
The person at the center of this case
Kelly Kay McGinness
Justice for Kelly Kay McGinness — the trail went cold in 1983, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Why did Kelly check into the motel alone, and what was her intended purpose or destination?
Were there any motel staff or guests who saw Kelly leave or interact with anyone after check-in?
What personal items did Kelly leave behind in the motel room, and what do they reveal about her plans?
Kelly Kay McGinness, an 18-year-old woman, checked into the Three Bears Motel in Des Moines, Washington on June 28, 1983, left personal items in her room, and disappeared without a trace. Nearly four decades later, the circumstances of her vanishing remain unknown—whether she left voluntarily, encountered foul play, or met with an accident. The King County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information from anyone who may have seen Kelly or knows what happened during those critical hours in 1983.
Try asking
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
Did Kelly have any known associates, relationships, or conflicts that may have led to her disappearance?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
NamUs case MP14131. Missing person: Kelly Kay McGinness.
Last known contact: 1983-06-28 in Des Moines, King, WA. Circumstances: Kelly McGinniss checked into the Three Bears Motel Des Moines, WA, left some personal items in the room and never returned.
Demographics: 18 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 5 in, 160 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Blue.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Blue jeans; Tan short sleeve sweater; Tan long camel hair coat; Footwear: Beige spiked heels. Investigating agency: King County Sheriff's Office | 86-228466 | 2012-03-05.
Kelly McGinness checked into the Three Bears Motel in Des Moines, WA and left personal items in her room but never returned.
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.