Columbiana County continues search for Tracy Hill, woman missing in 2001

(WKBN) — On June 14, 2001, Tracy Hill was reported missing to the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department.

“But that was after her family hadn't heard from her for two or three weeks,” Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin said.

23 years later, she has still not been found, but investigators continue their efforts.

“It was one of my goals when I became sheriff to take care of these cold cases,” McLaughlin said.

In 2001, while searching for Hill, we reported that she was last seen at her job in North Lima and on the Salem, Kent State campus, where she attended school. 'school. She lived near Rogers and we covered the extensive search for her in a nearby lake.

“Searches have been done in areas not only in Guilford Lake, but in many other areas to try to locate her,” McLaughlin said.

We also met Hill's father, Charles Evans, after he passed away more than 20 years ago.

“We would just like to know where she is, whether she is OK or not,” Evans said.

More than two decades later, the case is still open.

“We've made some progress over the last three years,” McLaughlin said.

Sheriff McLaughlin says one way to make progress on cold cases like Hill's is to interview people who might have been overlooked before and to revisit old interviews.

“Oftentimes, over time, people will tell you more because they feel more comfortable or because they can't live with that guilt anymore, not necessarily because they did it, but because they have information about it,” McLaughlin said.

But he says the greatest help in finding answers is the progress of science.

“I'm hopeful that with advances in DNA, we can get new convictions in these cold cases,” McLaughlin said.

As they still search for answers, Sheriff McLaughlin leaves this message for Tracy Hill's family.

“She was not forgotten; we continue to work on this, and I hope that before I leave my position as sheriff, we will have a resolution in this matter,” McLaughlin said.