The Forty Year Search For Laureen Rahn
A wild tale of alcohol, abduction, sex hotlines, and pornography…
Judith Rahn had no idea her life was about to change the minute she stepped inside the Manchester, New Hampshire apartment she shared with her 14-year-old daughter, Laureen on the early morning hours of April 27th, 1980.
She had just gotten back from a tennis tournament her boyfriend was playing in, and when they returned to 289 Merrimack Street around 1am, the hallways were pitch black. Maybe a fuse had blown?
But the door to Judith’s apartment was unlocked, and the girl sleeping in Laureen’s bed wasn’t her daughter… it was her friend. Where did Laureen Rahn go? Did Laureen run away? Or was something more sinister happening?
The disappearance of Laureen Rahn is one of the most curious missing persons cases from the state of New Hampshire, and sent investigators across the United States in search of clues in the golden cities where young girls seek fame and fortune, but more often that not get swallowed up into the seedy underbelly...
But at the bottom of this churning rumor mill, is a mother—desperate for answers—who has gone more than 40 years without any trace of her teenage daughter. A mother nearing the end of her life who deserves closure, and it’s up to us to pick up the pieces and reignite the fire that will solve this case.
Listen to The Forty Year Search For Laureen Rahn wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
UPDATE December 2nd, 2021: Arroyo Grande Jane Doe (who is featured in this episode) finally has her identity back. She is 17-year-old Tammy Terrell from Roswell, NM. Such an exciting break in this case. Next stop is to get her justice.
UPDATE March 2021: Since the release of this episode, I was able to speak with the Clark County Coroner’s Office about an update on their 1980 Arroyo Grande Jane Doe in Henderson. There are no public updates available on her identity at this time, and gave me the number of the police department handling her case.
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Laureen Rahn, age 14
289 Merrimack Street
Laureen Age Progression
Sources For This Episode
Submit a tip to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit
New Hampshire Union Leader by Glenn Wallace
Whatever Happened to Laureen Rahn?, May 16th, 1990
Did Laureen Make California Mysterious Phone Calls?, May 17th, 1990
Manchester Ink Link by Pat Grossmith
40 Years After Disappearance, Family Holds out Hope, April 27th, 2020
New Hampshire Sunday News by Shawne Wickham
Tales of Alcohol, Porn, and Shadowy Figures, April 17th 2005
Who is Buried in Grave Number 448?, April 17th, 2005
Mom’s Plea: Laureen Please Come Home, April 17th, 2005
Additional Sources
Book: The Disappearance of Laureen Rahn
Above articles purchased here
The Charley Project - Laureen Ann Rahn
The Charley Project - Denise Ann Denault
The Charley Project - Rachael Elizabeth Garden
The Charley Project - Shirley Ann McBride
NamUs- 1980 Arroyo Grande Doe
Doe Network - Canada Doe
Media and Credits
Black & white and age progression photos from NamUs
Color photo by Feme98 via Websleuths
Research, writing, audio and editing by Kristen Seavey
Murder, She Told was created by Kristen Seavey
This episode was also co-produced by AKA Studio Productions
Writing support by Byron Willis