Twenty-nine years ago, on June 23, 1997, Kristen Modafferi, an 18-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, disappeared from the Crocker Galleria Mall in downtown San Francisco. Modafferi had moved to California to attend summer classes in photography at UC Berkeley and had secured a summer job at Spinelli's Coffee in the mall. She finished her shift that day and seemingly vanished without a trace.
Early Days and Initial Leads
Modafferi, who had received a full scholarship to North Carolina State University where she completed her freshman year, had been in the Bay Area for just three weeks before her disappearance. Coworkers reported seeing her on the second floor of the mall around 3:45 p.m. with an unidentified blonde woman. This woman has never come forward despite repeated appeals.
Investigators found it unusual for Modafferi to linger at the mall after her shift, as she typically explored the city. Early leads included Modafferi asking coworkers for directions to Sutro Baths, a historic saltwater pool complex along the San Francisco coast. Bloodhounds followed her scent to a tunnel near the baths, but the trail ended there. The blonde woman Modafferi was last seen with also remained a significant, yet unfruitful, lead.
The Jon Onuma Tip-Off
A pivotal moment in the investigation came when a man, later identified as Jon Onuma, called local news outlet ABC7. Onuma claimed Modafferi was involved in a "lesbian love triangle" and that her body had been dumped in Marin County under a wooden bridge. Police investigated the alleged location but found nothing. The women named by Onuma led detectives to him, making him a person of interest.
Onuma eventually admitted to making the call, stating he was trying to retaliate against the women for mistreating his girlfriend. Despite inconsistencies in his story, investigators were unable to establish a direct link between Onuma and Modafferi's disappearance. An episode of "America's Most Wanted" in 1999 highlighted Onuma as a potential suspect, suggesting he "prowls personal ads... and through that prowling finds women that he can victimize through scams." The investigation uncovered accounts from other women who claimed Onuma had victimized them, with one woman recounting a harrowing experience where Onuma allegedly threatened her life and mentioned Modafferi's name. However, these claims could not be independently corroborated, and Onuma never faced charges in connection with Modafferi's disappearance. In 2017, Onuma told ABC7 that he regretted drawing attention to himself and diverting focus from the investigation.
Robert Durst Speculation
In 2015, speculation arose linking Modafferi's disappearance to Robert Durst, a wealthy real estate heir convicted of murder. Durst owned a house in San Francisco at the time Modafferi vanished, and the FBI had investigated him in 2003 after he was mentioned in connection with the case in a book. Modafferi's sister, Allison, publicly urged Durst to share any information he might have. However, the FBI investigated the potential connection and found no evidence linking Durst to Modafferi's disappearance. The Oakland Police Department also stated in 2015 that they had no evidence indicating Durst's involvement. Durst died in prison in 2022.
Continued Family Efforts and Unresolved Questions
Modafferi's family has remained persistent in seeking answers. In 2015, private investigator Paul Dostie and his K9, Buster, searched the home Modafferi shared with roommates. Buster alerted to potential decomposition near a drainage pipe and vents. Later, Dostie and forensic anthropologist Dr. Arpad Vass used a developing technology to detect human decomposition chemicals, reporting signs of Modafferi's blood at the base of porch steps. While the family saw this as a breakthrough, the technology's proprietary nature meant its findings were unlikely to be admissible as evidence. As of the 29th anniversary of her disappearance, Modafferi is still officially considered missing.
Modafferi's father died in 2022, with her mother expressing her hope that they are reunited. The FBI closed its case in 2010, while the Oakland Police Department's case remained open. Despite numerous leads and extensive investigation over nearly three decades, the whereabouts and fate of Kristen Modafferi remain an enduring mystery.