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
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Terry Rasmussen was convicted of murder in California and is a suspect in the Bear Brook Murders—what is his connection to Pepper's disappearance?
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person
Lead #2What happened to Pepper Reed between June 1976 and the present day, and why did she never contact her family again after her daughter's birth?
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evidence
Lead #3How and why did Pepper's daughter Rea end up in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire, and what does this reveal about Pepper's fate?
Pepper Reed, a 23-year-old woman, was last seen alive in Orange County, California in June 1976, shortly after giving birth to her daughter Rea. Her family's last contact with her was in December 1975 in Houston, Texas, when she introduced them to her boyfriend Terry Rasmussen and revealed she was pregnant. Decades later, Rea's remains were discovered in Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire in 2000, and her father Terry Rasmussen became a suspect in multiple murders, raising urgent questions about what happened to Pepper.
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why is there a gap in Pepper's known whereabouts after December 1975, and what was her location between her family visit and her daughter's birth in June 1976?
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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
Family introduction in Houston
Pepper introduced her brother and mother to her boyfriend Terry Rasmussen in Houston, Texas and told them she was pregnant
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1975-12-18
Last family contact
Last known contact with family in December 1975
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1976-06-15
Daughter born and last sighting
Pepper's daughter Rea Rasmussen was born in Orange County, California; Pepper was last known to be alive on this date
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2000-01-01
Rea's remains discovered
Pepper's daughter Rea was found deceased in Bear Brook State Park, New Hampshire
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2025-09-11
Case updated
Rea's body was identified by investigators; Terry Rasmussen became suspect in Bear Brook Murders
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 12, 1975
Last Updated:August 28, 2026
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Phone: 7147651900
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Case Information
Incident:December 12, 1975
Last Updated:August 28, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7147651900
You can remain anonymous