In this photo, Dail Dinwiddie is shown from an image released in 1992 (left) and an age progression photo released in 2012 (right).
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Columbia police and the family of a woman missing for 20 years have released a new image they hope might help the investigation.
Dail Dinwiddie has been missing since September 24, 1992. Monday, law enforcement and her family showed publicly what's known as an age-progression photo of Dinwiddie. It's an image created by computer that simulates what a person would look like currently, even if they have not been seen in years.
Back on September 23, 1992, Dinwiddie attended a U2 concert at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia with friends. Afterward, they went to Jungle Jim's, a popular bar in the city's Five Points district.
She left the bar around 1:30 a.m. on the 24th, and was last seen by a witness walking along Harden Street. Her father noticed she was missing around 6:15 a.m. when he noticed that she'd never come home and gotten into bed.
In the weeks and months that followed, the search for Dinwiddie got intense media coverage in Columbia, and even became a national news story. Vigils were held, search parties were organized, and rewards in the tens of thousands of dollars were offered. However, despite receiving thousands of tips, no one's ever been able to find any trace of the woman.
At the time she was reported missing, she was 23; if she's out there now, she would be 43.
Although almost 20 years have passed, authorities and family still have hope that she will be found.
"If there was not a chance that we could come to some kind of closure for Dail Dinwiddie, we would not be doing this," said Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott.
"I think this is an Active case. This is a case that I can't call cold because it is being worked on everyday."
"I'm not willing to say Dail is deceased, like I'm not willing to say any of the cases that we have, until you give me something conclusive."
Her parents, Jean and Dan, are hoping that releasing the photo will again spark someone's memory who may have an important clue in the case.
"I don't know that Dail is safe or where she is," said Dail's mother Jean. "I don't really think that someone from Mars took Dail but someone did."
"Is this person so much smarter than her mamma, her daddy, her brother, her friends, the media, the law enforcement authorities? It would seem so. How can we all get together to find Dail?"
"A momma never rests when any of her children is not known to be safe," Jean added. "Today, 20 years after the abduction of my child, I still cannot rest easy because I don't know where she is."
Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC, or e-mail a tip in to Crimestoppers of the Midlands. You can also text information in by texting "TIPSC" plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Either way you choose, your identity will remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward.