A Teenager Left A Party With A Man Nearly 25 Years Ago. He's Not A Suspect And She's Still Missing.
May 10 2022, Published 2:38 p.m. ET
A little less than 25 years ago, Florida teenager Wendy Hudakoc left a party with a man. As a quarter-century anniversary approaches in 2023, she's still not been seen since.
Hudakoc, who was 14 years old at the time, was last seen leaving a party in Naples, Florida with a man on Nov. 15, 1998. According to a Fox 4 report from 2017, Hudakoc snuck out that night to meet with 18-year-old Ronald DePeppo to go to the party.
"That was the last she was seen by anybody, other than him," Sharlene Boyatt, Hudakoc's older sister, told Fox 4 then.
Police do not consider DePeppo a suspect, though Boyatt told Fox 4 that he hasn't been helpful in finding her.
"She didn't just vanish, nobody just vanishes into thin air, somebody knows something," Boyatt told the outlet.
Hudakoc, who is from Golden Gate, Florida and had braces on her teeth, a scar on her left hand and a birthmark on the back of her neck, was a pleasure to be around, her sister said.
"She was a lot of fun," Boyatt told Fox 4.
In 2020, police marked the 22-year anniversary by sharing a new image portraying what Hudakoc may look like today while trying to revitalize the search.
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"There is an open investigation into this case and investigators encourage anyone who may have information to contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 252-9300," the department posted on Facebook on Nov. 10, 2020.
Boyatt told Fox 4 that small moments bring back memories of her sister.
"You hear a song, you smell something, you hear something, someone happens to ramble something off and it's right back, she's always right there," said Boyatt.
Though Boyatt doesn't believe her sister will be found alive, she'd like for her body to be found so she can have some closure.
"I don't think I'll ever find her alive, I don't think I'll ever go up and be able to give my sister a hug again, or talk to her, ask her what happened, but I would like to find her remains and put her to rest," she told Fox 4.
Anyone with information can contact law enforcement.
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