25 Years Later, Case Of Missing Teen Misty Copsey Getting Social Media Boost

PUYALLUP, WA - This Sunday, on the 25th anniversary of her disappearance, Misty Copsey will return to Puyallup. The Puyallup Police Department will use its Facebook and Twitter accounts to retell Copsey'as story in the hopes that it will raise awareness, and possibly shed light on the case.

Copsey, then 14, went to the state fair in Puyallup on Sept. 17, 1992 with a friend. She missed the last bus back to her home in Spanaway and told her mother she would try to get a ride from someone. She never made it home, and was last seen walking south along Meridian near the SR 512 on-ramps.

A prime suspect in the disappearance was a man named Rheuban Schmidt. Copeland had apparently called Schmidt for a ride, but he later told police he didn't have enough gas in his car and never went to pick Copsey up. Neither Schmidt nor anyone else has ever been charged in the disappearance.

In February 1993, a private search party found some of Copsey's clothing in a ditch off of SR 410 near Enumclaw. Copsey's toothbrush, which she was carrying in her purse at the time of her disappearance, was found nearby shortly after - but that's the last trace of Copsey ever found.

Puyallup police will use social media to speak as if they were Copsey. Sunday's social media push will begin by talking about who Misty was before the disappearance, and then she will talk about what happened to her that same day 25 years ago.

You can follow along on Puyallup police Facebook page or on Twitter.

If you know something about Copsey's disappearance, police will be accepting tips at 253-770-3343 or tips@ci.puyallup.wa.us.

Image via Puyallup police