25 Years Later Girl With 'Big Heart' Rachel Mellon Still Missing

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Twenty five years ago Sunday, a Bolingbrook teen disappeared from her home. A quarter-century later, police continue to investigate, and Crime Stoppers of Bolingbrook is also offering a reward of $10,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and charges against those involved in her disappearance.

Rachel Mellon was 13 years old when she vanished on Jan. 31, 1996, after staying home from school with a sore throat and was alone with her unemployed stepfather, Vince Mellon. The first time anyone realized Rachel was not still in her room was when her mother, Amy Mellon, arrived home from work that evening and went to get her daughter for dinner.

Vince told police that Rachel went to take a nap and was discovered missing by a younger sibling about an hour later, Bolingbrook Police Commander Anthony Columbus told Patch.

"Detectives continue to review reports and crime scene evidence to provide any additional leads," Columbus said. "Evidence in the case has been preserved and is evaluated regularly to determine whether new advancements in forensic capabilities will assist with the investigation."

To aid this process, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released an age-progression photo of what Rachel may look like now.

"The case is still active and the Bolingbrook Police Department continues to keep the disappearance of Rachel Mellon at the forefront and still strives for a resolution in the case," Columbus said. "Rachel has not been forgotten by the community or the department."

On the night of Rachel's disappearance, the police found no evidence of foul play, but on Jan. 29, 2000, the cops picked up Vince from his home on Joliet's west side and held him for nine hours at the Bolingbrook police station. During that time, they served him with a warrant ordering him to surrender samples of his blood, saliva and hair as part of a first-degree murder investigation.

Four days later, Vince and wife Amy —Rachel's mother — were made to appear in front of a grand jury. Since then, the police have never revealed what the significant developments prompted them to pull the Mellons in front of a grand jury, or what technical advances brought these developments to light.

Rachel has never been found, and no one has been charged in her disappearance.

While her case remains unsolved, Rachel's absence is sorely felt by all those who loved her. On a page dedicated to Rachel, her best friend wrote:

"This is a horrible experience that I have personal experience that I am still going through. My best friend has been missing since January 31st, 1996 and there hasn't been many clues or leads. I have learned that friends are very important to a person and you shouldn't take advantage of the time you have with them. They could be here one day and gone the next. I have also dealt with this tragedy by taking it day by day. "

Rachel's father Jeff Skemp said he wanted to organize a special service commemorating the 25th anniversary of her disappearance, but that plan was shelved due to the pandemic.

"I wanted to have a service to first of all celebrate Rachel’s life. She was so full of joy and also had a deep contemplative nature about her. She also possessed a wisdom beyond her years. This and so much else needs to be celebrated!!" Skemp wrote in a Facebook post. "I also want to do a call to action in her name. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to spend much time with Rachel when she was growing up but after listening to her friends talk about her I realize what a big heart she had. She really cared about the world. I believe that she would be on the front line today fighting for social and racial justice."

The Bolingbrook Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding Rachel's disapearance to contact the Bolingbrook Police Department Investigations Division at (630) 226-8620, Crime Stoppers at (630)378-4772 or the download the P3 Community App. Callers can also submit a web tip at bolingrookcrimestoppers.org. Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous.