Laura Parker was found murdered at a local hangout spot in Lindenhurst, NY a few months after she went missing. Did she know her killer?

Laura Parker was born on July 26, 1969, and lived in Suffolk County, New York, with her parents. She attended Lindenhurst High School on Long Island and was in the 9th grade.  Laura played softball and was a member of the school’s chorus and had talked about possibly becoming a singer in the future.

The day Laura went missing

On the morning of May 25, 1984, Laura’s father, Jim, woke her up for school. He was heading to JFK airport where he worked as a maintenance worker. Jim knew that Laura liked to blow dry her hair before school. Around 5:30 am, her father leaves and this would be the last time he sees Laura. A short time later, Laura heads to school. She was last seen wearing white jeans, a green and white striped tank top with “hang 10” on it. Laura’s mother, Patricia, told her she should put something more on because it was supposed to be cool outside.

When Laura was reported missing

Laura goes through her day at school and is last seen after the last-period bell. However, that day, she had softball practice after school, but Laura never showed up. This was highly unusual for Laura as she was not the type of student to skip class. When Laura didn’t return home that evening, the alarm bells rang. The next day, her parents contacted the police to report her missing to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Where the case stands today

On September 10, 1984, after many searches, Laura’s body was found rolled up in a carpet in a hole off of North Monroe Street, just 2 miles from her home. Her body was discovered in the area called "The Hut '' by local children. It is a hole about 4.5 feet deep and 11 feet in diameter. It was covered by old pieces of plywood and cardboard boxes. Unfortunately, only dental records could be used to identify Laura.

Her parents grieve over the careless manner she was left to be found. They buried her ashes at their church, St. Boniface Episcopal. Where they gathered years after her murder to mourn with other families who also experienced the tragedy of having their children murdered. There are many questions that remain:  What happened to Laura? Did she know her killer? Could she have been kidnapped while at school? Who found her body?

In 1989, the New York Times reported that two homicide detectives who also reside in Suffolk County sent a letter to 1000 of Laura’s former classmates to ask for any information at all. “The letter is trying to get some sympathy,'' Detective Carmody said. ''We never give up on looking for new information.''

If you have any information regarding Laura Parker’s unsolved murder, please contact Suffolk County Police.