August 28, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In March 1987, just four days before her 17th birthday, pregnant teenager Sandra Kay Powell vanished from South Bend, Indiana. One year earlier, she had witnessed a brutal murder—and bravely testified against the killer. Then the threats began. Was her disappearance revenge for speaking out, the result of personal heartbreak, or something far more sinister? Nearly four decades later, her case remains unsolved. Anyone with information about her case should contact the South Bend Police Department at 219-235-9201 or the Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP. Her agency case number is: 89005175.
This is the story of Sandra Powell.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began nearly four decades ago. On
March eleventh, nineteen eighty seven, a pregnant, sixteen year old
(00:23):
vanished without a trace from South Bend, Indiana, just four
days before her seventeenth birthday. She disappeared after a night
out with a friend, leaving behind nothing but unanswered questions.
What makes this case particularly haunting is that she had
(00:44):
recently testified in a murder trial and had been receiving
threats ever since. With limited details in her case, it's
a mystery if her disappearance is connected to her testimony,
or if it was tied to something else entirely. This
(01:05):
is the story of Sandra Powell. Sandra K. Powell was
born on March fifteenth, nineteen seventy, in South Bend, Indiana.
By nineteen eighty seven, at just sixteen years old, she
was already facing adult responsibilities and challenges that would test
(01:27):
anyone's resilience. Sandra stood five to five and weighed about
one hundred and thirty pounds. She had black hair, brown eyes,
and had several distinguishing features. Several of her teeth were chipped,
she had a scar on the right side of her neck,
and her ears were pierced. At the time of her disappearance,
(01:52):
Sandra was approximately four months pregnant. She lived with her
mother on South Camp on the far west side of
South Bend, and attended Washington High School, but her young
life would soon become entangled in something far more dangerous
than typical teenage drama. In nineteen eighty six, one year
(02:19):
before her disappearance, Sandra's life took a dramatic turn. She
witnessed something that no one, let alone a teenager, should
ever see, the brutal shooting of one of her friends.
The murder shocked the community, and when the case went
to trial, Sandra did something incredibly brave. She agreed to
(02:43):
testify against the accused killer. Standing in the courtroom, the
fifteen year old girl told the truth about what she
had witnessed. Her testimony was crucial to the prosecution's case.
The suspect was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison,
(03:04):
where he remains today. But Sandra's courage in that court
room would appear to come with a terrible cost. After
the trial concluded, Sandra began receiving threats. She wasn't the
only one. Several of the other witnesses who had testified
in the murder case were also being intimidated by an
(03:28):
unidentified person. The threats were real and frightening. Someone out
there was angry about the conviction and wanted to send
a message to those who had spoken out. For a
young woman already dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and the
(03:48):
pressures of high school, these threats only added another layer
of stress and fear to her daily life, but Sandra
tried to continue living normally. She attended school, spent time
with friends, and dealt with her personal struggles, including a
devastating blow from the father of her unborn child. As
(04:13):
Sandra's pregnancy progressed into its fourth month, she received heartbreaking news.
The father of her unborn baby told her that he
was marrying someone else. For a sixteen year old girl
who was already facing the challenges of the pregnancy, this
news was especially devastating, friends and family said. Sandra was
(04:39):
greatly upset by this rejection. She was now facing the
prospect of raising a child alone while still being a
child herself. The emotional weight of the situation, combined with
the ongoing threats from her testimony, created the perfect storm
(04:59):
of stress in her young life. March eleventh, nineteen eighty seven,
started like any other day. Sandra had no idea it
would be the last day that anyone would ever hear
from her. On the evening of March tenth, nineteen eighty seven,
(05:22):
the night before her disappearance, Sandra had a phone conversation
that would later puzzle investigators. Her friend, who was with
her that night, witnessed Sandra talking to an unknown person
on the phone, but the friend couldn't hear what the
conversation was about or who was on the other end
(05:44):
of the line. Whatever was discussed in that mysterious phone call,
Sandra gave no indication to her friend that she was
planning to run away or leave town. She made no
mention of any plans to just disappear. The next morning,
(06:05):
March eleventh, Sandra prepared for what should have been just
another ordinary day. She and her friend had made plans
to go out together that evening. When that time came,
Sandra and her friend went to either the YMCA or
a health SPA. Accounts vary on the exact location, but
(06:27):
what happened next would change everything. Somehow. During their time
out together, Sandra and her friend became separated. Sandra simply vanished.
