Glenn Barker, a gas station clerk and former boyfriend of Tammy’s mom, became a suspect. He had a prior conviction for kidnapping a teenage girl. Barker said he’d visited Tammy’s house after everyone was asleep, giving Katie and Tammy beer. Tammy said they’d had more alcohol than that.

Police searched Barker’s apartment and found bloodstained clothes and towels. Some blood was Barker’s type (A), and some matched Katie’s type (B). They later found girls’ underwear with a tiny bloodstain in Barker’s apartment.

Barker was arrested and convicted of second-degree murder in 1983, even though Katie’s body was never found. Prosecutors believed Barker had harmed Katie after she got drunk. The jury didn’t think the murder was planned.

Barker served part of his 18-year sentence and was released on parole. He was later arrested for possessing a firearm. Although his name has been linked to other unsolved cases, he was never charged with any other crimes. He always claimed he was innocent and that the police framed him. He died in 2014.

Because of the evidence found and the circumstances surrounding Katie’s disappearance, police believe she was murdered, despite her body never being recovered.