On the morning of July 29, 2012, the small town of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, woke up to a mystery that remains unsolved more than a decade later. Kortne Stouffer a lively and well-loved 21-year-old woman, disappeared from her apartment under strange and troubling circumstances.
Her phone, purse, keys, shoes and even her beloved dog were still in the apartment but Kortne was gone. Since then her disappearance has puzzled investigators and devastated her family, who continue to search for answers.
A Bright Light in Her Community
Kortne Ciera Stouffer was known in her hometown for her bright personality and caring heart. She grew up in Palmyra in a close, loving family, her friends often described her as fun, artistic and compassionate. She enjoyed music and painting and worked at a local salon and pet grooming shop. Animals were a huge part of her life, and she often volunteered at animal shelters.
Her father, Scott Stouffer, remembered her with deep love, once saying, “She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful inside and out.” Kortne was the type of person who stayed connected to those she loved. According to Local 21 News, she had a special nickname for her father—“sunshine”—which he says keeps him hopeful every day: “Every day I get up, there’s hope for me… there’s hope.”
The Last Known Hours
On the night of July 28, 2012, Kortne and her roommate, Brad Herr, held a small gathering at their apartment. Things took a turn when a neighbor called the police to report underage drinking. When officers arrived, Brad Herr—who was on house arrest—was taken into custody for violating his probation. Kortne was left at home alone, but the night was far from over.
Upset by what had happened, Kortne later went to downtown Harrisburg with some acquaintances. They visited the now-closed Hardware Bar, where Kortne reportedly got into an argument with a man she believed had once stolen from her. Sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m., she returned home with Cody Pruett, a friend who had agreed to spend the night at her apartment.
Throughout the early morning, neighbors again complained about noise, and police were called back to the apartment several times. But each time, they found the apartment quiet and left without incident. The last time officers visited was around 4:00 a.m. After that, something happened that no one can fully explain.
According to Cody Pruett, both he and Kortne went to sleep, but when he woke up around 7:00 a.m., she was gone. Her dog was still inside, but Kortne had vanished. Cody later texted her, writing, “Hey, what happened to you?” But he never got a reply. That day, Kortne was supposed to meet her family at the Lebanon County Fair. When she didn’t show up, and no one could reach her, worry quickly turned into fear.
An Urgent Search Begins
On July 30, 2012, Kortne’s family officially reported her missing. Local police began an investigation, which soon grew to include the Lebanon County Detective Bureau, state police, the FBI, and a private investigator hired by the family. Authorities questioned several people who had seen her that night, including Cody Pruett and another man, Milton Rodriguez Jr., who had also driven her home earlier that night.
Police got search warrants for both men’s homes and vehicles, but at the time, neither was considered a suspect or person of interest. As CBS News reported, there was no clear evidence pointing to a crime, and the case became even more confusing. There was no sign of a struggle or forced entry, and nothing was missing from the apartment. Even her car sat untouched outside, windows down.
The Stouffer family’s attorney, Karl Rominger, said what many were thinking: “Her sudden disappearance is completely out of character.”
A Community That Won’t Forget
Kortne’s disappearance shook Palmyra. As the days passed, search efforts expanded. Volunteers joined law enforcement to look through fields, waterways, and wooded areas. Flyers were posted throughout the town, and social media campaigns helped spread the word beyond Pennsylvania. Tip lines were set up, and rewards were offered for information.
Kortne’s family refused to let her case be forgotten. Her mother, Wendy Stouffer, often spoke to the press, sharing her heartbreak and thanking the public. “Everybody has been so supportive and amazing and we just didn’t realize how many friends and family and everybody… loves us and Kortne and wants to bring her home,” she told reporters.
Each year, on the anniversary of Kortne’s disappearance, the family organizes a float down Swatara Creek. Friends, relatives, and even strangers join them, retracing a path filled with memories. As Scott Stouffer shared, “You look and see some of the same people been here 11 years in a row. Some of the people were our family and close friends, and some I’d never known before. It’s incredibly humbling.”
Still Searching for the Truth
Even after more than ten years, Kortne’s case remains open. Investigators say they are still working on leads and hope someone will come forward with the information they need to solve the case. Melissa Jennings, a family friend and spokesperson, told the press, “This case is still active… it hasn’t been closed. It’s still open, and we are continuing to uncover the truth about what happened to her.”
In the years since her disappearance, the family has raised the reward for any useful information to $100,000. They hope that someone, somewhere, might know something and finally have the courage to speak.
According to Fox News, Kortne Stouffer was last seen wearing brightly colored shorts and a yellow tank top. She was 5’8″ tall, weighed around 115–120 pounds, and had three noticeable tattoos: the phrase “One Love” on her right arm, three stars on her right foot, and a pistol with flowers on her left side. These tattoos are now printed on posters, banners, and shirts worn by those who continue to hope for her return.
To this day, her family continues to speak out not just to find answers but to keep Kortne’s memory alive. They describe her not only as a daughter, sister, and friend—but as a person full of love, life, and potential.
A Lingering Mystery
What happened to Kortne Stouffer on that summer morning remains one of Pennsylvania’s most haunting missing person cases. The lack of evidence, the sudden silence and the pain left behind have created a mystery that time has yet to solve.
But for her family and those who loved her, hope remains. In every search, every float down the creek, every candle lit in her honor, there is a message: Kortne is not forgotten. Someone knows what happened that night. And until the truth is known, her story will continue to be told.
