City of Lincoln  
City of Lincoln
Police Department

2005 News Releases

Date:
June 25, 2005
For More Information Contact:
Officer Katherine Finnell, Public Information Officer, 441-7226
Sergeant Luke Wilke, Criminal Investigations, 441-6944

Additional Reward Offered in 1995 Missing Person Case

On September 5th of 1995 the mother of 15 year old Melissa Ann Schmidt reported her as a runaway. Melissa Schmidt has never been located. The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation is offering a $5,000 reward for information which leads to locating Melissa Schmidt. In addition to this Lincoln Crimestoppers is also offering a $1,000 reward. Although Melissa has been missing for ten years the case is still active with the department and her family hopes for her safe return.

Her physical description is as follows:
W/F, DOB 3-28-80
5’4”, 110, Brown hair, Brown eyes

A photo of Melissa Schmidt is available.

The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation

Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso were the three women sightseers who were missing and later found murdered near Yosemite National Park in February of 1999. While they were missing, Carole Sund’s parents, Francis and Carole Carrington, at the request of the FBI, posted rewards both for their safe return and for information leading to the whereabouts of their rental car. The Carringtons believe that the posting of these rewards and the media attention they received, contributed to the car being located and gave them the first break in their case. They were thankful that they had the financial means to offer these rewards and it’s because fo this that they have started The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. This foundation was established to assist families such as the family of Melissa Schmidt who are in similar circumstances as the Carrington’s in that Melissa is a missing person. The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading the the safe return of Melissa. We know reward money can make a difference because the foundation’s reward money has already assisted in the location of six missing persons and the apprehension of twenty-five murder suspects and one child molester/attempted murderer. We currently have suspects in custody in five states. Of the twenty-six suspects in custody, eight murderers and one attempted murderer have been convicted or plead guilty as charged. To date, the Foundation has paid a total of $165,500 in rewards to citizens who did the right thing by coming forward and ahring the information they had regarding these cases. We all have a responsibility to do our part to help make our community a safe place. So please, if you know anything about this case call, Crimestoppers at the Lincoln Police Department at (402) 475-3600

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