Stolen: The Angie Housman Story - A True Crime Investigation

Disappearance of Angie Housman

• 👧 On November 18, 1993, 9-year-old Angie Housman vanished on her way home from school in St. Anne, Missouri.
• 🚌 She was last seen getting off the school bus at her usual stop, just eight houses from her home.
• 🎒 Her stepfather noticed her backpack was missing, a key indicator that something was wrong.
• 🔍 Neighbors who normally watched children disembark the bus were unavailable that day, leaving no witnesses to her departure from the bus stop.

Initial Search and Investigation

• 🚨 Angie's parents reported her missing around 6:00 p.m. after searching the neighborhood.
• 🚓 Police immediately launched a search, with the FBI joining the following day, highlighting the urgency of the case.
• 🗺️ Investigators canvassed the neighborhood, interviewed family and friends, and considered the possibility of abduction.
• ⏳ The timeline indicated the abductor had a small window of opportunity to move Angie after she left the bus.

Discovery of Angie's Body

• 🌲 On November 27, 1993, nine days after her disappearance, Angie's body was found by hunters in the August A. Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles County.
• ⛓️ She was found nude, tied to a tree with her own jeans, and her wrists were cuffed with novelty handcuffs.
• 🩹 Duct tape covered most of her face, with a piece of Barbie doll underwear found underneath.
• 🛍️ Her clothing and backpack were found in a Dollar General bag on the other side of the road from where her body was discovered.

Autopsy and Cause of Death

• 💔 The autopsy revealed Angie had been brutally sexually assaulted, beaten, starved, and denied fluids while held captive.
• 🥶 Her cause of death was determined to be hypothermia and exposure, likely occurring before she was found.
• 🔪 The investigation noted several unusual aspects, including the novelty handcuffs, duct tape, and the use of her own jeans to tie her to the tree.
• 🔬 Evidence collected included fibers and hairs, and a promising fingerprint was found on the adhesive side of a piece of duct tape.

Lingering Questions and Impact

• ❓ The case presented numerous complexities, with investigators working for over 20 years to find answers.
• 😔 The horrific nature of her death and the crime scene left a lasting impact on the officers involved.
• 💔 The story highlights the vulnerability of children and the devastating consequences of violent crime.
• ⚠️ The investigation into Angie Housman's murder remains a deeply disturbing and challenging case.