Vital Statistics
Date of Birth: May 3, 1959
Age at disappearance: 28
Height/Weight: Approx. 5'2 Approx 100 lbs.
Missing since: September 16, 1987
Location: Spokane County, Washington
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian Sex: F Hair: BRN Eyes: BRN
Body features: Scar on back; Pierced ears
CLASSIFICATION: ENDANGERED MISSING
Any information regarding this case should be forwarded to:
Spokane County Sheriff's Office 509-477-4760
Details of disappearance:
Julie Ann Weflen was an employee of the Bonneville Power Administration in Spokane County, Washington. Weflen was dispatched to a substation to follow up on a report that one of the transformers at the substation was low on nitrogen. Weflen signed into the substation at approximately 2:30pm and completed her task. It is believed that she disappeared around 3:30pm, an hour later. Weflen's truck was found parked in the parking area outside of the substation with the driver's side and rear hatch doors open. Weflen's purse was found inside the vehicle but her hard hat, toolbox, water bottle and sunglasses were all found on the ground, beside her vehicle. The ground surrounding Weflen's vehicle indicated signs of a struggle, including drag marks on the ground and an additional set of "fresh" tire tracks, not believed to be made by Weflen's truck. The responding authorities stated that, it appeared that Weflen had most likely been "overpowered" by two people. Julie Weflen's husband at the time, Mike Weflen was originally a suspect of her disappearance but, was later ruled out, claiming that he was at a work site 50 miles West of Spokane when she disappeared. Mike Weflen later remarried and has since, allegedly decided to refrain from commenting on Julie's case.
An extensive search of the area revealed no evidence or indications of Weflen's whereabouts and the authorities have concluded she was most likely kidnapped and subsequently murdered. No other suspects have been named in her case.
Comments:
It would seem to me that money was not the motive as Julie's purse was found inside her truck. Although, I could not find any information regarding whether there was cash, credit cards or a wallet of some type within the purse itself. The substation itself was said to be in a very desolate area so, it makes me wonder if someone had been casing the area and knew that Julie worked the area and when she might turn up there. Either someone unrelated to BPA was simply stalking her and waiting for an opportunity or, someone from BPA knew of the transformer issue and knew she would be showing up to fix it. Or, could it just have been a crime of opportunity where, a motorist happened to be driving by and saw Julie exiting the substation and walking to her vehicle alone and decided to take her. So many possibilities but so little in the way of leads.
This is the kind of case that makes you wish you were a "fly on the wall" in this secluded area to be able to help identify the perpetrators of this crime. In this case, Julie's abductors. My heart goes out to her family. Nobody is promised tomorrow so, hug your family a bit tighter tonight and stay forever vigilant! - D
NamUs link:
https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/2816/522