Baltimore County Police Reignite Search For Woman Who Went Missing In 2002

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Police are reigniting the search for a Baltimore County woman more than two decades after she went missing.

The Baltimore County Police Department announced that officers will be in the 1800 block of Clarke Blvd. on Thursday, searching for any evidence related to the disappearance of Michelle Rust.

According to police, recent interviews and evidence have led the department to conclude that her disappearance resulted from foul play.

Michelle Rust was 24 years old at the time of her disappearance. She is described as a white female, 5'4" tall, 140 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes, and she had a permanent retainer on her lower teeth. At the time, she had a cut on the ball of her right foot. She wore a black V-neck shirt, a princess cut sapphire ring, a diamond engagement ring, and a white gold cross necklace with diamonds. Her maiden name is Lins.

What happened?

On July 20, 2002, Rust was preparing for her 3-year-old son's birthday party when she ran to the store to get a few more party supplies.

She was never seen again.

According to police, interviews with various witnesses have determined that no one saw Rust leave her house on Clark Boulevard in Arbutus, and no one ever saw her behind the wheel of her vehicle, a green 1998 Dodge Caravan.

Her car was found on Clyde Avenue in Lansdowne soon after her disappearance.

Investigators said there had been no activity on the missing woman's financial accounts. In addition, her credit cards have not been used – or found – and there has been no trace of her personal property, such as the clothes and jewelry she wore that day.

Investigators clarified that her mother and father have been ruled out as suspects.

Family members told police that Rust loved her three-year-old son and would not have disappeared on her own, leaving the child behind. Additionally, she is a diabetic and dependent on insulin, adding "more weight to the conclusion that she has been the victim of foul play."

Detectives will also conduct searches of other undisclosed locations in Baltimore County and Baltimore City.

Anyone with information about this case who could help find answers for Michelle's family and detectives is asked to contact the Baltimore County Police Homicide and Missing Persons Unit (410-887-3943).