The person at the center of this case
Pepper Reed
Missing Person · Open
50 years waiting · since 1975
Missing Person: Pepper Reed
Justice for Pepper Reed — the trail went cold in 1975, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1What is Terry Rasmussen's connection to Pepper's disappearance, given his murder conviction in California and suspected involvement in the Bear Brook murders?
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timeline
Lead #2What happened to Pepper between December 1975 and June 1976 when she gave birth in Orange County?
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evidence
Lead #3How was Rea Rasmussen identified after decades, and what forensic evidence connects her case to Pepper's disappearance?
Pepper Reed, a 23-year-old woman, was last seen alive in Orange County, California on June 15, 1976, after giving birth to her daughter Rea. Her family last spoke with her in December 1975 in Houston, Texas, when she introduced them to her boyfriend Terry Rasmussen and revealed she was pregnant. In 2000, Rea was discovered deceased in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire; her body was recently identified, and her father Terry Rasmussen was convicted of murder and remains a suspect in the Bear Brook cases, raising critical questions about Pepper's fate.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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suspect
Lead #4Did Terry Rasmussen have involvement in Pepper's disappearance, and what evidence exists linking him to her fate?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP150118. Missing person: Pepper Reed.
Last known contact: 1975-12-18 in Anaheim, Orange, CA. Circumstances: Pepper's family last saw her in Houston, Texas between December 12 and December 18, 1975.
At this time, Pepper introduced her brother and mother to her new boyfriend, Terry Rasmussen. Pepper also told them she was pregnant with Terry's child.
Their child, Rea Rasmussen, was born in Orange County California on June 15 ,1976. In 2000, Rea was found deceased in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire.
Rea's body was recently identified by Investigators. Pepper's boyfriend Terry was convicted of a murder in California and was a suspect in the Bear Brook Murders.
Pepper's family last spoke to her in December 1975. Pepper was last known to be alive in Orange County California on June 15, 1976.
Demographics: 23 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 2 in, 115 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Anaheim Police Department | 25-129982 | 2025-09-11.
Timeline of Events
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1975-12-12
Last family contact in Houston
Pepper's family last saw her in Houston, Texas between December 12-18, 1975. She introduced her brother and mother to her new boyfriend Terry Rasmussen and told them she was pregnant.
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1976-06-15
Last known alive date
Pepper was last known to be alive in Orange County, California on June 15, 1976, the date her daughter Rea Rasmussen was born.
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2000-01-01
Daughter's remains discovered
Rea Rasmussen's body was found deceased in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire in 2000.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 12, 1975
Last Updated:September 3, 2026
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Phone: 7147651900
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Case Information
Incident:December 12, 1975
Last Updated:September 3, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7147651900
You can remain anonymous