She Vanished In 2015 After Heading Out To Run Errands, And A Male Acquaintance Used Her Credit Card After She Went Missing But Claims He Was Not Involved In Her Disappearance
Born on December 20, 1975, Karen Rae Bosta is the youngest of two in her family and grew up in New Jersey.
As a young adult, she studied Early Childhood Development while attending Morris County Community College. Then, she became a teacher and worked in New Jersey prior to relocating to Hertford, North Carolina, in 2014 to live with her mother.
But, none of Karen’s loved ones ever expected what occurred in May of 2015, when the 39-year-old headed out to run some errands and vanished without a trace.
It all began on May 30, 2015, when Karen left home at about 12:00 p.m. and told her mom she was going to run errands. Afterward, she’d planned to see some of her friends.
Later that same evening, Karen reportedly sent her mom a text, claiming that she’d be heading home early. Then, at about 10:00 p.m., she was last seen leaving a Food Lion grocery store located on North Broad Street and Coke Avenue in Edenton, North Carolina. Karen was alone at the time and had used her mom’s Discover credit card to make three different transactions at the store.
After that final sighting, Karen did not make it home and was never seen or heard from again. Her mother ultimately reported her missing to the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office.
Once an investigation was launched, it was learned that the same Discover credit card had been used on May 31, 2015, to buy gas at a convenience store between Edenton and Herford.
Later, on June 8, 2015, Karen’s car – a red 1997 Lincoln Continental with a North Carolina license plate reading DCC-8784 – was discovered abandoned. It had been left behind an apartment complex located about one mile away from the Food Lion grocery store.
Authorities found that the car doors were locked, and Karen’s keys were missing. Additionally, none of Karen’s belongings were left in the car aside from a pack of cigarettes she’d bought at Food Lion. No DNA or fingerprints were found in the car, either.
Facebook – pictured above is Karen
Eventually, investigators were able to determine who was using the Discover credit card following Karen’s disappearance. It was one of her acquaintances, a 63-year-old man named Thomas, and he was brought in for police questioning.
During the interview, Thomas alleged that he’d found the credit card outside on his front porch. Yet, he proceeded to fail a polygraph test.
What’s strange is that, following an analysis of his polygraph test results, investigators did not think he was involved in Karen’s disappearance. Yet, they still believe that Thomas knows the circumstances surrounding what happened to her.
Through a cell phone tracking analysis, authorities found that Karen had driven around Edenton the day she disappeared. She had visited a fast food restaurant, traveled past a bridge, and then drove back and forth to Thomas’ house – which was located on Johnston Street in Edenton.
Karen also placed a couple of phone calls after leaving Food Lion. Furthermore, her cell phone reportedly remained active until June 1, 2016.
Thomas ultimately pled guilty to obtaining property by false pretense on September 4, 2018. He received the maximum sentence – spending six weekends in jail as well as 36 months on both parole and probation.
He reportedly had a lengthy criminal record, including past convictions for financial card fraud, fraud of special identification, breaking and entering, and violation of vital records laws.
However, Thomas still claims that he wasn’t involved in Karen’s disappearance, and her mother, Arlene Murin, refuses to give up hope of finding answers.
Last year, Arlene detailed how her daughter’s disappearance felt “surreal.” And now, nearly nine years after Karen vanished, her mom still wants to know what happened – even if she doesn’t think that Karen is still alive.
“They say the worst thing that can happen that a parent can experience is the loss of their child. That is true, but I can take that to another level or horror for your child to vanish without a trace,” Arlene said.
According to Sherrif Shelby White, authorities continue to follow up on any leads in Karen’s case. So, her loved ones have created a Facebook page entitled “Missing Karen Rae Bosta” to raise awareness about her case. Arlene also issued a plea to the public for anyone with information to come forward.
“I’m begging for someone to come forward and help me, help her sister, help her nieces. It’s terrible,” she stated.
Karen is five foot three, weighs 150 pounds, and has brown-red hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing white shorts, a white t-shirt, and grey Sketchers slip-on shoes.
There is currently a $20,000 reward being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Karen’s disappearance. If you have any information regarding her case, you are urged to contact the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 426-5615.
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