Melanie Renee Metheny
Physical Description
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 100 pounds
Hair Color: Blonde/Strawberry
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Features:
Surgical scar on her right ankle
Metal plate and two screws in her right ankle
Pierced ears
On the morning of July 19, 2006, Melanie Renee Metheny dropped two of her young children off at Country Kids Daycare in Belle, West Virginia. She shared that she planned to stop by Garnet Career Center in Charleston to pick up transcripts as part of her enrollment process at West Virginia State University. Later that morning, she made two brief phone calls—one to an auto body shop and another to check her voicemail. After that, Melanie vanished.
When Melanie failed to return to the daycare that afternoon to pick up her children, her family immediately grew concerned. A few days later, her gold 1998 Chevrolet Venture minivan was found abandoned on the west side of Charleston. The van was locked, and some of her personal belongings—like her purse and cell phone—were missing. Witnesses in the area reported seeing a woman who resembled Melanie struggling to get out of a red SUV around the time she disappeared, but that sighting was never confirmed.
Over the years, investigators have followed several leads. In 2013, a possible connection to her case surfaced during an unrelated investigation, but no charges have ever been filed. Melanie’s whereabouts remain unknown.
What You Can Do
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Melanie Renee Metheny, please contact the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office at (304) 357-0169.
Melanie is listed in the NamUs database under case number MP418.
Even after all these years, Melanie’s disappearance remains unresolved. Her story matters, and any new information could help bring long-awaited answers to those who still search for her.