Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 08/31/1996

Missing Since:

Missing Since 08/31/1996

Missing From:

Missing From Portland, Oregon

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 09/26/1986 (38)

Age:

Age 9 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 4’6, 100 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Light brown hair, blue eyes. Elisabeth’s upper front teeth were crooked at the time of her 1996 disappearance. Her nickname is Ellie and her name may be spelled “Elizabeth Anne.”

Details of Disappearance:

Elisabeth Huster disappeared in Oregon in August 1996, last seen at a wedding. Her parents were divorcing after a difficult 19-year marriage. Elisabeth stayed with her mother, Karen, while her teenage brother lived with their father, Michael.

Michael reported Elisabeth missing in December 1996 because he couldn’t contact her and she wasn’t in school. Karen claimed Elisabeth was with relatives in California but wouldn’t say where. She was later convicted of keeping Elisabeth away from her father (custodial interference).

Karen served time in prison, and after her release, committed another crime (burglary). While in jail, she allegedly confessed to killing Elisabeth to fellow inmates. A grand jury charged Karen with murder.

Karen disappeared but was eventually found in California living under an assumed name. Police found the body of her roommate in freezers in the apartment. Karen claimed he died of natural causes and that she dismembered the body.

At her trial for Elisabeth’s murder, Karen pleaded insanity, claiming angels told her to kill Elisabeth. She said she disposed of Elisabeth’s body at sea. However, the judge found her sane and sentenced her to 25 years to life in prison. Elisabeth’s body has never been found. The prosecution believed Karen killed Elisabeth to hurt Michael, her ex-husband; the defense argued she suffered from a temporary mental illness due to stress.

Agency:

Washington County Sheriff’s Office 503-648-8700

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