Name: Joanne Williams
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: December 7, 1978
Location Last Seen: Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Date of Birth: Circa 1956
Age: 22 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 95 lbs
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown
Clothing: Beige tweed jacket; blue jeans; leotard top
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Joanne Williams was last seen at her dance school in Chinchilla, Pennsylvania on December 7, 1978.
Joanne left her residence in her red 1977 Datsun 200 SX with white racing stripes, en route to an exercise class. She was last seen at her dance school located on Route 6 in Chinchilla at 22:00.
Her vehicle was discovered on December 16, 1978 at Lafayette Street and North Everett Avenue, West Scranton, unlocked with her purse and contents located in the vehicle.
The main suspect in Joanne's disappearance is Scranton business owner Frank Osellanie. Osellanie was convicted of the rape and murder of 9-year-old Renee Waddle in 1989. Renee's body was found burned along a wooded private road in Roaring Brook Township. Renee's case led police to consider Osellanie the chief suspect in the 1987 murder of Laureen Finn, the 1986 disappearance of Michelle Lakey, and the disappearance of Joanne. Osellanie died in prison in 2020.
Agency Name: Pennsylvania State Police
Agency Contact Person: Gregory Allen
Agency Phone Number: 570-963-3156
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: R01-0159777
NamUs Case Number: 2495
NamUs
WNEP-TV News
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 03/11/2024 - By: Htmlcnvtr
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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