The 1977 Murder of Sharrey Lynn Case: Detectives Still Searching
The case is still unsolved after 49 years
Cold cases have a way of lingering in the hearts of families and communities. Decades may pass, witnesses may move away, and evidence may grow old, but the search for justice never truly ends. One such mystery continues to haunt investigators in Illinois: the 1977 murder of 17-year-old Sharrey Lynn Case.
Nearly half a century after she vanished, detectives are still working to uncover who killed the bright young woman whose life was cut tragically short. The case, highlighted in a recent Dateline cold case spotlight, remains unsolved—but investigators believe the truth may still be out there.
A Promising Life Interrupted
Sharrey Lynn Case was only 17 years old in the fall of 1977. By all accounts, she was a hardworking and ambitious teenager with big dreams for the future.
Sharrey had graduated early from high school and was already attending college courses. She was enrolled at a local community college studying data processing and photography—subjects that reflected both her technical curiosity and creative interests.
Despite her busy academic schedule, Sharrey worked part-time at a retail store to earn extra money. The holidays were approaching, and she wanted to buy Christmas presents for her siblings.
Family and friends described her as responsible, kind, and devoted to the people she loved. Nothing about her life suggested the tragedy that would soon unfold.
The Last Time She Was Seen
On October 28, 1977, Sharrey’s mother drove her to a trailer in Centreville, Illinois.
Sharrey was planning to spend time with her boyfriend that evening. After being dropped off, she went inside the trailer while he went to work.
But when he returned home around midnight, Sharrey was gone.
Her purse and work uniform were still inside the trailer, suggesting she had not left voluntarily. There were no obvious signs of a struggle, and no one nearby reported hearing anything suspicious.
At first, the situation was confusing. But when Sharrey failed to show up for work the next day—and did not pick up her paycheck—her family immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
Her mother reported her missing.
For weeks, there were no answers.
A Devastating Discovery
The mystery took a horrifying turn nearly two months later.
On December 19, 1977, a jogger noticed a strange odor near a shallow creek along railroad tracks south of Belleville, Illinois.
Curious and concerned, he took a closer look.
Partially hidden beneath a pile of construction debris—wood, rocks, and other materials—he spotted a pair of blue jeans sticking out.
Underneath the debris was the decomposed body of Sharrey Lynn Case.
Dental records confirmed her identity.
The discovery devastated her family and shocked the local community.
A Brutal Murder
The autopsy revealed disturbing details about how Sharrey died.
Investigators determined that she had been strangled with bailing wire that was still wrapped around her neck.
Even more chilling, a sock had been stuffed into her mouth.
She was still fully clothed when her body was found, except for the missing sock used as a gag. Because of the condition of her remains, investigators were unable to determine whether she had been sexually assaulted.
One haunting detail stood out to detectives.
Money was still inside Sharrey’s pockets—cash she had saved to buy Christmas gifts for her family.
This fact allowed investigators to rule out robbery as a motive.
Whoever killed Sharrey had not been after money.
The Timeline Mystery
Determining exactly when Sharrey was killed proved difficult.
Investigators believe she likely died sometime in November, but the exact date could not be determined due to the condition of her body.
That uncertainty has complicated the investigation for decades.
Without a precise timeline, detectives struggled to reconstruct Sharrey’s final movements or determine who might have encountered her after she disappeared.
Did someone pick her up that night?
Did she leave the trailer willingly with someone she knew?
Or was she abducted?
Those questions remain unanswered.
Investigators Search for Leads
In the early stages of the investigation, police interviewed numerous individuals connected to Sharrey’s life.
Naturally, investigators looked closely at her boyfriend—the last person expected to see her alive. However, authorities eventually determined that he was not a suspect in the case.
Despite interviews and tips, the case quickly grew cold.
The rural area where her body was discovered provided few clues. Evidence collection in the late 1970s was far less advanced than it is today, and DNA technology did not yet exist.
Many potential leads simply faded with time.
A Case That Refuses to Be Forgotten
Although decades have passed, Sharrey’s case has never been closed.
Law enforcement agencies continue to list it as an active unsolved homicide.
Cold case investigators believe it is still possible that someone knows what happened.
Cases from the 1970s are increasingly being solved thanks to modern forensic techniques such as:
DNA testing
Genetic genealogy
Advanced forensic analysis
Re-examination of old evidence
Across the United States, similar cold cases have been solved after 40 or even 50 years.
Investigators hope the same breakthrough may eventually happen for Sharrey.
The Power of Cold Case Awareness
One of the most important tools in solving cold cases is public awareness.
When stories like Sharrey’s are shared through media coverage, documentaries, or podcasts, they can reach people who may have information that investigators never previously received.
Someone who was afraid to speak decades ago may feel ready now.
A witness may suddenly remember something small but important.
Or a family member of the killer may decide the time has come to tell the truth.
Even the smallest detail can reopen an investigation.
A Family Still Waiting
For Sharrey’s loved ones, the passage of time has not erased the pain.
She was a daughter, a sister, and a friend whose life was just beginning.
Her dreams of finishing college, building a career, and creating a future were stolen in an act of violence that remains unexplained.
Every unsolved murder leaves behind unanswered questions—but for families, the most difficult question is always the same:
Why?
Who could have taken the life of a young woman who was simply trying to build a better future?
Could the Case Still Be Solved?
Many cold cases from the 1970s have been solved in recent years thanks to advances in technology and renewed investigative attention.
Evidence that once seemed useless can now produce DNA profiles.
Old witness statements can be reanalyzed.
And new forensic genealogy techniques can identify suspects even when traditional methods fail.
If biological evidence from Sharrey’s case still exists, investigators may one day be able to use these tools to identify her killer.
It has happened before—and it can happen again.
A Call for Information
Today, the murder of Sharrey Lynn Case remains an open investigation.
Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
Even if the information seems small or insignificant, it could be the missing piece detectives have been searching for for nearly five decades.
Someone, somewhere, knows what happened on the night Sharrey disappeared.
And until the truth is uncovered, the case will remain one of Illinois’ haunting unsolved mysteries.
If you have information about the murder of Sharrey Lynn Case, contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.
Justice delayed is not justice denied—and for Sharrey, investigators are still determined to find the answers that have remained hidden for nearly 50 years.