Lacey law enforcement hope forensic evidence can help figure out missing woman's fate

Jeremy Pawloski
The Olympian

LACEY — Armed with new forensic evidence, the Lacey Police Department is reinvestigating the unsolved disappearance of a young mother from Lacey in 1993 as a likely homicide.

Connie Vannausdle, who was 31 at the time of her disappearance, vanished April 25, 1993, from the home on 25th Avenue off College Street that she shared with her husband, Mark, and their two young children. Mark Vannausdle, who is a person of interest in the case, never reported his wife's disappearance, Lacey Police Lt. Jim Mack said Thursday.

Connie Vannausdle's sister in California, Virginia Bruce, reported her missing to Lacey police July 2, 1993, after she was unable to reach her by telephone, Mack said. At the time, Mark Vannausdle said his wife simply walked away from the residence they shared and did not return, Mack said.

Mack said it was "very suspicious" that after more than two months, Mark Vannausdle never reported his wife as missing.

Mark Vannausdle moved out of state after his wife's disappearance, Mack said. He is serving a lengthy prison sentence based on a 2002 case in which he returned to Washington and shot a cab driver in the DuPont area. At the time of Mark Vannausdle's arrest, he had a 1993-era map in the stolen cab and other suspicious items, Mack said.

Evidence from Connie Vannausdle's disappearance is being reviewed for resubmission to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis using technology that was not available in 1993, Mack said. He would not elaborate on the nature of that evidence Thursday.

"We owe it to the family of Connie Vannausdle to use this new technology and bring this case forward," Mack said.

Connie Vannausdle was born in the Philippines, and she came to the United States with her husband in 1987, according to Lacey police. Connie Vannausdle had a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter at the time of her disappearance, and she may have been pregnant with a third child, Mack said.

Lacey detectives are consulting with the FBI's behavioral analysis unit, as well as law enforcement agencies from various other jurisdictions where the Vannausdles lived, including Dover, Del.; Mountain Home, Idaho; and Harris County, Texas.

"In addition to new forensics, family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances of the victim will be reinterviewed about their recollection from 15 years ago and to develop a more complete victimology or in-depth look at Connie and why she would become the victim of a homicide," a news release from the Lacey Police Department claimed.

No one has been excluded as a suspect, Mack said.

Although Connie Vannausdle's body has never been found, Lacey police still think a successful prosecution of the case as a homicide can occur. Mack noted that there have been several "no-body" prosecutions in Washington and in other parts of the country.

Mack said that in a couple of months, Lacey police likely will submit evidence to the Thurston County Coroner's Office in the hopes of getting a death certificate. Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said that in cases in which there is no body, a "presumptive death certificate" must be obtained.

After the case is re-investigated, in several months, Lacey police will turn over a case package to the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and prosecutors will decide whether criminal charges will be brought.
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/438560.html

Consuelo R Vannausdle
Missing since April 25, 1993 from Lacey, Thurston County, Washington
Classification: Endangered Missing



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Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: April 12, 1962
Age at Time of Disappearance: 31 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'3"; 110 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Asian female (Filipina). Black hair; brown eyes.
Distinguishing Marks: Discoloration/Birthmark on her left shoulder
AKA: Connie
Other: Some sites have her missing since May 1, 1993
Dentals: Not Available


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Circumstances of Disappearance
Connie Vannausdle disappeared from the home she shared with her husband and their two young children on April 25, 1993.She may have been pregnant with her third child. The husband, who is a person of interest in the case, never reported his wife’s disappearance.
Connie’s sister in California reported Connie missing to Lacey police on July 2, 1993, after she was unable to get a hold of Connie by telephone.
At the time, Mr Vannausdle said his wife simply walked away from the residence they shared and did not return. Connie's family has described her as completely devoted to her children, and they are adamant she would never have left them behind for any reason.
Connie, who was born in the Philippines, came to USA in 1987 with her husband. They initially lived in Mountain Home, Idaho, where Connie became a U.S. citizen. After living in Spain and Dover, Delaware, Connie moved with her family to Lacey in 1992.
Connie had several friends and co-workers in the Lacey area and was close to her mother and sister who lived in California, as well as other family members in the Philippines. Yet she has had no contact with any of her family or friends since she disappeared.
Vannausdle moved out of state after his wife’s disappearance. But he is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence based on a 2002 case when he returned to Washington and shot a cab driver in the DuPont area. At the time of Vannausdle’s arrest, he had a 1993-era map in the stolen cab and other suspicious items. No one has been excluded as a suspect.



