Disappearance of Corrine

Corrine Leanne Erstad was last seen playing in Skyline Park near her family’s residence in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota on June 1, 1992 at approximately 7:30 p.m.

After around five minutes, Corrine’s two older brothers walked to the park to fetch her home, according to her father’s statement to the authorities. The child could not be located and was never heard from again. The mother and stepfather of Corrine reported her missing two hours after she was last seen.

A boy who was playing in the park reported to authorities that he observed Corrine speaking with an unidentified male in the evening. According to the youngster, he observed a female matching her description patting the man’s dog. It has never been confirmed that the girl in question was indeed Corrine.

Robert Guevara, a family friend of Corrine’s, was first regarded as the prime suspect in her disappearance by authorities. When intoxicated, he frequently spend the night at the family’s house at their invitation. According to witnesses, Guevara frequently shared a bed with Corrine. Guevara’s image is provided alongside this case narrative.

Corrine’s mother, Mona Williams, reported that on the day of her abduction, Corrine had accused Guevara of assaulting her. Williams did not report this to the police until several days after the disappearance of the child, claiming she had forgotten about the encounter until that time.

Guevara was present at Corrine’s residence on the day she was reported missing, and police dogs traced her scent to his residence after her disappearance. On June 5, 1992, four days after Corrine vanished, he was charged with her kidnapping, rape, and murder.

Inside Guevara’s locker, authorities recovered a dress identical to the one Corrine was last seen wearing and a pair of girl’s underwear. The clothing articles were stained with blood and sperm. In Guevara’s trailer, bloodstains were also discovered on a shower curtain. DNA analysis revealed that the fluids may have originated from both Corrine and Guevara.

At Guevara’s trial, defence witnesses stated that his locker and trailer were not secured and that the evidence could have been planted by unidentified individuals to frame Guevara for Corrine’s disappearance.

Guevara’s counsel hypothesised that Williams intended to sell or kidnap her daughter to earn the anticipated ransom.

Corrine’s domestic life was tumultuous. The only source of money for her family was welfare assistance, and Williams had been treated for cocaine misuse and emotional issues. Corrine and her brother had been in foster care for several months in 1987, shortly after Corrine’s birth.

In 1992, Minnesota law did not permit the full use of DNA evidence in court; the law has subsequently been amended. Guevara was consequently cleared of all charges related to Corrine’s case. Over the years, he has maintained to claim his innocence.

Corrine’s case remains unsolved, although she was declared legally dead in 1994. She has never been located.

Appearance

Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Corrine has scars on her forehead, the right side of her lower lip, and near her left eye. The tip of her left ring finger is missing. She has a mole on the left side of her lower back. Corrine’s ears are pierced, but she was not wearing earrings at the time of her disappearance. She has a cowlick on the right side of her head.

Investigating Agency

• Inver Grove Heights Police Department 651-450-2525