HALIFAX TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police in central Pennsylvania are searching a rural parcel of land in connection with the 30-year-old disappearance of a teen girl who vanished after trying to visit her sister and brother-in-law.
Authorities are searching a 30-acre property in Halifax Township in the Aug. 5, 1989, disappearance of Tracy Marie Kroh, 17, of Millersburg. The township is located about 20 miles north of Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania State Police officials told ABC27 in Harrisburg that investigators, who searched the property in 2016, returned to the scene because they now have new technology that was not available to them three years ago. Troopers on horseback were searching the property along with cadaver dogs that are trained to work well in rainy weather, the news station reported.
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The 2016 search was prompted by a tip about a Dauphin County man who may have been involved in Tracy's disappearance. The man, who has been questioned in the case, has ties to the property being searched, ABC27 reported.
Police officials said a home on the property burned under suspicious circumstances in 2015, according to the news station.
According to the FBI, Tracy was last seen at the Alex Acres Trailer Park in Halifax, where she went to see her sister, who was not at home.
"She dropped off a barbecue grill and grocery store coupons on their front steps," according to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.
Tracy never returned to her family's home seven miles away. Her car, a white 1971 Mercury Comet with a blue stripe, was found abandoned the following day in the Millersburg town square, the FBI said.
Tracy's belongings were not in the car and she was nowhere to be found, the Crime Stoppers page on her disappearance said.
Tracy Marie Kroh is pictured in an undated family photo, as is her car, a white 1971 Mercury Comet with a blue stripe. Kroh, 17, of Millersburg, Pennsylvania, was last seen the night of Aug. 5, 1989, at the Alex Acres Trailer Park in Halifax Township, where she went to see her sister, who was not at home. Kroh was reported missing the next day when her parents realized she was not at her sister’s home. Her car was found abandoned in the Millersburg town square. Photo: Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers
"Parts of her wallet, including her driver's license and National Honor Society card, were found in December 1993, over four years after Tracy initially vanished," the page read. "The wallet (was) located in an area along Wiconisco Creek, off RAkers Mill Road in Washington Township, nine miles from Millersburg."
Tracy did not have a history of running away from home and was described as shy and studious with no known enemies, Crime Stoppers said. She was about to start her senior year at Halifax High School.
Tracy had $300 in cash in her bedroom at home and another $400 in her bank account. The money had not been touched.
Crime Stoppers reported that investigators believe Tracy was abducted, possibly by someone she knew.
Tracy is described as standing between 4 feet, 10 inches and 5 feet tall and weighing about 85 or 90 pounds when she disappeared. She has brown hair and green eyes.
Tracy Marie Kroh is pictured at what she might look like at age 41 in this 2013 age progression. Kroh, 17, of Millersburg, Pennsylvania, was last seen the night of Aug. 5, 1989, at the Alex Acres Trailer Park in Halifax Township, where she went to see her sister, who was not at home. Kroh was reported missing the next day when her parents realized she was not at her sister’s home. Photo: MissingKids.org
She was last seen wearing a blue and white floral shirt and blue and white shorts, all size small, white size 4.5 or 5 canvas sneakers, a silver Timex watch and a white gold Halifax High School Class of 1990 class ring with a white diamond, according to the FBI. She carried a small purse with a unicorn on the side and a keyring with an image of Roger Rabbit.
Anyone with information about Tracy Kroh’s disappearance is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Troop H Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit at 717-671-7534. Tips can also be called in anonymously to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers at 800-4PA-TIPS (8477).