FOLEY – The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is taking a new look at a 20-year-old case of a missing Foley girl that has puzzled investigators and family members.

Bianca Piper was 13 years old when she went missing March 10, 2005 on a road about a mile from her Foley home.

According to Lincoln County Chief Deputy Wade O’Heron, at roughly 6 p.m. on that March day, Bianca was dropped off by her mother, Shannon Tanner, along McIntosh Hill Road. O’Heron said Tanner told investigators that walking alone for a short period of time was suggested by multiple therapists “as a way to help Bianca manage her frustration.”

Nearly 30 minutes later, Bianca was not back home, according to Piper. So the search began, first with her mother, and not long after, law enforcement.

“Bianca’s mother explained that Bianca appeared upset, and her mother hoped giving her space to walk home would ease the stress she was feeling,” he said. “Tragically, after being dropped off that night, Bianca was never seen again. Our investigators have conducted an extensive amount of work on this case over the years, following up on leads, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing evidence thoroughly. While much has been examined, we have not ruled anything out. At this time, every possibility remains on the table, and we continue to pursue any avenue that may bring answers to solve the mystery surrounding her disappearance.”

O’Heron hopes advanced testing of physical evidence and reinterviewing witnesses ignites fresh leads and ultimately solves the case.

Investigators are going through a lengthy list of individuals who were originally interviewed, hoping they can provide new information.

O’Heron admits with the passage of time, there are pros and cons of re-interviewing witnesses.

“The cons are memory loss, you can’t find people,” he said. “The pro is that if they weren’t comfortable talking originally, maybe over the years, they are more comfortable to answer questions, if they have information. That’s the whole idea. Sitting down with them and going over their statement and asking if there is anything that you didn’t think was pertinent at the time that you may think is pertinent now.”

A Sister’s Memory

In many ways, time stands still for Tiffany Piper, Bianca’s older sister.

“I didn’t know it at the time, but the day turned into a nightmare,” Piper said of the last day she saw Bianca, who is 18 months younger. “I came home from hanging out with a friend after school. Bianca was home by herself…She was in the living room singing karaoke and I laid on the couch and dosed off. When I woke up, my mom and her boyfriend had gotten home from work. We were to do our chores and preparing for dinner. Bianca was going for a walk instead.”

The passing of years and little information have not eased the torture Piper feels in the wake of her sister’s absence. Having her own children, she is reminded Bianca will never experience the joy of being an aunt, the miracle of being a mother and the many other life experiences she could have had.

“Bianca was passionate about singing and was a fashionista,” recalled Piper. “She would always tell us she was going to grow up to be a famous singer like Britney Spears. She also adored animals, especially horses. She was an eccentric girl and was confident in herself and she always stood up for the underdog.”

Today, Bianca would have been 33. Over 7,000 days have passed since she went missing. Not a day goes by Piper does not think about her and wonder what could have been.

While life without Bianca has been excruciating and not knowing what happened to her little sister is haunting and unforgiving, the toughest part is all the potential and all the life she has been robbed of.

“Every time I begin to feel normal and happy I think about how she’s not here with me,”Piper said. “I have nightmares. Every once in a while something gets stirred up with her case, which is great, but it’s terrible to relive the trauma without a resolution at the end.”

If you have any information about the Bianca Piper case, please contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. To leave a tip (anonymous or not) via phone call 636-462-6513 or go to https://www.lincolncomo.gov/crime-tip.