She Was Spotted Wandering Through A Restricted Area Of An Airport Looking Frightened Just Before She Disappeared
On the morning of April 26, 2000, employees realized a young woman had been wandering through a restricted area of the Reno, Nevada, airport. The woman reportedly appeared frightened and disoriented.
Airport police were contacted regarding the sighting, and once an officer arrived, they found the woman hiding behind a truck.
She then said her name was Star Palumbo and claimed that she was searching for her younger sister, who had been running on the tarmac.
At the time, the airport police officer did not think Star’s tale was true. But the officer also didn’t believe she had a criminal reason to get out on the runway.
“He [the officer] had no idea why she was out there. She could give no logical explanation. But instead of arresting her, he decided to release her,” recalled Barry DeBoor from the Reno/Tahoe Airport Police.
After Star was released, she was dropped off at a nearby hotel. Then, the following day, a car parked illegally was found at the airport.
Barry ultimately ran the license plate to check who owned the vehicle and realized it belonged to Star Palumbo– the same young woman from the day before.
“The registered owner came back to Star Palumbo. It appeared to be loaded with all her personal possessions,” Barry said.
Inside the car, it was discovered that Star’s purse, cell phone, and $600 in cash had been left behind. However, other items raised even more concern.
Facebook – pictured above is Star
Investigators found copies of three different emails that Star had sent to the White House. And from reading the correspondence, it appeared as though Star believed the government was trying to kill her.
In addition to the emails, authorities also discovered a morbid drawing– featuring a woman who was bound and gagged– as well as two books discussing how to change your identity.
Star never turned up to reclaim her car, either. So, according to Detective David Jenkins of the Reno Police, there were two potential scenarios.
“There are two very likely possibilities. The first is that she is suffering from some type of either organically caused or drug-induced psychosis and is a sick woman and doesn’t know who or where she is,” Detective Jenkins explained.
“And the second possibility is that she’s been the victim of a serious crime and has either been murdered or she can’t contact her friends and family.”
There was once a time when the 25-year-old showed promise and had hopes for the future. She originally lived in Tucson, Arizona, with her family until moving to Reno, Nevada, and living with her grandmother in 1999.
But, the following year, Star began working as a clerk at a pawn shop and ultimately started using drugs. And since her pawn shop salary was not sufficient to support her drug usage, investigators speculated that the 25-year-old might have turned to other means of income in early 2000.
“In this particular case, Star seemed to have fallen in with a very bad crowd and had been involved with methamphetamine at a level that could only be disastrous,” Detective Jenkins detailed.
The day before her disappearance, Star did call her mother, Gail, on April 25, 2000. During that conversation, the 25-year-old revealed how she felt like she was being followed. Star also reportedly believed that her cell phone had been tapped and claimed to be afraid for her life.
But, according to Gail, her daughter did not discuss the topic any further than that. Instead, Star did mention possibly moving back to Arizona soon in hopes of starting a new life. Due to this, Gail still believes that Star may return home one day.
“Star lived a very happy childhood,” her mother said.
“She’s very dependable, and she’s a very trusting person. She’s a very happy person, sociable person, and I guess she trusted people too much.”
Ever since that final phone call, though, Star has never been heard from or seen again.
Her parents did launch a massive search effort. They also posted their daughter’s picture throughout the state of Nevada and hoped someone with information would come forward.
In December 2000, approximately eight months after Star disappeared, there was hope regarding a potential break in the case. That month, the owner of the Silver Dollar Casino– located in Elko, Nevada– contacted authorities and claimed to have seen Star inside the casino.
When speaking with investigators, the casino owner claimed the young woman became anxious after a man started peering through the bar’s window one evening.
Afterward, the owner explained how the young woman left the Silver Dollar Casino with a different woman.
Unfortunately, though, investigators have never been able to confirm this sighting or the woman’s identity.
So, Star’s loved ones have continued their search. They created a Facebook group entitled “Star Palumbo Missing” to share the details surrounding Star’s disappearance online and keep her case in the spotlight.
At the time of her disappearance, Star was five foot four, weighed 115 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing jeans, a tank top, a black leather jacket, and a pair of boots. Star had a birthmark on the right side of her neck, and her ears were triple-pierced.
If you have any information regarding Star’s disappearance or whereabouts, you are urged to contact the Reno Police Department at (775) 334-2155.
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