The day before she disappeared, she showed the house to a man who wanted to trade her his land for it. She wasn’t sure about the deal. The next day, July 20th, the man called and wanted to see the house again. They planned to meet at a convenience store (EZ Mart) and go to the house together. Shinn told a friend she’d be back by 1:30 pm. She never returned.

A carpenter saw Shinn with a man near her house that morning (between 10:30 am and 11:30 am). This man was described as tall (6’1″-6’2″), heavy (215-225 lbs), Caucasian, with dark brown hair and a beard, wearing a baseball cap, and driving a dark green Pontiac. However, police aren’t sure if this man was involved because another man fitting a similar description was seen in the area around the same time.

A young girl at the EZ Mart saw a man who fits a slightly different description (shorter, thinner, dark curly hair) use the payphone around 11:00 am—the time Shinn was supposed to meet the man at the store. This is considered a more likely connection to Shinn’s disappearance.

Shinn’s car was found unlocked at a grocery store (Smitty’s Grocery) later that day. Her purse was emptied on the floor, her shoes were under the pedals, and her address book was missing, but her wallet with some cash was still inside. The car showed signs of having been driven off-road (scratches and grass). Police believe this shows she didn’t leave willingly.

Despite many years of investigation, the man Shinn met and the circumstances of her disappearance remain a mystery. Police suspect foul play.