Kelly Morrissey: The Search for Kelly Morrissey Continues 26 Years Later

Beyer told me she still thinks about the case, all the time.

“I still dream about her calling out to me. She is on the other side of the street. She was a once-in-a-lifetime friend. I used to be the life of the party, happy, fun, but ever since she disappeared my spirit has died.”

Kelly also had a major influence on Quinn’s family. He told me that in his more than 20 years as a cop he had never brought a case home. Kelly’s was the first. This was the case that was never going to stop haunting him. Her image remained, not only as a source of sorrow and anger, but as a source of frustration, leaving a feeling of an unsolved puzzle that needs to be completed before other emotions can emerge.

Kelly’s mother and stepfather also want closure. During a recent televised interview, they went over, again, what happened that night. This time there were no tears. There was a little laughter and some lost memories.

Even though I never met her, every time I hear Kelly’s name, I feel the same sense of loss and frustration I felt during my first interview.

Quinn also never gave up and never got to feel that closure. His supervisor had described the case as an “open wound.” After his years of investigation, Quinn told me that even if Kelly were not found alive, “I don’t think I would have any bad feelings about the investigation. I’ve done as much as I could have.”

Quinn also said that one of his greatest wishes was to close the case before he left the job. But he was unable to do so.

Det. Terry Quinn passed away several years ago.

And with his death, the investigation into Kelly’s disappearance also died.

Until now.

According to Lt. Azzata, his Homicide Squad detectives have recently seen discussions about Kelly on the Hot Skates page on Facebook. Hot Skates was the roller rink where Kelly and many of her friends hung out.

“We decided it might be a good opportunity for us to publicize the case and, hopefully, due to the passage of time, someone might come forward now,” he said. “We are looking for any way to solve the case.”

The page is no longer up and Lt. Azzata said he did not know why it had been taken down.

Meanwhile, the three men convicted in Theresa’s trial—Kogut, Restivo and Halstead—are suing the county and the police department. The case has been in the courts for at least two years while depositions have been taken. It appears the case will finally be scheduled for trial in the near future.

Whether co-incidence or a calculated move before the trial, every time Kelly’s name is publicized, it brings more of a chance of finding a lead that will help to discover what really happened to her 26 years ago.

From Beyond the Grave

I’ve covered hundreds of police stories since Kelly disappeared. Some affected me more than others, but none stayed with me the way Kelly’s did. I can close my eyes and see her walking down Merrick Road, the street on which she was last seen. I can feel the sadness she must have felt and the conflicts she dealt with. But, most of all, I can only imagine what her last moments must have been like.

If she was killed, what went through the mind of this 15-year-old girl? She was more alone than she had ever been. Did her boldness put her in a situation that cost her life? Was it someone she knew, or a stranger she asked for a ride? Kelly didn’t have an easy time. She was battling her own demons. But how do you justify the death of such a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her? She would be 41 years old now. Someone probably took that away from her. After living with her memory all these years, I can only hope that someone is brought to justice.

Unfortunately, Det. Quinn won’t be here to see it, but I think, somehow, he’ll know.

Police ask anyone with information to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will be kept anonymous. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the case’s resolution.