Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 01/25/1977

Missing Since:

Missing Since 01/25/1977

Missing From:

Missing From Lexington, Kentucky

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 11/24/1952 (72)

Age:

Age 24 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 5’0 – 5’1, 100 – 110 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Clothing/Jewelry Description A yellow ski jacket, a sweater, blue jeans, hiking boots that appeared to be covered in hair, a silver-colored Pulsar digital watch and a diamond cluster ring.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde/brown hair, brown eyes. Melanie may go by names Melanie Dee or Melanie O’Hara. Her nickname is Dee Dee. Her teeth have some gaps between them and, at the time of her disappearance, she still had all her wisdom teeth. Melanie may color her hair; previously it has been colored any shade from blonde to black. Her ears are pierced.

Details of Disappearance:

On January 25, 1977, Melanie Flynn, a secretary, left work in Lexington, Kentucky around 5:00 pm. Her father, a state senator, had asked her to pick up some things. She planned to go to a doctor’s appointment first. Melanie was never seen again.

Three days later, her father reported her missing. Her car was found a few weeks later in a known drug area, but her purse and keys were gone. She had very little money with her when she disappeared and never cashed her next paycheck. Her personal belongings were still at home.

Police investigated a possible sighting of Melanie in Florida months later, but it wasn’t confirmed. Her purse was found in the Kentucky River in August.

Melanie was secretly working as an informant for the police, introducing a detective, Bill Canan, to drug dealers. Her family believes Canan, who denied a romantic relationship with Melanie, was involved in her disappearance and that there was a police cover-up. Canan was later arrested on drug charges.

Melanie was described as energetic and someone who would always keep in touch with her family. The case remains unsolved, and her family suspects foul play.

Agency:

Lexington-Fayette Police Department 859-258-3563

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