On Friday, March 16, 1984*, seven-year-old Tracy Marie Neef was abducted after being dropped off at Bertha Heid Elementary School in Thornton, Colorado, by her mother. She was never seen alive by anybody, except her abductor and murderer, again.
Later in the day near Barker Reservoir, just outside of the mountain town of Nederland, Colorado, Tracy's body was discovered.
That was 35 years ago today. Tracy Neef, right this minute, should be celebrating her 42nd birthday.
I first heard of this case while browsing through the Colorado Bureau Of Investigation Cold Case Files. As I was going through the unsolved cases one at a time, I came upon Tracy's page. Of course, like it would for anybody, the unsolved case of a seven-year-old victim definitely got my attention. I had lived in Colorado for a few years and live in the northern suburbs of Denver. How had I never heard about this girl? I had been Googling several of the other CBI cold cases I had viewed previously to get more info. When I typed in Tracy's name I got what I felt was a stunningly low number of results. A few pages with a short summary of the crime and some mentions in true crime message board forums (usually as a side note to the Jon Benet Ramsey case) were about it. The best online info by far was a Kirk Mitchell Denver Post blog entry.
So that is the main focus of this blog. To help keep Tracy Marie Neef's memory, and her unsolved murder, in the light. To make sure she is not forgotten. To show her family and those that knew her that, though her murder has unfortunately not gotten the attention many others have, that there is somebody out there who cares.
Though I have already come upon a couple of interesting rabbit holes in the couple of weeks since I first saw Tracy's CBI page, I am just in the beginning stages of following this case. I have no delusions about solving Tracy's case. I am not an investigator, but I plan to collect as much information about this case as I can and post it here.
If you by chance have any information pertaining to Tracy Neef's murder, I suggest you contact Detective Doug Parker of the Thornton Police Department. If their Twitter page is accurate Detective Parker is still with the Thornton P.D. and if he is no longer in charge of Tracy's case, he will surely direct you to whoever is.
*Their seems to be a discrepancy about the date of Tracy's abduction and murder. Kirk Mitchell's blog post and all other online sources I've seen have it as March 16, 1984. The Jim Benish book I am currently reading (more on that later for sure) also has the date as March 16, 1984, but I have found one instance in the book where it is 1983. The CBI cold case page has the date as March 16, 1983 and Tracy's age at the time as six.. I'm going with the former for now. I think the 1983 must have been a mistake on the CBI page and a uncorrected typo in the Benish book. Also, Tracy's headstone picture on Find A Grave says 1984.
Thanks so much for making this page! It was sorely needed!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deletethey need to open the case files and track dna, this child will always be missed
DeleteShe passed away in 1984. My grandpa was her father. He passed away in his sleep last night. I hope that they are finally reunited
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. It's terrible that he did not get closure before he passed. Is there a link to an obit for him you could share?
DeleteUnfortunately he was cremated and his ashes will be spread at Lake Ogalala in Nebraska.
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ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this story on the news when I was very young. There was just an eerie shot of the swings closest to the road swinging without any children on them. I attended Bertha Heid that following year (1985), and even though I was just a young child (5yo), I remember thinking my parents must be scared to send me to that elementary school. I didn't realize this was a cold case. So sad for the family. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello, so i also want to thank you for this. I wish were could blow this out of there water and get full attention to this case. I am Tracy's brother's wife and this truly breaks my heart. Specifically because of the loss her brother has had in his life. Every time i look at her picture it breaks my heart, what she must have gone through is absolutely gut wrenching. If there is anything i can do to help shed light back into Tracy, I would love to help. I believe this tragedy broke this family apart and truly brought pain, heartache and struggle for the Neef family. I pray that this is solved before her Mother and brother are gone to.
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DeleteWhen were you married to the younger Gary?
DeleteI was her friend. That day haunts me still, we had a small conversation before I walked into school, I have faint memories of it and her saying hi I'm Tracy Marie. I was 8 I think. Do remember her Pacman lunch I have a photo memory. And I went in school. I actually have thought about it many times if I had stayed outside. My dad was in charge of the child watch with cars and c.b. radios for some time after.
ReplyDeleteJust to confirm the true date for your story, I'm looking at a contemporaneous newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Sunday, March 18, 1984. They state that Tracy disappeared and was found on Friday.
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