Reachelle Marie Smith

According to open source information, the Reachelle Smith case is closed by the Minot Police Department. Approximately 15 years after the missing persons case was first opened, the PD has determined and will presume Smith as being murdered. However, Smith's body has never been located and found. 

By way of background, the reporting indicates Reachelle Marie Smith, was taken by Leigh Cowen, on 05/17/2006. He was living with Reachelle's aunt and legal guardian, in Minot, North Dakota. When Reachelle couldn't be found, her guardian asked Cowen where she was, Cowen said that Reachelle was staying with her mother. The guardian thought it was the truth and did not contact the police until Cowen, himself went missing on 05/22/2006. Police searched for Reachelle and Cowen finding Cowen later that day, dead in a stolen van at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning and authorities believe he committed suicide.

According to open source information, a red cooler owned by the family was said to be the key to the case. That information was never initially released to the public. Cowen was  reportedly seen by a neighbor unloading the cooler from the family van the morning of Reachelle’s disappearance. Ammonia and rags were found in that cooler and were sent to the State Medical Examiner. Reachelle’s blood was also found.