PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Law enforcement agencies in Aroostook County are asking for the public’s help in the case of a woman missing for nearly 13 years.
Maine State Police and the Presque Isle Police Department are seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Starlette Vining.
Vining has been missing from the Presque Isle area since September 1998.
She would now be 52 years old.
Maine State Police Detective Joshua Haines said in a written statement Friday evening that Vining was reported missing in October 2006.
According to Vining’s missing person profile on the state police website, Vining last worked at Smythe’s IGA in Presque Isle. She last appeared for work there in October 1998. Described as a dependable employee, Vining suddenly stopping coming to work and never returned to pick up her last paycheck.
Vining’s former husband and her three now-adult children told police that they last saw her in 1998.
According to police, Vining relocated often but has never been out of her family’s lives for more than a few years at a time.
Haines said that recent information has led investigators to believe people in the community may have further information regarding the circumstances of her disappearance.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Adam Stoutamyer with Maine State Police at 532-5400 or 800-924-2261.
Wait she has been missing since 1998 but wan’t reported missing until 2006? “State Police Detective Joshua Haines said in a written statement Friday evening that Vining was reported missing in October 2006.”
That’s what it says. Odd isn’t it?
Very!
Sad
I swear, I didn’t plagiarize your comment. Great minds think alike.
Yet in the Casey Anthony case, people got in a tiffy over the amount of time spent reporting missing someone, and for those thinking it, it does not matter that this is an adult and that was a child she failed to report, the point is there are plenty of people who spend an absurd amount of time not reporting someone missing, adult or child, if it is not right, report them missing, don’t wait days, months or even years.
Having a two year old that is missing from their mother is way different than an adult woman who could have decided to just get away from everything. Children rely on their parents for protection — who waits a month before reporting they can’t find their two year old. Not in any way the same situation.
I last saw a friend in November, but since she often went weeks without contacting family or friends, no one thought anything of it until she hadn’t contacted anyone in over 6 months. If someone has a history of dropping off the face of the planet for weeks, months, or years at a time, you’re not going to report them missing if you dont see them for a couple days.
the article does state that she relocates often but is never out of her familys life for more than a few years, maybe they thought she was on one of those spells
sounds like thats the case.
13 years later the police are just now getting around to looking for this person……I’m sure they’ll have it wrapped up in a week…….pffffffffft.
The article also says there is new information that leads them to believe people up there might have more to offer, therefore something new to follow up on. Very sad at any rate.
What am I missing here? A woman goes missing in 1998 but her loved ones wait years to decide she’s not coming home? They didn’t report her missing until 2006. Tell me it’s a typo!
“According to police, Vining relocated often but has never been out of her family’s lives for more than a few years at a time.”
Been out of her familys life years at a time…. So they probably just thought that she was alive doing good and hadnt contacted them since she would go years with out doing so.
read something wrong sorry for this comment.
The question not being answered is, what has sparked the interest after 13 years? Most odd, must be some legal issue why the family needs to contact her after all these years. Article doesn’t mention any crime against her being committed. I hate it when a reporter only gets part of a story. Usually only enough to get rumors started. Investigative reporting is a lost art.
It is hinted at. The article says they have new information. Perhaps it’s information that she didn’t leave on her own, and met with foul play.
The article says they have new information. I’m guessing that’s exactly why the new interest.
Are they saying she’s contacted her family every few years? So there’s no foul play suspected and they just want to know where she is now?
It would seem so. This story is very strange. Almost as strange as Ayla’s disappearance. Things that make you go hmmmmmm!
I think it means that prior to her disappearing in 1998, she’d left for years at a time. That may be why they waited so long to report her missing- they thought she was just repeating her pattern.
That is a little scary. I have a sister who sometimes doesn’t contact the family for years at a time…We never know how to reach her in an emergency, and never know if she’s even alive and well. Love and prayers go out to the family. God Bless! I hope she’s okay!
Is there a photo available or a sketch artist’s approximation of what she might look like today ?
“She would now by 52 years old.”
Huh?
The typo has been corrected. Thank you.
i’m pacing the floor because she looks so so so so familiar, i can’t put my finger on it, racking my brain! i’ve seen someone who looks just like her……………???????????????
Read my post. Could that be what you remember
OK, why would people wait 7 years after the fact to report her missing? Something Is not right with this picture.
Starlette,
I miss you! If you read this I love and miss you. Your cousin Leasa Jo Hall
If someone knows anything please share with authorities!
Thank you
If you aged the photo, allow her hair color to be white/gray, (which happens to younger people under a lot of stress) and added a few pounds for her weight, Does anyone think that she looks like the woman who was found out west this year and told authorities that she had been in Northern Maine at some point? (see the picture with a google search of “unidentified woman found in Oregon”) I hope authorities check out this possible lead.
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/06/01/news/state/woman-found-wandering-in-oregon-from-virginia-not-maine/?ref=relatedBox
She looks like the woman who is unidentified in Oregon!
Like really why don’t you let the authorities do their job. If you want to complain and have things to say you go to te academy and you try doing their job.
She sure does look a lot like the woman that was found in Oregon who doesnt know who she is…wonder if anyone has checked that out?
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/05/25/news/state/woman-in-oregon-with-possible-maine-ties-remains-unidentified/
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/06/01/news/state/woman-found-wandering-in-oregon-from-virginia-not-maine/?ref=relatedBox the woman found in oregon was identified!
Thank you for the update. I just thought it was worth the effort to determine if it was her or not. At least she was idenified, thank God.
Yes thank you for the update, i havent seen that!…thank god she was identified, and i hope this on is found safe too!
wow all you people saying that she does look like that older missing women.. i just put the pics side by side and it sorta does look alike except for the hair color of course.. but i thought they had located that women already
downtown PI is littered with police guess they might’ve found something at goerges pawn shop