Nearly 30 years after 11-year-old Trudy Appleby vanished from her home in Moline, Illinois, authorities have charged a suspect in her case.
On Thursday, August 14, officials announced that Jamison Albert “Jamie” Fisher, 50, has been indicted for Trudy’s murder. A Henry County grand jury charged Fisher with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealing a homicide. Prosecutors say Fisher strangled Trudy and hid her body, which has never been found.
Charges and Legal Details
Henry County State’s Attorney Catherine Runty confirmed the indictment was filed on Wednesday, August 13. Authorities say there is evidence Fisher kidnapped Trudy, but those charges cannot be filed because the time limit for prosecuting kidnapping has expired. Murder charges, however, have no such limit.
Fisher is currently in the Scott County Jail on unrelated drug charges from July. A detainer for the murder charges has been added to ensure he remains in custody.
The Disappearance
On the morning of August 21, 1996, Trudy was last seen at her home around 9:30 a.m. Witnesses said she got into a silver or gray four-door car with a man in his 20s. Police believe she may have gone to Campbell’s Island, even though her father told her not to swim there that day.
Over the years, police have followed hundreds of leads. They have dug up property, searched boats, and posted billboards asking for information. In 2020, both Fisher and David L. Whipple, who died in 2022, were named as persons of interest. Another man, William “Ed” Smith, died in 2014.
Community Remembrance
Trudy would have turned 40 on August 14. Each year, her family holds a candlelight vigil on August 21 to honor her memory and raise awareness about her case. This year’s vigil will be held at 7 p.m. by the Moline Police Department.
Moline Police Chief Darren Gault says investigators will continue searching for Trudy’s remains and following new leads. “We want to be back in front of you at some point to offer you better answers,” Gault said.