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Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Crime Stoppers
360-493-2222
Or
Lacey Police Department
Detective Bev Reinhold
360-459-4333
Email

Agency Case #: 93-4064


NCIC #: N/A
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
The Olympian
WASPC

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2577dfwa.html

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/crime/story/351718.html

Tacoma, WA - May 31, 2008

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Bigger text Smaller text E-mail Print Text Comments (0) Forensics could help crack Lacey cold caseJEREMY PAWLOSKI; The Olympian Published: May 4th, 2008 01:00 AMArmed with new forensic evidence, the Lacey Police Department is reinvestigating the unsolved disappearance of a young mother from Lacey in 1993 as a likely homicide.
Connie Vannausdle, 31, disappeared April 25, 1993, from the home on 25th Avenue that she shared with her husband, Mark, and their two young children. Mark Vannausdle, who is a person of interest in the case, never reported his wife’s disappearance, Lacey police Lt. Jim Mack said Thursday.

Connie Vannausdle’s sister in California, Virginia Bruce, reported her missing to Lacey police more than two months later – July 2, 1993 – after she was unable to reach her by telephone, Mack said. At the time, Mark Vannausdle said his wife simply walked away from the residence they shared and did not return, Mack said.

Mack said it was “very suspicious” that after more than two months, Mark Vannausdle never reported his wife as missing.

Mark Vannausdle moved out of state after his wife’s disappearance, Mack said. He is serving a lengthy prison sentence based on a 2002 case in which he returned to Washington and shot a cab driver in the DuPont area. At the time of Mark Vannausdle’s arrest, he had a 1993-era map in the stolen cab and other suspicious items, Mack said.

Evidence from Connie Vannausdle’s disappearance is being reviewed for submission to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis using technology that was not available in 1993, Mack said. Mack would not elaborate on the nature of that evidence Thursday.

“We owe it to the family of Connie Vannausdle to use this new technology and bring this case forward,” Mack said.

Connie Vannausdle was born in the Philippines, and she came to the United States with her husband in 1987, according to Lacey police.

Connie Vannausdle had a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter at the time of her disappearance, and she may have been pregnant with a third child, Mack said.

Lacey detectives are consulting with the FBI’s behavioral analysis unit, as well as law enforcement agencies from various other jurisdictions where the Vannausdles lived, including Dover, Del.; Mountain Home, Idaho; and Harris County, Texas.

“In addition to new forensics, family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances of the victim will be reinterviewed about their recollection from 15 years ago and to develop a more complete victimology or in-depth look at Connie and why she would become the victim of a homicide,” reads a news release from the Lacey Police Department.

Although Connie Vannausdle’s body has never been found, Lacey police still think a successful prosecution of the case as a homicide can occur.

After the case is reinvestigated, in several months, Lacey police will turn over a case package to the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and prosecutors will decide whether criminal charges will be brought.

http://z10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/in...showtopic=32189

http://www.kirotv.com/news/18028472/detail.html#
Prime Suspect In Cold Case Murder Sends Letter To KIRO
Richard Thompson
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News


POSTED: 5:02 pm PST November 20, 2008
UPDATED: 9:20 am PST November 21, 2008


LACEY, Wash. -- A 7-page letter from the prime suspect in a cold case of the suspect’s wife who disappeared 15 years ago is telling his side of the story.

Mark Vannausdle is currently in prison for shooting a cab driver during a robbery attempt in 2002.

He declined a KIRO 7 request for an on-camera interview, but did send KIRO reporter Richard Thompson a letter saying he had absolutely nothing to do with his wife's disappearance and he says he did not kill her.

Connie Vannausdle vanished from her Lacey home in 1993.

Lacey police believe her husband Mark killed her.

Detectives have recently interviewed Connie's family who say Mark physically abused Connie and investigators say when Connie vanished, Mark did not report her missing, but he did re-model his house.

"Unless you have something to hide, that wouldn't be a big priority to paint and buy new furniture and redo your bathroom," said Detective Bev Reinhold of the Lacey Police Department.

Mark wrote in his letter, “The police skewed the facts saying I didn't report her missing. How can I report anyone missing when she left on her own free will."

Mark claims in his letter that Connie suffered from depression and simply walked out on him and at the time, their young son and daughter.

Mark is also aware police are now using new techniques to do forensic testing on stained floorboards and other items removed from the family's home. He says the tests won't find anything -- writing:

"This is malarkey for there should be no (evidence) because i didn't harm or kill Connie."

As police continue gathering DNA and other evidence they hope it will strengthen their case against Mark.

Mark has his own theory about what may have happened to Connie writing:

"I pray my wife is safe and healthy, but the thought has crossed my mind that something may have happened to her after she left, or due to her depression she may have taken her own life."

Detectives said they have found no evidence that Connie ever suffered from depression or was suicidal.

An investigation continues.
Copyright 2008 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/17958092/detail...ss=sea&psp=news

Murder Charges May Come 15 Years After Lacey Woman's Disappearance

POSTED: 1:43 pm PST November 11, 2008
UPDATED: 8:57 am PST November 14, 2008


This investigation began in Long Beach, Calif. 15 years ago when a woman got a letter from her sister's husband in Lacey. He said Connie Vannausdle had left him and his kids and taken off. She didn't believe that for a second and she called the police.

