Homewood, Illinois police seek help solving 1974 disappearance of 15-year-old Nancy O'Sullivan
Police in Homewood, Illinois, are asking for help solving the disappearance of a teenage girl more than 50 years ago.
Nancy O'Sullivan was 15 years old when she disappeared on March 7, 1974 — 51 years ago this coming Friday. O'Sullivan had reportedly visited friends in South Holland, and her dad reported her missing the next day.
"This has just stayed with me all the years that I've worked here, and I would love to bring a resolution to this case," said Homewood Police Chief Denise McGrath.
Chief McGrath said she worked the case when she was a detective, and hasn't given up on finding O'Sullivan.
"I grew up in Homewood," McGrath said. "I'm just a few years younger than Nancy. As a police officer, we always want to be able to solve a case, and this has just stayed with me all the years that I've worked here, a I would love to bring a resolution to this case."
An age-progressed photo shows what she would look like today at age 66.
The chief said even if you don't know about O'Sullivan's disappearance, police are gathering information on what she was like as a person. Police said every little bit helps.
Police said they don't have enough information to say with any certainty whether O'Sullivan ran away from home or was the victim of foul play.
While O'Sullivan had been known to run away from home for a few days, she always returned before.
"And this time she didn't, and whether or not she ran away and something happened to her after that, we just don't know," said McGrath. "Is that a possibility? Absolutely. We certainly hope that's not the case."
If you know anything, call Homewood police.
"Even if it's not the outcome we want, to give some closure to the family and some peace of mind to the family would be our wish and our goal," McGrath said.
The Homewood Police Department has set up a tip email, Nancy1974@homewoodil.gov, and a phone tip line, 708-206-3373.