Forty years ago today, 3-year-old beauty queen Rachael Runyan was abducted from a playground near her family's home in Sunset, Utah. After a nearly month-long manhunt, her body was found in a canyon about 15 miles away. Rachael's 5-year-old brother Justin and another older boy witnessed the abduction and saw the man who took her. However, some misunderstandings resulted in an inaccurate police sketch being released, which misdirected the focus of potential witnesses. Justin, now an adult, has recently come forward to clarify some details that led to a new break in the case, with a new possible suspect being examined, and new hope for closure for the Runyan family.
Writing and research by Aurora Cady.
Original music and audio production by Louis Levesque.
For inquiries: louis14levesque@gmail.com
F O L L O W U S ! ! !
I N S T A G R A M -- @murdermurdernews
T W I T T E R -- @mmurdernews
F A C E B O O K -- https://www.facebook.com/mmntruecrime/
T I K T O K -- @murdermurdernews
Y O U T U B E -- MurderMurder News
Join our Facebook Group | to chat about true crime, and to join our virtual book club!
Join us on the Picnic app | to chat with us about the cases that fascinate you!
Use our link to sign up for 25% off Nuna - Our fave app for mental well-being!
Use code MM15 to get 15% off a single-day or weekend ticket to PNW True Crime Fest!
Check out MurderMurder.news for the latest breaking true crime news!
For business inquiries: murdermurdernews@gmail.com
Submit a spooky story: https://murdermurder.news/story-submission-form/
---
LINKS + SOURCES:
If you have any information about the abduction and murder of Rachael Runyan, please call:
Sunset Police Department: (801) 825-1620.
Justice for Rachael Runyan on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064520717168
Book:
Unsolved Child Murders: Eighteen American Cases 1956-1998 by Emily G Thompson
Podcasts:
Criminology: Rachael Runyan
Justice Files: Rachael Runyan's Story
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Rachael_Runyan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_kkUE6Uuc0
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4380727&itype=CMSID
https://vocal.media/criminal/the-abduction-and-murder-of-little-miss-sunset
http://www.spcoalition.org/simmons.html
https://www.grunge.com/758855/the-tragic-reason-utahs-rachael-alert-was-established/
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Rachael_Runyan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_alert
https://www.deseret.com/2003/4/12/19715303/utah-s-rachael-alert-switches-to-amber-alert
https://www.abc4.com/news/the-justice-files-rachel-runyon-murder-now-investigated-by-ags-cold-case-unit/
https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/the-jus