Her friend looked for her, but Sandra was nowhere to
be found. She hadn't taken any of her belongings with her,
(06:48):
and she hadn't brought any money or personal items that
would suggest she was planning to just leave permanently. When
Sandra failed to return home that night, her family became
immediately concerned. This wasn't like her. Despite all the challenges
(07:08):
that she was facing, Sandra had never given any indication
that she would run away. In just four days, she
would have turned seventeen, but Sandra K. Powell would never
get to celebrate with those closest to her. When Sandra's
(07:29):
family reported her missing, the South Bend Police Department initially
classified the case as a runaway. Unfortunately, in nineteen eighty seven,
missing teenagers, particularly pregnant teenagers from disadvantaged communities, were often
dismissed as runaways rather than being treated as potential victims
(07:53):
of a crime. A lot of that still rings true today.
But Sandra's family knew better. They knew her daughter, and
they knew she wouldn't just disappear without a word. They
fought to get authorities to take the case seriously. The
investigation into her disappearance would reveal several potential motives for
(08:18):
someone to harm Sandra. There were the threats she had
received after testifying in the murder trial. There was the
emotional turmoil from her pregnancy and the rejection by the
father of her child. But investigators were uncertain whether her
disappearance was connected to the murder trial or if it
(08:41):
was connected to something else. As the investigation continued, authorities
received several tips and reported sightings of Sandra, but none
could be verified. One of the most intriguing tips came
from from a friend who thought she saw Sandra on
(09:03):
the television show Soul Train. This popular dance show featuring
young people from around the country, and Sandra's friend was
convinced that she had spotted her in the audience. Law
enforcement made attempts to obtain a videotape of the show
to investigate this lead, but they were never able to
(09:24):
get one. To this day, it has never been verified
whether the woman on the television show was actually Sandra.
Another disturbing tip suggested that Sandra had become involved in
adult films. Her relatives, desperate for answers, actually watched several
(09:47):
adult films to investigate this possibility. Thankfully, they never saw
Sandra in any of these films. But years had passed
without any credible leads or evidence of what had happened
to Sandra. The case began to grow cold, and authorities
(10:09):
admitted that they had not received any reliable tips about
her disappearance in years. Come to find out, the investigation
was hampered by a critical error made early on. Sandra's
dental records were never collected by police when she first
went missing. By the time authorities realized they needed them,
(10:33):
that dental records had been lost. This oversight would seriously
hinder the identification of her body if it was ever
to be found. Without dental records, DNA testing would be
the only reliable method of id, but DNA technology was
still in its infancy during this time. About fifteen years
(10:58):
after Sandra's disappearance, the police finally changed her case classification
from runaway to endangered missing. Today, Sandra K. Powell would
be fifty five years old. Her child, if he or
she had survived, would now be thirty seven years old.
(11:21):
The South Bend Police Department continues to investigate her case,
and detectives are still trying to piece together the rest
of Sandra's story. They are actively seeking leads and information
from the public. The questions that have haunted this case
for nearly four decades still remain unanswered. Was Sandra killed
(11:45):
because of her testimony in the murder trial. Was she
the victim of someone connected to the threats that she
had been receiving, or was her disappearance related to her
personal circumstances, ignancy, the father of her child, or some
other unknown factor in her life. Sandra's case represents more
(12:10):
than just one missing person. It highlights the dangerous face
by witnesses who have the courage to speak out against violence.
Here was a fifteen year old girl who saw her
friend murdered and chose to do the right thing. She
testified in court, helping to put the killer behind bars,
(12:33):
but that act of bravery may have cost her her life.
The fact that multiple witnesses in that murder trial received
threats suggests that there might have been some type of
organized effort to intimidate those who had testified. Sandra may
(12:54):
have paid the ultimate price. Her story is a reminder
of the vulnerable of witnesses and the importance of protecting
those who come forward to seek justice. My thoughts and
prayers are with the family and friends of Sandra Powell.
Anyone with information about her disappearance should contact the South
(13:16):
Bend Police Department. You can find their number, as well
as her agency case number, in the description box below.
