The Disappearance of the Springfield Three
Examining Psychic Involvement in the Unsolved Case
The disappearance of the Springfield Three—Suzanne Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt—remains one of Missouri's most perplexing missing persons cases since June 7, 1992. Despite extensive police investigation and national media attention, the case has stayed unsolved for decades. Psychics have played a surprising role in this investigation, offering leads and perspectives when traditional investigative methods have stalled.
Families and investigators, sometimes desperate for answers, have consulted psychics who claimed to have insights into the women's fate or location. Their involvement has sparked debate over the usefulness and reliability of psychic input in real criminal investigations. The curious mix of unsolved mystery and unconventional investigative methods continues to draw public fascination.
Overview of the Springfield Three Disappearance
In June 1992, three women vanished from their home in Springfield, Missouri, leading to one of the region’s most perplexing missing persons cases. The case, known as the Springfield Three, remains unsolved decades later despite widespread media coverage and ongoing investigation.
Key Facts About the Case
The disappearance occurred on June 7, 1992. Suzanne “Suzie” Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt were last seen at Levitt’s home in Springfield, Missouri, following Suzie and Stacy's high school graduation. There were no clear signs of struggle or forced entry at the house.
Personal belongings, including purses, keys, and cars, were left behind. The house was undisturbed, although a broken porch globe was later noted. There was no ransom demand, and the women appeared to have disappeared without warning.
Authorities classified the incident as a probable abduction after the initial investigation failed to provide leads. The term "Springfield Three" has since been used to refer to the three missing women in public records and media.
Timeline of Events
June 6, 1992 (Evening):
Suzie Streeter and Stacy McCall attended their graduation ceremony and several parties.
Both decided not to stay out and returned to Suzie’s home where her mother, Sherrill Levitt, lived.
June 7, 1992 (Early Morning):
All three were last known to be at Sherrill Levitt’s house.
Friends visiting later found an empty house, with all three women missing.
June 7, 1992 (Daytime):
Family and friends noticed the absence and reported them missing.
Police were called, but crucial evidence may have been disturbed by the number of people entering the house before authorities arrived.
Since that morning, no sightings or substantial leads have been confirmed.
Victims: Suzie Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt
Suzanne “Suzie” Streeter was 19 at the time of her disappearance. She had just graduated from Kickapoo High School and was described as friendly and outgoing.
Stacy McCall was also 18 and a close friend of Suzie. Like Suzie, she had recently celebrated graduation and planned to go on a future trip with friends.
Sherrill Levitt, Suzie’s mother, was 47. She worked as a cosmetologist and was regarded as reliable and close with her daughter. All three women were described as having strong ties to the community, with no known motive for leaving voluntarily.
A table summarizing key details:
Name Age Last Seen Relation Suzie Streeter 19 June 7, 1992, home Daughter Stacy McCall 18 June 7, 1992, home Friend Sherrill Levitt 47 June 7, 1992, home Mother
All have remained missing despite comprehensive efforts by law enforcement and the public.
The Night of the Disappearance
Suzanne Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt vanished on June 7, 1992, after a series of graduation celebrations in Springfield, Missouri. Details surrounding their last hours have become the foundation for one of the area’s most perplexing unsolved cases.
Graduation Events and Last Known Movements
On the evening of June 6, 1992, Suzie Streeter and Stacy McCall graduated from Kickapoo High School. The day was filled with excitement as students celebrated this milestone, attending various graduation parties across Springfield.
Streeter and McCall planned to spend the night together, originally intending to go to a Branson water park, White Water, the next day. Their friend, Janelle Kirby, hosted one of the parties. The two were seen by several classmates and friends at Kirby’s house and at other homes throughout the evening.
Around 2 a.m., Streeter and McCall left a gathering at Kirby’s home near Phelps Grove Park, heading to Streeter’s residence at 1717 East Delmar Street. Their movements during this time frame were corroborated by friends and party hosts.
Arrival at 1717 East Delmar Street
After leaving the party, Streeter and McCall arrived at the Delmar Street home where Streeter lived with her mother, Sherrill Levitt. Levitt had returned home from work earlier that evening.
There were signs the girls had arrived safely: their personal items, including purses, keys, and cars, were discovered inside and outside the house. Both Levitt’s and Streeter’s beds appeared to have been slept in, suggesting all three women ended up together that night.
The home itself was tidy, except for a broken porch light globe, which was found shattered on the front steps. There was no evidence of forced entry or a struggle visible to friends and police who later investigated.
Unusual Occurrences and Immediate Warnings
Several unusual details were quickly noticed by friends who arrived the following morning. Calls to the house went unanswered, and none of the women had made contact or shown up for their plans at White Water later that day.
Janelle Kirby and her boyfriend, concerned by the absence, entered the home and found the trio’s belongings undisturbed. A strange message was left on the answering machine, but police erased it inadvertently during the early investigation.
