Missing In Pennsylvania: Was Amy Pugner abducted in 2010? Where is she now?
When the year 2010 rolled around Amy Pugner, then 40 years old, had been through some tough times. Amy was living with paranoid schizophrenia. Her father John Pugner was the power of attorney for his daughter, and she was on disability in 2010. By June of that year she had been set up and living independently in an apartment. She had moved from Latrobe, Pennsylvania to Washington, Pennsylvania 6 months before she vanished. Her apartment was located on the 700 block of North Main Street in Washington, Pennsylvania. She was a mother to a then 18 year old son in 2010 but I don't believe he resided with her.
Amy had been through stints in jail, the hospital, as well as rehab. Her father, John and sister Beth tried to step in and help Amy stay on the right track but Amy was an adult. Just before she disappeared it appeared like she had been doing really well she had been reportedly clean for some time and with living a pretty successful life in her apartment. Amy was in recovery in this time frame.
On June the 8th 2010 Amy talked to her sister Beth on the phone. According to Beth, Amy said she was painting her new apartment that day. Nothing seemed wrong in their conversation at this time. There is some confliction in the different reports but either on June the 9th 2010 or sometime between June 10th and 11th a man using Amy's cell phone began to contact John Pugner and Beth.
The man began texting and calling Beth and John and informing them that Amy had stolen something from him and that he wanted $30,000 dollars or he would kill Amy. According to Amy's family the unknown man kept calling from the phone until Amy's battery died and then he began calling from a different phone number to make his demands.
Amy's sister Beth asked to speak to Amy to prove that she was alive. More conflicting reports here as according to The Charley Project, the family only heard a mumbling sound that was described as sounding like someone's mouth had been taped or covered shut. However another article said that John heard his daughter say "Don't worry, I'll be okay. " Neither Beth nor John ever heard from Amy again.
During the ransom demands the man on the phone had insisted that John dropped off the money at a McDonald's on 18th Street on Bridgeville Road in Mount Oliver, Pennsylvania. They also never heard from this unknown man again.
Amy and John reportedly went to the Washington, Pennsylvania Police Department to file a missing persons report on June 10th. Authorities investigated Amy's apartment and state that there was no sign of a struggle there. Amy had a history of dropping out a sight but it had never been more than a few days and she always kept in contact with loved ones by phone.
Amy missed her son's High School graduation which was out of character for her according to loved ones. The circumstances surrounding Amy's disappearance are unclear but it is ruled as suspicious. Her case remains unsolved. The Washington Police Department are investigating at 724-223-1386.
According to loved ones and some of the things I read they (family) weren't completely closed off to the idea that this was initially some kind of ploy for drugs. However way too much time has passed. Her family stated that even if it had been a ploy for drugs they would have forgiven her and welcomed her back with open arms.
It is unknown who this man was using Amy's phone to demand a ransom. I don't see a lot of information out there and I'm sure investigators are keeping anything they have close to the vest.
Maybe Amy was initially part of the plan and was double crossed. Maybe she was never part of the plan and this was a genuine kidnapping. Her loved ones are still seeking answers 14 years later. What happened to this daughter, sister, and mother? Her loved ones just want her home. I hope someday she makes it home.
I am closing out the Pennsylvania series with this case, for now dear reader.