How can three people vanish without a trace?

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Virginia "Ginni" Wood was a 19-year-old bright and ambitious woman who was thriving academically in her first year of college at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. College social life was a challenge for her in the beginning because she was shy which made it hard to make friends. She was determined to meet new people and break out of her shell. By the end of the semester, she indeed met friends and planned to move off-campus in the fall into her own apartment. Things were headed in a positive direction for her which made her family happy.

Ginni came home to visit her family and best friend Kelly when she could. Kelly was like a sister to her and they remained friends since high school. They were the typical inseparable teenage girls with a shared passion for photography. Virginia was not very adventurous and was an introvert. Kelly was more extroverted and able to get out of her shell. Kelly helped her to become more sociable. They like the Goth scene with black clothes, black hair, black jewelry, black makeup, and piercings.

However, the two girls did not share the same focus on academics as Kelly struggled through her senior year. And Virginia excelled. Kelly's mother did not approve of her new boyfriend because he had a bad reputation around town. Her mother felt he was a bad influence on her. Kelly flunked out of school and decided to move with him near the Mexican border. Her mom was shocked. Ginni missed Kelly and made plans to visit. With the semester over, Ginni wanted to spend spring break visiting Kelly and her boyfriend.

On March 8th, 2007, Ginni packed and looked forward to her big trip and sets off alone on the 1400-mile journey through the deep south and Mexico. She was very excited. She had a level head so her family was not concerned for her. They felt that she could hold her own. Friday around noon Ginni called to let her family know she made it to Kelly. Saturday night, Ginni's mother calls to see how she is doing. Ginni told her she was watching a movie and will call back later. That was the last time her family heard from her.

Ginni missed the first day of classes with no word from her. Her mother calls Kelly's mother to see if she has any information and learned she had not heard from any of them as well. Kelly's mother was not aware of the trip from Ginni to Kelly. Police traced activity on Ginni's cellphone starting with the last time she spoke to her mother. On March 10th, the phone was used at the Mexican border, and for the next four days, there are incoming and outgoing calls traced to cell towers in several Mexican cities. The last time the phone was used was March 14th in Monterrey, Mexico. Records indicate she did cross over into the border. Mexican authorities checked for all three names and there is no record of Ginni, Kelly, or her boyfriend anywhere in Mexico. Kelly's phone was dead and Kelly's mom was not able to reach her on any of the other numbers Kelly had given her, all the numbers were dead. Kelly had some trouble with the law for the first time ever and was sentenced to probation. However, she is in violation of her probation and is now a wanted fugitive.

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All three people are still missing. Everyone holds out hope the girls are still alive somewhere. Investigators have not had a solid lead in years and the investigation has grown cold.

If you have any information, please contact: the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation at 1 (800) 334–3000 or send an email to [email protected].

Sources/Related Links

Charley Project

NC Missing Person

Track Missing

The Road not Taken