Misty Donna Copsey was a typical, lively 14-year-old girl who was beloved by her family and friends. On September 17, 1992, she vanished after spending the evening at the Puyallup Fair in Washington. What started as a fun day at the fair ended in tragedy, with her family left in an agonizing search for answers that has spanned over 30 years.
Despite efforts by law enforcement, family, and the community, the truth behind her disappearance remains elusive, making Misty’s case one of the most haunting unsolved mysteries in the Pacific Northwest.
A Joyous Day at the Fair
On that fateful Thursday, Misty had plans to go to the Puyallup Fair with her best friend, Trina Bevard. Diana Smith, Misty’s mother, dropped the two girls off at the fairgrounds around 3:00 PM. Diana trusted Misty and assumed her daughter would return home safely by taking the last scheduled bus from Puyallup to Spanaway.
Misty had attended the fair multiple times before and was responsible for her age. There was no reason for her family to suspect anything out of the ordinary.
The Last Phone Call
As the evening wore on, Misty realized she had missed the last bus home. She called her mother at work, explaining the situation. Diana, who was working at the time, was unable to pick Misty up and told her to find another way home, assuming that Misty would ask for a ride from someone she knew or get help…