Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Case Updates with Photos

Heather Rena Sellars







Sellars, date, approximate 2002; Jonathan Christian Vick in 2006
Date Missing 09/24/2002
Missing From
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Female
Race
White
Date of Birth 07/27/1982 (40)
Age 20 years old
Height and Weight 5'1 - 5'3, 100 - 110 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A beige tank top, blue jeans and some jewelry.
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Sellars has a tattoo on her arm and a mole on her cheek.
Details of Disappearance Sellers last seen on September 24, 2002, when she was dropped off at her place of employment, a Waffle House restaurant at Highway 9 and Interstate 85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was carrying a bag containing her work uniform and another change of clothes at the time; she planned to spend the night at her aunt's home.
She and her boyfriend and former fiance, Jonathan Christian Vick, went to two local bars, the Rainbow Lounge and Cocktails and Dreams, that evening. A photograph of Vick is posted with this summary. Sellars has never been heard from again. She never picked up her last paycheck at the Waffle House; it was for $81.
Vick was the last person to see Sellars before her disappearance. They had broken off their engagement two weeks before, but were still dating one another.
Vick was subsequently convicted of murder in connection with the rape and strangulation of a hairdresser, Dana Satterfield. He was only 17 at the time of Satterfield's death and could not face the death penalty as a result; he was sentenced to life in prison instead. He will not become eligible for parole until 2035.
Vick is considered a person of interest in Sellars's disappearance. In 2006, authorities found bloodstains and blonde hair in an abandoned vehicle registered to Vick. They believe the blood and hair may be from Sellars, but will not be certain until forensic testing is complete.
(Vick was also considered a possible suspect in the disappearance of one of Sellars's coworkers, Michelle Whitaker, who disappeared in August 2002. Whitaker was located alive and well in 2008, however; she had left of her own accord and wasn't aware that anyone was looking for her.)
Sellars's family believes she met with foul play, as it is uncharacteristic of her to be out of contact with them. They stated she had a troubled relationship with Vick and had complained he abused her, but she did not report that alleged violence to the police. She dropped out of Dorman High School at age 17 has lived in Florida as well as South Carolina.
Sellars has a history of drug use, but her loved ones say she stopped using drugs in 2001 after going through a treatment program. Witnesses stated she may have been under the influence of drugs on the night of her disappearance, however. She enjoys camping, dancing and going the beach. Her remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office
864-503-4500
Other
North American Missing Persons Network
WHNS Fox Carolina
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal
NamUs
South Carolina Department of Corrections
Forensic Files - Season 12, Ep 24: Driven to Silence

Missing Person Photos

A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe. By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends. A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.

Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Case Updates with Photos