The Disappearance of Paige Renkoski

30 year old Paige Renkoski was last seen in Fowlerville, Michigan on June 24, 1990. She disappeared after being seen talking to two men on the shoulder of Interstate 96, about a half mile from the Fowlerville exit.

Background

Paige Renkoski was born on February 20, 1960. At the time of her disappearance she was living in Dewitt Township, Michigan, located near Okemos.

Paige was working as a substitute teacher while pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Development. She was engaged to be married, and her family says she may have been having trouble with her fiance around the time of her disappearance, though they do not believe she would voluntarily leave.

Disappearance

At 11:30 am on June 24, 1990, Paige Renkoski drove her mother to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. She had plans to visit a friend at a park in Canton after, before heading home for her fiance’s softball game that evening.

After dropping her mother off at the airport, Paige was seen at a store west of Interstate 275 in Canton where she purchased beer between 2:30 – 2:45 pm.

Around 3:00 pm, Paige was last seen on the shoulder of Interstate 96 near the Fowlerville exit, talking to two unidentified men standing next to a maroon minivan. According to witnesses, Paige appeared upset and was throwing her hands up in the air. One of the men put his hand on her shoulder as if to comfort her.

A report was made to the police about Paige being on the shoulder of Interstate 96 around 3:00 pm, however officers did not respond to the scene until after 6:00 pm.

At approximately 7:30 pm, Paige’s undamaged vehicle, a 1986 silver Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, was found abandoned by an officer on 1-96. The car was unlocked and still running, with Paige’s purse and shoes inside. The vehicle was not processed as it was deemed abandoned rather than suspicious, and was merely towed away.

Investigation

Prior to her disappearance, Paige deposited a large sum of money into her bank account. The money has remained untouched since she disappeared.

Police believe Paige vanished around 4:00 pm on May 24, 1990, shortly she was seen on the side of the interstate near Fowlerville with the unidentified men. It is unclear why she was speaking with the men and why she stopped on the shoulder. Authorities are unaware if she had any connection to the men.

When police examined Paige’s vehicle they found 22 sets of fingerprints and several palm prints, however a match to the prints has never been made.

On June 27, 1990, billboards were put up on Interstate 96 featuring Paige in hopes of eliciting tips from the public. A total of 25 billboards were planned.

In 2009, authorities told reporters they had six potential suspects in Paige’s disappearance.

One of the suspects, whose name has not been released, had a burgundy minivan similar to the one a witness reported seeing on the day she disappeared. That suspect was murdered in Detroit in 1999.

In May 2001, an unidentified inmate at a Michigan prison was named a suspect in Paige’s disappearance. He was in prison for carjacking which happened a few weeks after Paige disappeared, and his victim was a young woman. He was eliminated as a suspect after passing a polygraph test.

In 2011, police searched a pond in Handy Township after a woman reported seeing cement covered boots there around the time of Paige’s disappearance. The search for evidence was unsuccessful.

A cadaver dog indicated a hit in Conway Township in 2011, leading to authorities searching for Paige’s remains. The property was searched after a hand drawn map was found in an old case file, indicating her remains were buried there. The property was searched twice, but neither dig led to any clues as to Paige’s whereabouts.

On February 2, 2018, a memorial service was held for Paige and her mother, who died in December 2017.

Whereabouts

The location, as well as the circumstances surrounding Paige’s disappearance, remains unknown. Authorities have ruled her case a homicide, even though her body has never been found.

Appearance

White female born on February 20, 1960. Paige has blonde hair, blue eyes, stands 5’6 tall, and weighs 125 pounds.

She has a surgical scar on her right leg, a surgical scar on the inside of her right arm, and a scar on her right elbow. She has two surgical screws in her left knee, and her right knee has been replaced.

Clothing & Accessories:
Paige was last seen wearing a white silk blouse or sweater worn backawards, black silk pants with a flower pattern, a long green and gold beaded necklace, and matching green and gold earrings.

Investigating Agency

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Paige Renkoski please contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department at (517) 564-2440, or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at (800) SPEAK-UP.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $2,500 for information in her case.