How Did Linda Sherman’s Car End Up Abandoned with Her Nowhere in Sight?

On April 19, 1985, Linda Sherman, a 27-year-old mother of one, disappeared from her home in Vinita Park, Missouri, located just outside St. Louis County. Her husband, Don Sherman, reported to police that Linda had walked out of their house following a marital argument. However, Linda's family found this explanation deeply suspicious. They believed Linda would never voluntarily abandon her nine-year-old daughter, Patty, suggesting something far more sinister had occurred. The initial investigation proceeded slowly, with little apparent progress in locating the missing woman or determining her fate. Five agonizing years passed with no answers or resolution for the family. Then in June 1990, a significant breakthrough seemed to emerge. A human skull was discovered lying beneath a bush outside a Casa Gallardo restaurant in nearby Bridgeton, Missouri. The discovery immediately raised critical questions about whether these remains belonged to the long-missing Linda Sherman. Shortly after the skull was found, an anonymous letter arrived at police headquarters. This mysterious communication would prove to be pivotal, exposing one of the most bizarre and disturbing twists in Missouri true crime history. The letter contained information that pointed to shocking details about the circumstances surrounding Linda's disappearance and suggested potential connections to her husband's dark past. As investigators examined Don Sherman's history more carefully, troubling patterns emerged regarding his behavior and actions. Questions arose about whether his account of Linda's departure had been truthful. Additionally, investigators looked into the timeline of events, including Linda's car and its location at the airport, gaps in the chronology that were difficult to explain, and allegations of controlling behavior within the marriage. The case also revealed concerning details about how evidence was handled and secured by law enforcement, with questions about whether proper investigative procedures were followed. Despite what appeared to be a major discovery with the skull and the anonymous letter, the investigation took an unexpected and frustrating turn. No police department seemed willing to claim clear responsibility for investigating Linda's murder. This jurisdictional confusion and apparent lack of accountability created additional obstacles to pursuing justice. Patty Sherman, now an adult, carried deep questions and theories of her own about what had truly happened to her mother. The discovery of human remains had answered some questions, but many others remained unanswered decades later, making this case one of St. Louis County's most haunting and mysterious cold cases.