The question for detectives then and now: Did Mark Vannausdle kill his wife Connie?

Proving it may now come down to DNA swabs, a stain on a floorboard, a map that could lead to the body and a death certificate.

VIDEO: Police Building Murder Case Without Body

But first, Lacey detective Bev Reinhold must travel to California and back in time.

"I believe that Mark killed her," said Reinhold.

Reinhold is meeting with Connie Vannausdle's mother and sister, building her case by learning what happened prior to Connie's disappearance.

"This is the taped statement of Milagros Regala. Case number 1993-4064. I'm detective Reinhold."

With tape rolling Connie's mother, Milagros Regala, describes once witnessing a violent confrontation between Mark and Connie.

"I heard crying -- 'aaahhh.' Mark pulling her hair and Connie grabbing at the door," said Regala.

Connie's mother says she tried to intervene.

"I said, 'Mark, why did you do that -- what did Connie do?' 'Shut up,' he said," Regala said.

Connie's sister, Virginia Bruce, then tells the detective about trying unsuccessfully to reach Connie for months in 1993 and then receiving a chilling letter from Mark saying Connie had left him and their two young children.

"I knew she was dead. He killed her. He killed her," said Bruce.

When police arrived at Vannausdle's Lacey home in July of 1993, investigators discovered Mark had installed new carpeting and painted the walls.

But Detectives never found Connie's body.

Mark moved to Texas.

And the investigation was at standstill for years until 2002.

That's when Mark Vannausdle resurfaced in Washington state. He was arrested near Lacey for shooting a cab driver during a carjacking. Detectives say he told the driver he needed to borrow the cab to visit his ex-wife and child, which was interesting because investigators believe Connie was pregnant when she vanished.

Now, for the first time, detective Reinhold is showing us the 1993 map of Thurston County seized from Mark Vannausdle when he was arrested.

Reinhold believes Vannausdle stole the cab so he could use the map and get back to Connie's body.

"It's some markings that mean something to him specific about where he placed pieces of evidence including her body," said Reinhold.

Vannausdle has never helped police decipher the map, but detectives continued to work the case.

Photos released to KIRO-TV show detectives removing a piece floorboard from Vannausdle's former Lacey home just last year.

There's a stain on the floor that is among pieces of evidence recently sent to the state crime lab for forensic testing.

Back in California, detective Reinhold collects DNA swabs from Connie's mother and sister. The DNA consistent with Connie's could be used to check results from the crime lab. It will also be entered into a national database to determine if any unidentified remains belong to Connie.

After 15 years, Connie's family finally has a sign murder charges could come soon.

The coroner has finally declared Connie dead. The cause: Violence of an unknown origin.

It opens the door to pursue "no body" murder charges, and it's hope for Connie Vannausdle's family that they might one day be able to confront Mark Vannausdle in court.

"I say, 'You had the best wife in the world, why did you do it?'" said Connie's sister Virgina. "'You had the best wife, the best mother to your kids -- why'd you do it?'"

Connie Vannausdle's family said they have waited 15 agonizing years and they are prepared to wait a bit longer, but they now feel the day is coming soon when they will see justice done.

Mark Vannausdle is currently serving a 20-year sentence for shooting the cab driver.

KIRO repeatedly asked to interview him in prison for this story but he declined the requests.

Vannausdle has previously told detectives he had nothing to do with Connie's disappearance and maintains she vanished on her own.

Copyright 2008 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.theolympian.com/101/story/609997.html
Coroner issues 'no body' death certificate
Woman's disappearance in 1993 now a homicide case
By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published October 06, 2008

Comments (0) Recommend (0)LACEY – Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock presumes a 31-year-old Lacey woman is dead — even though her body hasn't been found in the 15 years since she went missing.

So in a rare move, Warnock's office has issued a presumptive death certificate, and added her death in 1993 could have been caused by "homicidal violence of unknown origin," the coroner said Monday.

Connie Vannausdle vanished April 25, 1993, from a home on 25th Avenue off of College Street that she shared with her husband, Mark, and their two young children. Mark Vannausdle never reported his wife's disappearance.

In May, Lacey Police Lt. Jim Mack announced that Vannausdle was a person of interest in the case. Lacey police also announced that it had uncovered forensic evidence and was reinvestigating Connie Vannausdle's disappearance.

Warnock said this is the first time he can recall such a certificate being issued by the Thurston County Coroner's Office. Such death certificates can be issued when someone is presumed dead but a body has not been recovered. Requirements for such a determination include, for example, that there's no activity on his or her bank account and no contact with family members since the disappearance.

Lacey police detective Bev Reinhold said she is investigating Connie Vannausdle's disappearance and is reinterviewing witnesses.

