NE Unsolved: Police, family still search for woman who vanished 40 years ago

LOWELL, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) --It's hard to think that a young woman can simply vanish off the face of the Earth, but that's what it seems happened to Rhonda Labbe.

She was just 17 years old in August of 1974 when she tried to get home to her apartment in Lowell, but never made it. Now, 40 years later, Rhonda's family and police are still working to bring her home.

The woman's father, Roland, said, "I'd just like to have closure, where she is, if she's still alive."

He hasn't seen his daughter since she vanished 40 years ago and wants to know what happened to her.

On the night of Aug. 7, 1974, Rhonda was visiting her mother's house in Lawrence. She shared dinner with her mother, 10-year-old sister and her mother's boyfriend.

Sergeant Bill West of Billerica Police said that around 8 p.m. Rhonda decided that she was going to return to her home on 15 Sidney St. West is still trying to find Rhonda.

The investigation is a frustrating one, because it ends at 513 Andover St. in Lawrence. On Aug. 7, 1974, Rhonda planned to hitch-hike back to her apartment in Lowell from Lawrence.

And it was on Andover Street that Rhonda said goodbye to her younger sister. West says she told her sister to go back home, and that she was going to start "thumbing home."

And that's the last time Rhonda was ever seen.

"It wasn't unusual for her to hitchhike at that time. It wasn't unusual for females to hitchhike at that time, either. It was something that was normal," West said.

Her family knew right away something was wrong, and reported her missing to police.

Jo-Ann Labbe, Rhonda's sister said, "Even though she didn't live at home, she was close to my mother. And mother was the one who said get this out, call the cops."

But Rhonda's disappearance wasn't big news. It was buried in a small article in the local newspaper the next day.

"There was no search like there are today. I was upset about that," Roland said.

The investigation is not forgotten. Instead, West is still working the case and still looking for witnesses.

When asked, West said that no one saw her get into a car, so he doesn't know which direction she went in or who she was with.

In the meantime, Rhonda's information and the family's DNA, has been entered into national databases. In 40 years there's never been a match, but that could change at any time.

When asked, West said he suspects foul play in this case.

"Just the circumstances surrounding the case, and the lack of information we get from checking on her. Identifying information. Her identifying information," he said.

After 40 years, Rhonda's family is facing a brutal reality.

"I think whoever picked her up hitchhiking killed her. But I'd like to know where they put the body," Rhonda's sister said.

After all this time, Rhonda's family is not giving up. They want answers.

Police are hoping that over the years someone may have heard something about Rhonda's case. If you think you can help, please call Billerica police at 978-667-1212 or Lowell police at 978-459-8477.

Cox Media Group