Authorities are once again urging the public to come forward with any information related to the mysterious disappearance of 14-year-old Laureen Rahn, who vanished from her home in New Hampshire in April 1980.
On Monday, Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Col. Mark B. Hall, and Manchester Police Chief Peter A. Marr announced that investigators are actively following new leads in this decades-old case, which remains unresolved 46 years after Rahn’s disappearance.
As part of the renewed efforts, the FBI’s Boston Division released an age-progressed image of Laureen, depicting what she might look like today, to aid in the search and identification process.
Laureen was last seen on April 27, 1980, at her residence on Merrimack Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Authorities noted that she left behind all her personal belongings, including clothing and money, and there were no indications of a struggle within the apartment.
Investigators speculate that Laureen might have left willingly, possibly with someone she was familiar with, and intended to return.
Authorities believe she may have left voluntarily, possibly with someone she knew, intending to return.
According to the New Hampshire State Police, on Sunday, April 27, 1980, at 3:45 a.m., the Manchester Police responded to reports of the missing teen.
Laureen’s mother told authorities that she had gone out of town with her friend and that Laureen asked to remain home in Manchester. Her mother also said that when she arrived home at about 1:15 a.m., she noticed the back door of their apartment was open, and the front door was unsecured.
Upon checking the apartment, she found Laureen’s friend sleeping in Laureen’s bed, and that Laureen was not in the apartment.
Laureen’s friend told the police that she and Laureen had been drinking and that Laureen had been in bed but left the bedroom, taking a pillow and blanket to sleep on the couch. Laureen may have left the apartment willingly with the intent of returning momentarily, as she did not take any clothing, money or personal items with her, police said.
Laureen has not been seen or heard from since.
Laureen Rahn was 14-years-old when she was reported missing from her Manchester, New Hampshire home on April 27, 1980. (New Hampshire Department of Justice)
Officials say the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit and Manchester police are now leveraging modern forensic tools unavailable at the time, including advanced DNA testing and new evidence analysis techniques.
“Laureen was just 14 years old, and her family has endured 46 years of unanswered questions,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General R. Christopher Knowles, who leads the state’s Cold Case Unit. “Our commitment to bringing Laureen home remains steadfast.”
Knowles said investigators believe someone still has critical information.
“We know that relationships and loyalties change over four decades,” he said. “We urge anyone who has been holding onto information to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cold Case Unit tip line at (603) 271-2663, email coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov, or submit a tip online. (New Hampshire State Police)
Authorities are particularly seeking information from:
- People who lived near 289 Merrimack St. in April 1980
- Classmates or peers who knew or spent time with Laureen
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cold Case Unit tip line at (603) 271-2663, email coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov, or submit a tip online.
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