As we close out this episode, don't forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Santra's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
(13:40):
from our true crime content and case updates. If you're
watching us on YouTube, drop your thoughts on this case
in the comments below. Thank you so much for joining
us on another episode. Until next time. Hunting for Answers
(14:04):
is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. For
more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began nearly four decades ago. On
March eleventh, nineteen eighty seven, a pregnant, sixteen year old
(00:23):
vanished without a trace from South Bend, Indiana, just four
days before her seventeenth birthday. She disappeared after a night
out with a friend, leaving behind nothing but unanswered questions.
What makes this case particularly haunting is that she had
(00:44):
recently testified in a murder trial and had been receiving
threats ever since. With limited details in her case, it's
a mystery if her disappearance is connected to her testimony,
or if it was tied to something else entirely. This
(01:05):
is the story of Sandra Powell. Sandra K. Powell was
born on March fifteenth, nineteen seventy, in South Bend, Indiana.
By nineteen eighty seven, at just sixteen years old, she
was already facing adult responsibilities and challenges that would test
(01:27):
anyone's resilience. Sandra stood five to five and weighed about
one hundred and thirty pounds. She had black hair, brown eyes,
and had several distinguishing features. Several of her teeth were chipped,
she had a scar on the right side of her neck,
and her ears were pierced. At the time of her disappearance,
(01:52):
Sandra was approximately four months pregnant. She lived with her
mother on South Camp on the far west side of
South Bend, and attended Washington High School, but her young
life would soon become entangled in something far more dangerous
than typical teenage drama. In nineteen eighty six, one year
(02:19):
before her disappearance, Sandra's life took a dramatic turn. She
witnessed something that no one, let alone a teenager, should
ever see, the brutal shooting of one of her friends.
The murder shocked the community, and when the case went
to trial, Sandra did something incredibly brave. She agreed to
(02:43):
testify against the accused killer. Standing in the courtroom, the
fifteen year old girl told the truth about what she
had witnessed. Her testimony was crucial to the prosecution's case.
The suspect was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison,
(03:04):
where he remains today. But Sandra's courage in that court
room would appear to come with a terrible cost. After
the trial concluded, Sandra began receiving threats. She wasn't the
only one. Several of the other witnesses who had testified
in the murder case were also being intimidated by an
(03:28):
unidentified person. The threats were real and frightening. Someone out
there was angry about the conviction and wanted to send
a message to those who had spoken out. For a
young woman already dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and the
(03:48):
pressures of high school, these threats only added another layer
of stress and fear to her daily life, but Sandra
tried to continue living normally. She attended school, spent time
with friends, and dealt with her personal struggles, including a
devastating blow from the father of her unborn child. As
(04:13):
Sandra's pregnancy progressed into its fourth month, she received heartbreaking news.
The father of her unborn baby told her that he
was marrying someone else. For a sixteen year old girl
who was already facing the challenges of the pregnancy, this
news was especially devastating, friends and family said. Sandra was
(04:39):
greatly upset by this rejection. She was now facing the
prospect of raising a child alone while still being a
child herself. The emotional weight of the situation, combined with
the ongoing threats from her testimony, created the perfect storm
(04:59):
of stress in her young life. March eleventh, nineteen eighty seven,
started like any other day. Sandra had no idea it
would be the last day that anyone would ever hear
from her. On the evening of March tenth, nineteen eighty seven,
(05:22):
the night before her disappearance, Sandra had a phone conversation
that would later puzzle investigators. Her friend, who was with
her that night, witnessed Sandra talking to an unknown person
on the phone, but the friend couldn't hear what the
conversation was about or who was on the other end
(05:44):
of the line. Whatever was discussed in that mysterious phone call,
Sandra gave no indication to her friend that she was
planning to run away or leave town. She made no
mention of any plans to just disappear. The next morning,
(06:05):
March eleventh, Sandra prepared for what should have been just
another ordinary day. She and her friend had made plans
to go out together that evening. When that time came,
Sandra and her friend went to either the YMCA or
a health SPA. Accounts vary on the exact location, but
(06:27):
what happened next would change everything. Somehow. During their time
out together, Sandra and her friend became separated. Sandra simply vanished.
