Task force still looking for answers one year after disappearance

Nancy Renkas

 

Sarah Giddings

“We are asking for the public’s assistance with an open missing person case of Nancy Renkas. It has been one year since was reported missing,” said Florence County Sheriff Jeff Rickaby in a press release on Monday.

Nancy Renkas was last seen on July 18, 2016 at approximately 12:30 p.m. parked in her vehicle at the Super One Foods near U.S. Highway 2 in Iron Mountain. A few moments later she was seen getting into a white SUV that pulled up to her vehicle and departed on Hwy 2 eastbound from Super One foods. Nancy never returned to her vehicle or her home. Renkas is a Florence resident who lived with her two sons, Marvin and Joseph.

Marvin and Joseph reported their mother missing the next morning and began searching for her vehicle. The vehicle was found containing perishable groceries purchased at Marcoullier’s grocery shortly before it was parked at the MidTowne Mall in Iron Mountain.

“As many of you know the task force located video of Nancy getting into a white SUV. The task force has located the SUV and driver along with forensic evidence but need additional information to clearly understand what happened to Nancy,” said Rickaby.

Renkas does not have a history of leaving without telling her family her location. According to the sheriff’s department, there is no evidence that Renkas left the area on her own or that she did not intend to return home on that afternoon.

“She had definite plans for the rest of the day and had stated those plans in her text messages to her children,” said Rickaby. “And also she had purchased groceries which were spoiled by the time the car was found.”

Due to the suspicious circumstances, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Nancy’s disappearance right away. A task force of law enforcement agencies has been established and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office has now taken the lead in the investigation. Michigan State Police are taking on a larger role in the investigation as well. The task force still includes the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Marinette County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation from Green Bay and Marquette Michigan. The task force meets regularly and continues to conduct interviews and attempt to locate Renkas through various means and resources.

“We’re just asking for the public’s help in this case. We know there are people in this community who have information valuable to this case,” said Rickaby.

The Marinette Crime Stoppers has an anonymous phone number for reporting any information anyone may have on Nancy Renkas. The calls are “scrubbed” to eliminate any caller I.D. prior to speaking with an operator to provide total security for the caller. The Crime Stoppers number is 1-800-427-5857. The task force has received useful tips through this number.

The Nancy Renkas Task Force will be continuing to investigate her whereabouts until she is found.