroom stall message was just a way to send police on a wild goose hunt. If there was a satanic cult, then I'm pretty sure someone would have known about it. Also, I thought it was pretty stupid that, at the end of the UM segement, the investegator said that if anyone had seen the film, that they should contact the police. Um...if anyone would possess such a film, wouldn't that be illegal and automatically send them to jail? And what does asking pedophiles do? Shouldn't they be keeping these guys in jail?

All in all, it's a very frustating case, that may never be solved. However, it scared the crap out of me when I first saw it, and I've always hoped that the case would be solved.

THANKS! THANKS A BUNCH!
sjp

Originally posted by Mr. Roboto


However, chances are slim that this case may be solved... :(

That comment sounds a little blunt to me, though there are cases that have gone unsolved for many years. Although 21 years have passed since the murder of Rachael Runyan, we shouldn't give up hope that it could one day be solved. Besides, there's no statute of limitations on murder. Some cases just take longer to solve than others.

Very sad case, here in my country there had been some cases with "evidence" of satanism, but when they are solved its discovered that the reason of the crimes was lesser macabre, usually the satanic clues were made for people not related with the case, sometimes simple clues are interpreted as satanic for the media and authorities.

When people cant understand the reason for a horrible crime they usually think that only a devil-worshipper could be capable of do it, when most of child-killers have terrible but more complicated reasons for doing what they do.

I dont know the Runyan case but to me the message in the bathroom and the snuff film rumor could be made up by anyone stupid enough.

The UM segment states the "snuff" movies as a possible motive but with no evidence of this. But they use this as a key to finding the abductors/murderers which I think is stupid.

I don't know. Maybe Kane7474 and I have been collaborating too much, but I feel like the whole "Satanism" and "snuff film" angles were something that was sensationalized in the 1980's and probably had nothing to do with the actual abduction.

How sad and ironic was it, however, that the picture they had of Rachel was of her in the same dress she was wearing when she disappeared?

I think the satanic angle and the snuff film angle is just over sensationalism. Everyone thought satanist were running rampant in the 80's...there are so many UM cases were they think satanist might be involved. As far as her being put in a snuff film...well, it seems highly unlikely. (snuff films are in the same league as satanist in my mind--just something to scare people with. I am sure they exist, but the market is surely small for small children to be killed) As someone on this forum says, if you hear hoofbeats think horse, not zebras. I think there is a much more plausible explanation.

I think it is just the same( unfortunate) scenerio. Pedophile likes young girls, sees young girl, lures her into car, molests her, kills her, dumps her.

I hope this family find out what really happened to their daughter. The above snuff film/satanist scenarios must have given them a lot of pain and grief over the years.