One of Michigan’s Oldest Cold Cases Approaches 35 Years Unsolved
It's one of the oldest cold cases in Michigan is approaching a grim anniversary. The missing persons case of Paige Renkoski is nearing 35 years unsolved.
Paige Renkoski was last seen on I-96 travelling home to Fowlerville near Lansing. She had taken her mother for a light at Detroit Metro airport in May of 1990. Her car was found along the highway idling, her purse and other personal effects inside.
Detroit TV station WDIV, in covering the case, provided this timeline of the afternoon Paige went missing.
Renkoski left her mother at the airport around 11:30 a.m. Then, she went to visit a friend in the Canton Township area. She left her friend’s home at around 2 p.m.
She was spotted at a party store west of I-275 in Canton Township between 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., where she purchased a beer.
Witnesses reported seeing her standing on the shoulder of the freeway speaking with a man and standing next to a maroon minivan.
The silver/gray 2-door 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass she had been driving was found on the side of I-96 near the Fowlerville exit at 7:48 p.m. that same day. The car was running and the windshield wipers were on due to a rainstorm. Her shoes, purse, and the beer she purchased were inside the vehicle.
Over the decades police have searched extensively including cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar but no sign of Paige has ever been found.
She would be 65 years of age today. Police now consider the case a homicide investigation and it's an active and open case with the Livingston County sheriff.