Both the shattered porch light and the lack of any sign of the women led friends and family to believe something had gone wrong overnight. Warnings about tampering with evidence or disturbing the scene came too late, as multiple people had visited the home prior to law enforcement securing the area.
Investigation and Early Leads
Springfield police launched an intensive investigation immediately after the disappearance of Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall. The first steps focused on evaluating the crime scene and gathering potential evidence while searching for clues about the women's last known movements.
Initial Police Response
The disappearance was reported on June 7, 1992, after friends and family were unable to reach the women at Levitt’s home. Officers from the Springfield Police Department arrived quickly, treating the home as a possible crime scene.
Neighbors were interviewed, and arriving officers checked for signs of forced entry or struggle. The initial police actions centered on preserving potential evidence while coordinating with other local police departments.
Tips poured in from the community, but the early days yielded few strong leads. Attempts to track the women’s activities from the previous evening led investigators to canvass local businesses and the graduation party attended by Streeter and McCall.
Crime Scene Details
Levitt’s home on 1717 East Delmar Street was neat, with no obvious signs of a struggle. All personal belongings—purses, keys, cars, and pets—were left behind. The women's vehicles were parked outside as usual.
The answering machine had a strange message, later accidentally erased by a family member, which the police considered a possible clue. The unlocked front door intensified suspicions of foul play.
Police recorded and photographed the scene extensively. Still, the lack of physical evidence presented significant challenges for investigators aiming to piece together the night’s events.
Key Clues Collected
Investigators recovered limited tangible evidence from the scene. The main items of interest included the three women’s personal effects left in plain sight and the strange call recorded on the answering machine.
Lists of tips and leads were compiled as reports came in from the public. Recorded phone logs and a neighborhood canvass created a record of possible witnesses.
Despite examining the crime scene carefully, police found no fingerprints or DNA linking to a suspect. Key details, like the erased answering machine message and the absence of forced entry, became central to ongoing efforts to reconstruct the timeline and possible scenarios.
Psychic Involvement in the Springfield Three Case
Over the years, psychics played a notable part in the search for the missing persons known as the Springfield Three. Their involvement sparked debate and drew both hope and skepticism from the community as investigators tried to find new leads in a case long marked by mystery and silence.
Role of Psychics in the Search
Psychics entered the investigation not long after Suzie Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt vanished on June 7, 1992. Some were contacted by family or friends desperate for any clues, while others volunteered their services after learning about the high-profile case.
The police and private investigators sometimes listened to psychic tips, especially when other leads stalled. These contributions occasionally influenced search efforts and helped map locations believed to be significant, though no concrete evidence came directly from psychic information.
Families of the Springfield Three sometimes saw psychics as an additional resource, particularly when traditional investigation methods led nowhere. While law enforcement maintained a cautious stance, the ongoing mystery and unclaimed reward fund meant almost any lead was given brief consideration.
Methods Used by Psychics
Psychics employed a range of methods in hopes of uncovering answers. Common techniques included remote viewing, reading personal belongings from the missing persons, and using maps to identify “energy hotspots” or places with perceived significance to the case.
Many focused on objects associated with the Springfield Three, such as photographs, jewelry, or articles of clothing. The goal was to establish a connection with the missing individuals and relay impressions or images that might point to their location or cause of disappearance.
In a few instances, psychics provided very specific information—such as street names, descriptions of alleged suspects, or hidden sites—though follow-up searches based on these details did not uncover any physical evidence. Law enforcement often documented these claims in case records but prioritized physical clues.
Public and Family Reaction
Family members of the Springfield Three sometimes supported the involvement of psychics, especially during periods when official leads seemed to have dried up. For them, psychics represented a possible way to get new clues or answers about their loved ones.
The public reaction was mixed. Some saw psychic participation as a hopeful contribution to the missing persons’ search. Others were doubtful, viewing these efforts as a distraction from tangible investigative work.
Media coverage reflected this divide. Reports ranged from cautious optimism about tips given by psychics to strong skepticism from those concerned that focusing on psychic claims could delay or complicate evidence-based policing. As the years passed without resolution, attention to psychic involvement became part of the larger debate over the best way to solve the Springfield Three mystery.
Key Suspects and Theories
Investigators have examined various suspects and motives in the Springfield Three case. Primary theories focus on individuals with violent histories, possible serial killer links, and organized kidnapping scenarios linked to crime in the Ozarks and nearby Branson area.
Robert Craig Cox and Other Main Suspects
Robert Craig Cox, a convicted kidnapper and robber, was identified as a primary suspect. In 1997, he stated to reporters he knew the women had been murdered and claimed their bodies would never be found. Cox had lived in Springfield at the time of the disappearance and became a person of interest due to his criminal background and proximity.
Other suspects included Bartt Streeter, Suzie Streeter’s brother, and Steven Eugene Garrison, a convicted felon who claimed knowledge about the case but provided no verifiable evidence. John Wayne Carnahan, convicted for attempted kidnapping in 1993, was also investigated. Each suspect presented either a potential motive, criminal history, or connection to the victims, but law enforcement was unable to gather direct evidence tying any individual to the disappearance.
