Episode 7.10: The Disappearance of Denise Pflum

On March 28, 1986, 18-year-old Denise Pflum left her home in Connersville, Indiana, and vanished without a trace. Four decades later, questions remain about what happened that spring day, and her disappearance continues to haunt her family and the community she left behind.

Sources:  

Indiana State Police. “Denise Diane Pflum 03/28/1986.” Cold Case Investigations. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://secure.in.gov/isp/crime-reporting/cold-case-investigations/cold-cases-by-county/pendleton-district-investigations/denise-diane-pflum-03281986/. 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “Denise Pflum.” Missing Child Poster, Case No. 1326654. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.missingkids.org/poster/ncmc/1326654/mainposter. 

The Charley Project. “Denise Diane Pflum.” Last updated January 20, 2021. https://charleyproject.org/case/denise-diane-pflum. 

Associated Press. “Man Charged in Death of Indiana Teen Last Seen in 1986.” The Indiana Lawyer, July 10, 2020. https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/man-charged-in-death-of-indiana-teen-last-seen-in-1986. 

WCPO Staff. “Man Arrested in Cold Case Disappearance of Denise Pflum after 34 Years.” WCPO 9, July 2020. https://www.wcpo.com/news/region-indiana/man-arrested-in-cold-case-disappearance-of-denise-pflum-after-34-years. 

WRTV Staff. “Man Who Admitted to Killing Denise Pflum Dies at Indianapolis Hospital, Fayette County Sheriff Says.” WRTV, September 26, 2020. https://www.wrtv.com/news/man-who-admitted-to-killing-denise-pflum-dies-at-indianapolis-hospital-fayette-county-sheriff-says/.

Uncovered. “Missing: Denise Pflum | Connersville, IN.” Accessed October 24, 2026. https://uncovered.com/cases/denise-pflum. 

Cavallier, Andrea. “Family of Missing Denise Pflum Continues to Fight for Justice 34 Years after She Vanished in Connersville, Indiana on Good Friday 1986.” NBC News, March 6, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/family-missing-denise-pflum-continues-fight-justice-34-years-after-n1151956. 

Cavallier, Andrea. “Man Charged with Manslaughter in Death of Denise Pflum 34 Years after She Vanished from Connersville, Indiana in 1986.” NBC News, July 9, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/man-charged-manslaughter-death-denise-pflum-34-years-after-she-n1233380. 

Thurston, Kate. “Tree Planting Ceremony to Honor Missing 1986 CHS Classmate.” Connersville News-Examiner, October 24, 2023. https://www.newsexaminer.com/news/tree-planting-ceremony-to-honor-missing-1986-chs-classmate/article_dd77d0f3-9155-5b3c-bc90-a3fbfd067790.html. 

Thurston, Kate. “Dedication Memorial for Pflum to Be Held Saturday at Noon.” Connersville News-Examiner, November 2, 2023. https://www.newsexaminer.com/news/dedication-memorial-for-pflum-to-be-held-saturday-at-noon/article_6d6362ec-764f-504b-ad5f-c5b08a98b9cd.html. 

Lane, Jeff. “Saturday Marks 40-Year Point Since Denise Pflum's Disappearance.” Kicks 96, March 2026. https://kicks96.com/local-news/909751.