The Disappearance of Bianca Piper
On March 10, 2005, Bianca Piper went missing, walking to her house. Investigators have never located Bianca, but continue to actively look for her. In 2023, they launched a search in the area Bianca was last seen. She is still missing.
Bianca Piper
On December 26, 1991, Bianca was born to Shannon and David. Bianca grew up in Troy, Missouri with her two older sisters, Amber and Tiffany. Shannon and David eventually divorced. The couple moved to different parts of Missouri. Shannon moved with her three children to Foley, Missouri. David relocated to Fredericktown, Missouri.
According to an interview with Shannon featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bianca had been seeing a therapist since she was 4 years old.
Bianca was attending Winfield Middle School when she went missing. According to an interview with Shannon featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bianca had been seeing a therapist since she was 4 years old. She had been diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder. She was taking medication and would become disoriented and could hallucinate if she did not take it on her normal schedule.
Disappearance
On March 10, 2005, Bianca had become upset when her mother asked her to do the dishes. As Bianca was dealing with mental health issues, her therapist had suggested her mom drop her off not too far from the house, so Bianca can walk home and have time to cool off. They have tried this coping mechanism the night before, when Bianca become upset about doing her homework, and found it to be helpful.
Around 6:00 p.m., Shannon drove her daughter to a nearby bridge, equipped her with a flashlight, and drove off. According to an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Shannon stated she drove back to tell Bianca not to accept a ride from a stranger; she added “I wish now I told her I love her”.
Bianca never returned home.
Bianca was 5’6” at the time of her disappearance and weighed 185 lbs. She was wearing blue jeans, a gray Adidas hoodie, with white tennis shoes.
Search Efforts
After Bianca did not return home within 20 minutes, Shannon drove back and looked for Bianca. According to the Springfield News-Leader, Shannon knocked on the doors of a few nearby homes, asking if anyone had seen her daughter.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, over 100 people searched for Bianca along with police dogs and helicopters.
Domestic Dispute
In May 2005, Shannon Tanner made a domestic abuse complaint against her boyfriend, Jim Felt, who lived with her and her daughters. After the couple reconciled, Shannon dropped the complaint, the St. Louis Dispatched stated.
In June 2005, police responded to a call at Shannon’s residence. They heard shouting and upon entering, Shannon “was on top of her 17-year-old daughter, holding her fact to the ground” the St. Louis Posy-Dispatch reported. The daughter told police her mother, snatched her curling iron from her, hit her with it, and repeatedly punched her in the head. According to the article, the police saw something on the teen’s head. The teenager also reported her mother threatened to tie her up and lock her in a bedroom. Shannon was arrested for domestic assault. While being taken out of her house by the police, Shannon disclosed her daughter threw a glass dish at her. She then proceeded to shove an officer and reached for a broken piece of glass. Shannon had to be tased by the police.
Recent Search Efforts
On February 3, 2023, the Lincoln County Sheriffs searched the area Bianca was last seen walking in. According to the press release, the search is part of their new efforts “of reviewing the investigative files of all cold cases and exploring all potential opportunities to uncover new evidence and develop new leads.” They have not released if they found any evidence during the search.
Police are still actively investigating Bianca Piper’s disappearance. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (636) 528-8546, or submit a tip at https://lcsomo.gov/submit-a-tip/.