On a snowy December night in 1990, 25-year-old Donna Ingersoll stormed outside and disappeared into the night after a heated argument with her boyfriend, leaving behind several important belongings and a twisted web of mysteries investigators have spent decades trying to untangle. For more than 30 years, Donna’s disappearance has weighed on the small town of Wabasha, Minnesota, as the passage of time has produced more questions than answers. But some recent developments have present-day investigators questioning everything they thought they knew about the case — and believing they’re closer than ever to cracking it.
Courtesy of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Episode Info
If you have any information about the 1990 disappearance of Donna Ingersoll, please contact Chief Deputy Jim Warren at the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office at 651-565-3361 or email him at jwarren@co.wabasha.mn.us. Donna is 4’11” and 106 lbs. She has blonde hair and green or hazel eyes and was last seen wearing boots and blue jeans. She would be 57 years old today.
An undated photo of Donna Ingersoll. Courtesy: Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
A military photo of Donna. Courtesy: Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
An undated photo of Gary Murphy. Courtesy: Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
Colleen Harwick’s former home, where she suspiciously got cement delivered to two days after Donna went missing. Courtesy: audiochuck staff
Donna (far right) posing with some of her family members. Courtesy: Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
Winona Daily News published an article on December 21, 1990, asking the public to reach out to Wabasha Police Department for any information about a missing 25-year-old woman, Donna Ingersoll. Courtesy: Winona Daily News
On December 26, 1990, Winona Daily News published another article regarding the disappearance of Donna Ingersoll. Wabasha Police Chief at the time, Dave Kruger, stated that foul play is not suspected. Courtesy: Winona Daily News
A March 20, 1991, article published in Winona Daily News describing the search efforts that are continued to find Donna. Courtesy: Winona Daily News
A March 24, 1991, article published in Winona Daily News highlighting the strange circumstances that makes Donna’s disappearance so difficult to figure out (1 of 2). Courtesy: Winona Daily News
A March 24, 1991, article published in Winona Daily News highlighting the strange circumstances that makes Donna’s disappearance so difficult to figure out (2 of 2). Courtesy: Winona Daily News
Winona Daily News published an article on December 16, 1991, recapping the details of missing Donna Ingersoll, who mysteriously disappeared a year prior. The article includes highlights of interviews from friends and family who have not given up on hope that they will find an answer as to what has happened to Donna (1 of 2). Courtesy: Winona Daily News
Winona Daily News published an article on December 16, 1991, recapping the details of missing Donna Ingersoll that mysteriously disappeared a year prior. The article includes highlights of interviews from friends and family who have not given up on hope that they will find an answer as to what has happened to Donna (2 of 2). Courtesy: Winona Daily News
Star Tribune published an article on March 26, 1991, discussing how the search for Donna will resume. Wabasha Police Chief at the time, Dave Kruger, states that any of the rumors going around the town about what had happened to Donna are all “absolutely not true.” Courtesy: Star Tribune
On December 19, 2005, Winona Daily News writes how 15 years later, police are still searching for answers about the disappearance of Donna Ingersoll. Although no proof has been found, authorities and family members of Donna now all believe foul play was involved. Courtesy: Winona Daily News
On July 5, 2014, Star Tribune discusses how the current police chief in Wabasha, Jim Warren, has reopened Donna Ingersoll’s case. Chief Warren is hopeful that reanalyzing old leads and possibly the advancement in technology may finally help Donna’s family get some answers. Courtesy: Star Tribune
Episode Source Material
- INFORUM: 32 years ago, Donna Ingersoll walked into a frigid night, and vanished. But the case is far from cold, by Mathew Stolle.
- NC Missing Persons: Donna Ingersoll.
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety: Missing Person Bulletin, Donna Ingersoll.
- The Charley Project: Donna Ingersoll.
- Schleicher Funeral Homes: Phyllis Jean Ingersoll Obituary.