The case of Simone Ridinger, a 17-year-old girl who went missing on September 2, 1977, has remained a mystery for over four decades. Simone was last seen leaving her job at the Rainbow Restaurant in Natick, Massachusetts, with plans to travel to Cape Cod and then to Martha’s Vineyard to meet her family for Labor Day weekend.
An avid hitchhiker and a free spirit, Simone’s disappearance has left a lingering impact on her community and loved ones, with many details emerging over the years that have added complexity to the case.
The Disappearance
Simone Ridinger was known for her independent nature and hitchhiking tendencies. On the day of her disappearance, after finishing her shift at the Rainbow Restaurant, she changed into blue jeans, a white shirt, and white sneakers, carrying a small gray duffel bag containing her work uniform.
Simone intended to hitchhike to Cape Cod, where she would catch a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. However, no one saw which car she left in or the exact time of her departure. This marked the beginning of a mystery that would span decades, with no concrete leads emerging until years later.
The Investigation
Simone’s family grew concerned when she failed to show up in Martha’s Vineyard, prompting a search for her whereabouts. Her mother reported her missing on September 11, 1977, sparking efforts by the police and the community to locate her. The initial search yielded little information, and it wasn’t until 1986 that a potential lead emerged.
A man came forward, claiming to have given a girl matching Simone’s description a ride to Cape Cod on the day after she went missing. This witness provided crucial details about the girl’s appearance and the circumstances of their encounter, reigniting efforts to uncover Simone’s fate.
The Case Today
As the years passed, the case of Simone Ridinger remained unsolved, leaving lingering questions and unresolved details. In 2014, Detective James Godinho of the Sherborn Police Department took over the investigation, reexamining old leads and pursuing new avenues of inquiry. Through diligent detective work and interviews with former co-workers of Simone, critical information about her last known attire was uncovered. There was some hope for potential breakthroughs in the case because this recently discovered detail matched the man’s description from 1986.