A sister in California, Virginia Bruce, reported Connie Vannausdle missing to Lacey police July 2, 1993, after Bruce was unable to reach her by telephone. At the time, the husband said his wife simply walked away from their residence and did not return.

Mack has said Lacey police consider it "very suspicious" that after more than two months, Mark Vannausdle never reported his wife missing.

Mark Vannausdle moved out of state after his wife's disappearance, Mack has said.

Vannausdle is serving a prison sentence based on a 2002 case in which he returned to Washington and shot a cab driver in the DuPont area, court papers state. At the time of his arrest, he had a 1993-era map in the stolen cab and other suspicious items, Mack has said.

Connie Vannausdle was born in the Philippines, and she came to the United States with her husband in 1987, Lacey police say. Connie Vannausdle had a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, and she might have been pregnant, Mack has said.

Warnock said Monday the only time he can remember considering issuing a presumptive death certificate was in June, when two people went missing after a boat capsized on the Nisqually River. However, the bodies were recovered, he added.

A body is not always necessary to win a homicide conviction in Washington state.

For example, in 2000, a Redmond man was convicted in the homicide of his wife, Jami Sherer, 10 years after her disappearance, despite her body never being recovered. Investigators said they had circumstantial evidence to show he battered her and threatened to kill her if she left him.

Mack has said there have been several "no-body" prosecutions statewide and elsewhere.

In May, Mack said forensic evidence from Connie Vannausdle's disappearance was being reviewed for resubmission to the State Patrol Crime Lab, but he would not elaborate.

Anyone with information about Connie Vannausdle's disappearance is asked to call Reinhold at 360-459-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.

Most Wanted

Disappearance of Connie Vannausdle - Lacey, April 25, 1993

The Lacey Police Department’s investigation into the disappearance of Connie Vannausdle continues as the 15 year anniversary of when she was last seen by her husband and two young children has come and gone.

Now, new forensic technology may be the key to resolving the case. Connie Vannausdle, who was 31 years old at the time of her disappearance on April 25, 1993, left behind a four year old son and a two year old daughter and she may have been pregnant with her third child. Connie’s family has described this young mother as completely devoted to her children and they are adamant she would never have left them behind for any reason.

Connie, who was born in the Philippines, came to this country in 1987 with her husband, Mark Vannausdle. They initially lived in Mountain Home, Idaho where Connie became a United States Citizen. After living in Spain and Dover, Delaware, Connie later moved with her family to Lacey, Washington in 1992. Connie had several friends and co-worker in the Lacey area and she was close to her mother and sister who lived in California as well as other family members in the Philippines. Yet she has had no contact with any of her family or friends since she disappeared.

Connie was reported missing to the Lacey Police Department by her sister on July 2, 1993. Since her disappearance, detectives have interviewed dozens of people and collected numerous items of evidence. Today, 15 years later, detectives still consider Connie’s disappearance as a likely homicide. Although Connie’s body has never been recovered the apprehension of her murderer and a successful prosecution may still occur regardless of whether or not she is ever found. There have been several successful “No-body” prosecutions in Washington State, as well as other parts of the country where the remains of the victims cannot be located, but significant evidence exists to support a homicide conviction.

During the course of this investigation, detectives have consulted with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States including the Dover Delaware Police Department, the Mountain Home Idaho Police Department, Harris County, Texas Sheriff’s Department, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and FBI. Currently detectives are consulting with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Evidence from this case is being reviewed for re-submission to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis using technology that was not available in 1993. However, investigators cannot comment on the specific types of analysis. In addition to new forensics, family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances of the victim will be re-interviewed about their recollection from 15 years ago and to develop a more complete victimology or in depth look at Connie and why she would become the victim of a homicide. At this point, investigators are saying that no one has been excluded as a suspect.

Anyone with further information on this crime is asked to contact Detective Bev Reinhold at 360 459-4333, or laceypolice@ci.lacey.wa.us, or Olympia/Thurston County Crime Stoppers at (360) 493-2222.

http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/police/vannausdle.htm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/382098...umeddead08.html
Last updated October 7, 2008 9:43 a.m. PT

Missing Lacey woman presumed dead
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA -- The Thurston County coroner has issued a death certificate for a woman who has been missing since 1993.

Coroner Gary Warnock said Monday the presumptive death of the 31-year-old woman, Connie Vannausdle, could have been caused by homicidal violence. Police are re-interviewing witnesses.

She vanished from the home she shared with two young children and her husband. He did not report her missing and when questioned said she had walked away.

Connie Vannausdle was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in 1987 with her husband. Police says she may have been pregnant with her third child when she disappeared.

The Olympian reports the husband, Mark Vannausdle is serving a prison sentence in a 2002 case in which a cab driver was shot.

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Information from: The Olympian, http://www.theolympian.com