Cook County, IL – Investigators are renewing efforts to solve the decades-old disappearance of Sandra “Sandy” Stanek, who vanished after leaving work in Fairview Heights nearly 40 years ago.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Stanek was 23 years old when she was last seen on May 1, 1986, in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Missing Persons Project continue to investigate the unresolved case and are asking the public to come forward with any information.
Authorities said Stanek was leaving her shift as a dancer at Dotty’s Body Shop when she departed with an unidentified man. She has not been seen or heard from since.
The Sheriff’s Office describes Stanek as a White female with brown eyes, sandy-brown hair, standing approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing between 125 and 135 pounds at the time of her disappearance. She would now be 63 years old.
The Missing Persons Project is a specialized investigative initiative focused on unresolved disappearances that have remained unsolved for extended periods. Detectives continue reviewing evidence, following up on leads, and encouraging anyone with information—no matter how small it may seem—to contact investigators.
Anyone with information about Sandra Stanek’s disappearance is urged to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit at 773-674-9490 or email CCSO.MissingPersons@ccsheriff.org.
Additional information about the Cook County Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Project is available at cookcountysheriffil.gov/person/.