Serial Killer Connections
Several theories suggest that a serial killer may have been involved in the Springfield Three case. Springfield is located near Branson and the Ozarks, areas where tourists and locals reported various abductions around the early 1990s. This proximity led some to believe that the case could be linked to serial offenders targeting women in the region.
While there have been no confirmed connections to known serial killers, investigators continue to review unsolved cases across Missouri for similar patterns. Lists of suspects sometimes include itinerant workers or long-haul truckers, based on their mobility and ability to move victims quickly out of the area. This theory remains speculative but is supported by the lack of physical evidence and the complete disappearance of all three women.
Abduction and Kidnapping Hypotheses
One prevailing hypothesis is that the women were forcibly abducted from their home during the early hours after graduation festivities. The crime scene showed no signs of struggle, but personal items, like purses and cars, were left behind, which supports a sudden kidnapping scenario.
The Ozarks region, including Branson, had seen a rise in transient crime during the 1990s, which some believe could relate to organized abduction or human trafficking. Some investigators theorize the perpetrator may have known the women or surveilled their activities, planning their disappearance to avoid detection. Despite ongoing tips and theories, the lack of physical evidence has prevented authorities from confirming this scenario.
Media Coverage and Public Awareness
Extensive media attention played a major role in shaping public perception of the Springfield Three case. Both local news outlets and national programs elevated the missing persons investigation in Springfield, Missouri, while the impact resonated in the local community.
KY3 News and Local Reporting
KY3 News was among the first media outlets to report on the disappearance of Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall. Local stations provided daily updates with information from law enforcement and interviews with family members.
The Springfield News-Leader and other local papers also ran front-page stories and released timelines of the night the three women were last seen. Continuous coverage kept the case visible throughout Springfield and southern Missouri.
Local television helped coordinate volunteer search efforts and shared details on community vigils and the establishment of the Victim's Memorial Garden, which became a place for public remembrance.
National Spotlight on America’s Most Wanted
America’s Most Wanted brought national focus to the Springfield Three in 1993. The episode included the details of the night of June 6–7, 1992, and highlighted evidence from the scene, including the absence of any sign of struggle at the house.
With a viewership in the millions, the broadcast generated new leads and prompted tips from across the country. National attention encouraged law enforcement to review evidence and consult with outside experts, including psychics whose insights, while unconfirmed, were reported by some media outlets.
This coverage elevated the case beyond its immediate region, ensuring continued discussion and bringing in offers of assistance from outside Springfield.
Impact on the Community
The public response in Springfield, Missouri was immediate and sustained. Churches, community centers, and local organizations organized search parties and offered support to the families. The missing posters placed around the city became a constant reminder of the disappearance.
Fundraisers and awareness events were regularly held, including contributions to maintain the Victim’s Memorial Garden. This garden served not only as a memorial but as a central point for community gatherings, such as annual vigils in honor of the missing women.
The case affected how residents approached safety and communication. For years following the disappearance, there was an increase in neighborhood watch groups and self-defense seminars, reflecting the long-lasting impact of media coverage on local attitudes and behavior.
Ongoing Efforts and Unresolved Questions
More than thirty years after the disappearance of the Springfield Three, the investigation remains open and active. Continued interest from law enforcement, community members, and families sustains hope—while key questions about the fate of the missing women remain unanswered.
Cold Case Status
The Springfield Three case is classified as an active cold case by local authorities. Despite decades of investigation, there have been no arrests, and the women were declared legally dead in 1997.
Investigators have revisited old leads and explored new tips, including those from psychics, but none have led to a breakthrough. Multiple task forces and renewed efforts during anniversary years often bring the case back into public attention.
Obstacles include:
Lack of physical evidence at the crime scene
Conflicting witness reports
No verified suspects
Law enforcement agencies encourage the public to continue submitting any information related to the case.
Legacy of the Missing Women
Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall left behind grieving families and a community still searching for answers. Their disappearance shaped regional attitudes on safety and missing persons investigations.
A victim’s memorial garden was established in Springfield to honor the three women and other local missing persons. The garden provides a place for reflection and remembrance and is cared for by community volunteers.
The case has also inspired books, podcasts, and media coverage, ensuring that the women are not forgotten. Annual vigils and the continued media presence have kept the story relevant in Missouri and beyond.
Current Reward Fund and Community Memorials
There is a standing reward fund for information leading to the recovery of the Springfield Three or an arrest. Private donors, local businesses, and nonprofits have contributed to maintain its value.
Efforts to increase community awareness include:
Annual walks and memorial events
Educational programs about missing persons
Regular updates and reminders in local news
Memorials such as dedicated benches, plaques, and the victim’s memorial garden serve as visible reminders of the unresolved case. These sites often become gathering points on anniversaries and help maintain public interest in continuing the search for answers.
