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Teen's cold case disappearance gets new look

It was snowing the night 19-year-old Susan Swedell left her job at Kmart on January 19, 1988, and headed towards her family's home near Lake Elmo.

OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. - Banking on new technology, a change in investigative strategies and the passing of time, authorities have reopened the cold case of a Twin Cities teen who disappeared 30 years ago.

Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry and officials from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) held a news conference Friday afternoon to shine a spotlight on the disappearance of 19-year-old Susan Swedell, and perhaps jog someone's memory enough to bring long-awaited answers.

It was snowing when Swedell left her job at Kmart the night of January 19, 1988, and headed towards her family's home near Lake Elmo. En route she had some car trouble and stopped at a gas station at Manning Avenue and Country Road 14. Swedell asked the attendant on duty if she could leave her vehicle there, then got in a car with an unknown man and drove off.

Susan was never heard from again.

Susan Swedell disappeared the night of January 19, 1988, and has not been heard from since.

Witnesses describe the driver of that vehicle as a tall, unshaven white male with shoulder length curly hair. He was wearing a leather jacket.

Susan was wearing a mini skirt and a black down jacket.

Sheriff Starry vowed upon taking office that he would make re-examining cold cases a priority, and thought Swedell's disappearance was among the most solvable. He says a dozen new tips on the case have come in during the last couple of weeks.

Anyone who may know the person responsible for Susan Swedell's disappearance, or remembers something from that night, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to call 651-430-7850. There could be a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

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