Her friend looked for her, but Sandra was nowhere to
be found. She hadn't taken any of her belongings with her,
(06:48):
and she hadn't brought any money or personal items that
would suggest she was planning to just leave permanently. When
Sandra failed to return home that night, her family became
immediately concerned. This wasn't like her. Despite all the challenges
(07:08):
that she was facing, Sandra had never given any indication
that she would run away. In just four days, she
would have turned seventeen, but Sandra K. Powell would never
get to celebrate with those closest to her. When Sandra's
(07:29):
family reported her missing, the South Bend Police Department initially
classified the case as a runaway. Unfortunately, in nineteen eighty seven,
missing teenagers, particularly pregnant teenagers from disadvantaged communities, were often
dismissed as runaways rather than being treated as potential victims
(07:53):
of a crime. A lot of that still rings true today.
But Sandra's family knew better. They knew her daughter, and
they knew she wouldn't just disappear without a word. They
fought to get authorities to take the case seriously. The
investigation into her disappearance would reveal several potential motives for
(08:18):
someone to harm Sandra. There were the threats she had
received after testifying in the murder trial. There was the
emotional turmoil from her pregnancy and the rejection by the
father of her child. But investigators were uncertain whether her
disappearance was connected to the murder trial or if it
(08:41):
was connected to something else. As the investigation continued, authorities
received several tips and reported sightings of Sandra, but none
could be verified. One of the most intriguing tips came
from from a friend who thought she saw Sandra on
(09:03):
the television show Soul Train. This popular dance show featuring
young people from around the country, and Sandra's friend was
convinced that she had spotted her in the audience. Law
enforcement made attempts to obtain a videotape of the show
to investigate this lead, but they were never able to
(09:24):
get one. To this day, it has never been verified
whether the woman on the television show was actually Sandra.
Another disturbing tip suggested that Sandra had become involved in
adult films. Her relatives, desperate for answers, actually watched several
(09:47):
adult films to investigate this possibility. Thankfully, they never saw
Sandra in any of these films. But years had passed
without any credible leads or evidence of what had happened
to Sandra. The case began to grow cold, and authorities
(10:09):
admitted that they had not received any reliable tips about
her disappearance in years. Come to find out, the investigation
was hampered by a critical error made early on. Sandra's
dental records were never collected by police when she first
went missing. By the time authorities realized they needed them,
(10:33):
that dental records had been lost. This oversight would seriously
hinder the identification of her body if it was ever
to be found. Without dental records, DNA testing would be
the only reliable method of id, but DNA technology was
still in its infancy during this time. About fifteen years
(10:58):
after Sandra's disappearance, the police finally changed her case classification
from runaway to endangered missing. Today, Sandra K. Powell would
be fifty five years old. Her child, if he or
she had survived, would now be thirty seven years old.
(11:21):
The South Bend Police Department continues to investigate her case,
and detectives are still trying to piece together the rest
of Sandra's story. They are actively seeking leads and information
from the public. The questions that have haunted this case
for nearly four decades still remain unanswered. Was Sandra killed
(11:45):
because of her testimony in the murder trial. Was she
the victim of someone connected to the threats that she
had been receiving, or was her disappearance related to her
personal circumstances, ignancy, the father of her child, or some
other unknown factor in her life. Sandra's case represents more
(12:10):
than just one missing person. It highlights the dangerous face
by witnesses who have the courage to speak out against violence.
Here was a fifteen year old girl who saw her
friend murdered and chose to do the right thing. She
testified in court, helping to put the killer behind bars,
(12:33):
but that act of bravery may have cost her her life.
The fact that multiple witnesses in that murder trial received
threats suggests that there might have been some type of
organized effort to intimidate those who had testified. Sandra may
(12:54):
have paid the ultimate price. Her story is a reminder
of the vulnerable of witnesses and the importance of protecting
those who come forward to seek justice. My thoughts and
prayers are with the family and friends of Sandra Powell.
Anyone with information about her disappearance should contact the South
(13:16):
Bend Police Department. You can find their number, as well
as her agency case number, in the description box below.
As we close out this episode, don't forget to click
the follow button to stay updated on Santra's case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
Answers on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok
(13:40):
from our true crime content and case updates. If you're
watching us on YouTube, drop your thoughts on this case
in the comments below. Thank you so much for joining
us on another episode. Until next time. Hunting for Answers
(14:04):
is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. For
more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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