MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1987-31
Brenda Sue Bottoms
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Missing From:
Auburn, Illinois
Summary:
Brenda S. Bottoms, then 22 years old, was last seen on the night of June 28, 1987, from Auburn, Illinois. The Sangamon County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the disappearance. She was last observed getting into a brown vehicle described as having dents on the passenger side. Witnesses indicated that she appeared to know the occupant or occupants of the vehicle and entered voluntarily. She has not been seen or heard from since that time. She left behind a young son.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
She left her residence in the 200 block of North 5th Street in Auburn with a female acquaintance, and the two walked to a local tavern. While walking home later that evening, they encountered two male individuals and went to an apartment complex in the 200 block of North 5th Street to talk. Brenda was last observed getting into a brown vehicle described as having dents on the passenger side. Witnesses indicated that she appeared to know the occupant or occupants of the vehicle and entered voluntarily. She has not been seen or heard from since that time.
Additional Details:
Her father lived in North Carolina. In 2025, the Sheriff's Office began reviewing old case files in Brenda's disappearance. The renewed investigation has resulted in detectives conducting numerous interviews, both of persons previously interviewed as well as new contacts. As a result of these interviews and a review of past documentation, the Sheriff's office has credible information on the location of evidence in Brenda's disappearance as well as new information on the suspect vehicle. On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Detectives, as well as several dedicated organizations, including the Illinois State Police, The Laborer's Disaster Response Team, and Sangamon County Water Reclamation District responded to an identified residence in Auburn. With cooperation from the homeowner, an excavation of the resident's backyard was started with the focus on an abandoned well. According to a report from Capitol City Now, Crouch recently told the Sangamon County Board investigators received information that possible human remains could be located in a deserted well in the Auburn area. Two properties have been excavated so far, with help from Petersburg Plumbing and the Laborers' Disaster Response Team. Nothing has been found, but Crouch says a third excavation is expected to be scheduled soon. Authorities stated they have multiple persons of interest in Bottoms's case, but no suspects.
Case Last Updated:
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Share what you learnTimeline of Events
On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, detectives, the Illinois State Police, The Laborer's Disaster Response Team, and the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District responded to a residence in Auburn.
While they were walking home later that evening, they encountered two male individuals and went to an apartment complex in the 200 block of North 5th Street to talk. Bottoms was then observed getting into a brown vehicle with dents on the passenger side. At least two people were inside that vehicle.
She left her residence in the 200 block of North 5th Street in Auburn with a female acquaintance, and the two then walked to a local tavern.
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Paternal Grandfather's Mother
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Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather
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Maternal Grandmother
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Missing Person
Missing Person
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