Kortne Stouffer
Name: Kortne Ciera Stouffer
Age: 21 years old
Last seen: July 29, 2012
Location: Palmyra, Pennsylvania
Status: Missing
Physical Description
Kortne Stouffer has green eyes and blonde hair, she is 5’8 tall and weighs 115 lbs. She has a mole on her right cheek and several tattoos: a tattoo on the left side of her abdomen of a handgun with flowers growing out of the barrel, a tattoo of three stars on top of her right foot, and a tattoo of the words “One Love” on her right bicep, with the O in “One” drawn as a peace symbol and the O in “Love” drawn as a heart.
Stouffer’s ears and tongue are pierced and she has a mole on her right cheek. Her hair was in dreadlocks at the time of her disappearance.
Kortne was last seen wearing a yellow tank top, black floral-print or fluorescent paint-splattered shorts, a silver class ring, and a diamond wedding ring.
Background
Kortne is described as fun and loving by close friends and family. She spent most of her free time outdoors, traveling, or with her family.
Animals have always been a big part of her life as she grew up on a farm. Her best friend was her dog Sheba, who she got when she was 8 years old.
In early 2012 she moved into an apartment in Palmyra, Pennsylvania with her boyfriend. At the time of her disappearance, she worked as a hairstylist in Palmyra, and also worked as a dog groomer for her father’s business (Stouffer Equipment).
Disappearance
On the night of Kortne Stouffer’s disappearance, she was at a gathering at her apartment. One of the downstairs neighbors had called the police.
Beer was being served at the apartment, and when a probation officer showed up her boyfriend (who was under house arrest at the time, for a DUI) was arrested and taken into custody. He spent about a week in prison, according to Lebanon County court records.
Kortne called her mum and was telling her how unfair she thought the situation was. After coming off the phone, Kortne got in contact with an older friend Cody Pruett, who was 29 years old at the time. The two ended up meeting at a place called the Gas Station, which was a bar.
They had a couple of drinks and a friend Milton Rodriguez, Jr. joined them as well as another couple. They then got into Milton Rodriguez, Jr.’s car while Cody Pruett was the driver.
They drove to Harrisburg to continue drinking. Kortne was very intoxicated and ended up getting into an argument with another male at the bar, who she accused of breaking into her home to steal money. The argument got so heated that the security had to escort Kornte out of the building, while her friends did not follow her.
Kortne texted Cody saying she had just been kicked out and they were her ride home. The three of them then got back into the car and headed home.
Milton was the first to be dropped off, and then Kortne convinced Cody she was sober enough to drive herself home. Cody and Kortne headed back to the Gas Station where she had left her car park.
Cody wasn’t sure Kornte was sober enough to drive herself home so he decided to follow her home. They arrived back at her apartment around 3 am, and a few of the neighbors were outside the apartment drinking.
Kortne lashed out at the neighbors and the police were called around 3:30 am. When authorities arrived, they told everyone to go home and if they were called again someone was getting arrested. Cody took Kortne back into her apartment. However, immediately after the police left, Kortne was not happy, she was stomping and screaming.
At 4 am the police were called by Kornte’s other neighbor.
Authorities came back at 4:12 am when the neighbors reported Kortne stomping on the floor of her apartment. When they knocked on the door of her apartment no one answered, all the lights were off and there was no noise. After not getting any answers at the complaining neighbors’ apartment the police left.
The following day came and it was an exciting day for Kortne’s family as it was the local county fair. Kortne and her brother always went to this together. Kortne’s mum text her but received no response so she just assumed Kortne was at the fair.
Later that evening/early in the morning the following day, Kortne’s mum called Kornte’s brother to see if he had been with her as there was still no response from her, and Kortne’s brother said she hadn’t turned up at the fair.
Kortne’s mother decided to drive by her apartment. When she arrived at the apartment she found Kortnes car parked outside but she was not home. However, her apartment door was unlocked. Sheba was at home and seemed a little out of character, the TV and AC were still on, her phone, keys, and purse were inside as well as her shoes.
Kortne’s father came to the apartment and looked through her phone which is when they learned about Cody. After speaking to Cody they found out about the police showing up multiple times, he then went on to say Kortne was enraged when he tried to calm her down but she was stomping and screaming. When the police came the last time, they both panicked so they turned the lights off and went to bed.
Cody had fallen asleep immediately and assumed Kortne had as well. Cody then claims he woke up around 7:30 am and shouted her name out but he didn’t hear a response. He then left the apartment and went on with his day.
Kortne’s parent’s then called the police to report Kortne Stouffer missing. The authorities first said it’s possible Kortne was just blowing off some steam as a lot had happened the night before.
The following day Kortne had still not come home, and a missing persons report was filed.
Investigation
Authorities immediately sealed off Kortne’s apartment and searched it for any indication of foul play.
Authorities have found no indications of any violence or a struggle in her apartment. However, foul play is suspected in her case. They also checked CCTV to see if Cody’s alibi lined up and they were able to see Cody on surveillance at the convenience store at the time he said he was there.
Police spoke to the couple that lived downstairs who said they didn’t hear anything after the last police call was made. They also spoke to the neighbor who was the last person to call the police.
According to multiple people Kortne had complained about this neighbor often. She told her mum that he was very creepy and would stare at her funny which would make her feel uncomfortable, and then a week before her disappearance, Kortne told her mum he was videotaping her while she was sitting outside.
This neighbor then began leaving his home multiple times, with a half-filled black trash bag that he would put in his car. This information was taken to the police and they began looking into him.
They found a voicemail the neighbor had left the landlady saying “if she didn’t take care of Kortne and kick her out, that he was going to take care of her himself”. When police spoke to him, he denied everything that was said and he claimed the black bags were just from home renovations. His home and vehicle were both searched but no evidence of foul play was found.
Police questioned Milton Rodriguez, Jr. and Cody Pruett, and searched both their homes and vehicles. No arrests have been made and the case remains unsolved.
Kortne Stouffer’s family is offering a $100,000 reward for any information on her disappearance.
Contact Information
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Kortne Stouffer please contact the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4408.
You can also call 717-272-2054 with any information, no matter how big or small, regarding Kortne’s disappearance.
Resources and Further Information
https://www.facebook.com/Kortne-Stouffer-Remember-Me-587604727928993
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/kortne-ciera-stouffer
http://www.thevanishedpodcast.com/episodes/2017/3/24/episode-70-kortne-stouffer
Investigation Discovery: Disappeared – Season 8 Episode 3 “Spirited Away”
