Colleen Perris, an 18-year-old from Plantation, Florida, has been missing since September 30, 2000. The case has remained a mystery, with her disappearance sparking questions that still remain unanswered. Colleen was a vibrant young woman with a passion for singing, dancing, and sports. At the time of her disappearance, she was preparing to graduate from high school and had just begun taking summer classes. She worked as a hostess at a restaurant and had plans for a December vacation to Colorado, which she never took.
Disappearance
On the afternoon of September 30, 2000, Colleen was last seen at her family’s home near Flamingo Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard in Plantation. At around 3:00 pm, she received a phone call from an unknown person and informed her family she would be heading to Coral Springs for a meal. She said she would be back between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. Colleen never returned home, missing a planned trip to a Marlins game with her family that evening.
Her sudden disappearance is highly uncharacteristic, as she had no history of running away or leaving without notice. Her family was left in shock, unsure of where she had gone or who she had been in contact with.
Investigation
Despite extensive efforts, detectives have been unable to trace the call Colleen received before her disappearance. Her belongings, including her clothes, were found at home, but her cell phone and purse were missing.
On October 6, 2000, a breakthrough came when Colleen’s vehicle, a white 1994 Mazda MX-6 with Florida plate D48-PIE, was found in a shopping plaza parking lot in Tamarac, Florida, near Pine Island and McNab Road. However, there were no signs of foul play, and the car was locked with the windows rolled up. The cell phone and purse were nowhere to be found, and investigators could not take fingerprints from the car due to rain.
Colleen’s father mentioned that she enjoyed playing pool at the Bull and Cue sports bar at that shopping center, but it remains unclear why she would have gone there that day.
Authorities initially focused on Colleen’s uncle as a person of interest, as he had reportedly offered to help her find a job in modeling lingerie. However, when asked to take a polygraph test, he refused. He has since denied any involvement in her disappearance.
In an emotional plea, Colleen’s family offered a $30,000 reward for information about her whereabouts, including money for college tuition and her life insurance policy. Her parents continued to call her cell phone, leaving messages for her for years, but the phone was eventually disconnected after four years of unanswered calls.
The Search Continues
Despite the passage of time, Colleen’s family is still searching for answers. Police believe Colleen did not leave on her own accord but have been unable to determine the exact circumstances of her disappearance. In 2007, Colleen was declared legally dead, but her family has never stopped seeking answers.
Appearance
Colleen Perris is described as a white female with blonde hair and hazel eyes, standing 5’2” and weighing 95 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she had red highlights in her hair. Colleen has several distinctive tattoos, including a butterfly tattoo on her lower back, Chinese letters on her ankles, and a band around one of her ankles. She also had pierced ears, a tongue piercing, and a belly button piercing.
Investigating Agency
The Plantation Police Department is investigating the case of Colleen Perris. Anyone with information regarding her disappearance is urged to contact them at (954) 797-2118 or to call Broward Crimestoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
As time passes, the hope for answers continues to resonate with Colleen’s family and the community. The mystery of her disappearance remains unresolved, and her loved ones continue to hold onto the hope that one day they will have the answers they have been waiting for.
