It’s possible somewhere in Seward Park or its surrounding community, a body of a young woman is waiting to be found.
Nicole Cearo hasn’t been seen for two years. I first heard about her a year ago, when the Seattle Police Department sent out a press release asking for the public’s help in finding her. Her story resonated with me because there were more details about her possible death than there were of Nicole, the person.
I added her name to the long list of topics to learn more about and to share with readers and listeners — at least that was my intention. Then, a few weeks ago, it was the beginning of another year of looking for Nicole, and police again asked for the public’s help in solving the mystery of her disappearance.
The reality of another year gone by left me feeling like I haven’t done enough to help her — a stranger I knew nothing about until she was presumed dead.
Only one lead
Police believe Nicole’s boyfriend killed her. When questioned by police in her disappearance, he said he hadn’t seen her after March 30, 2009. But someone reported to police that the boyfriend bragged about killing her.
The boyfriend hasn’t been named because he hasn’t been charged in Nicole’s death, but according to police documents, he told an associate quote, “She put her hands on me. See if they find her…in Seward Park.”
Police say there was a history of domestic violence between Nicole and her boyfriend.
Detectives felt the information was so credible, they searched Seward Park with cadaver dogs and King County Search and Rescue — they found nothing. But her body could easily be nearby.
Wherever her remains are, police still believe Nicole Cearo was murdered.
One year later
Her story was featured on “Western Washington’s Most Wanted” a few weeks ago. Her mother spoke publicly for the first time about the emotional torment she’s suffered the last two years. She doesn’t know what happened to her daughter, and police have exhausted all options to find her.
Chances are, you probably have no idea who Nicole Cearo is, whether or not she was murdered by her boyfriend or where her body is.
But Nicole matters. If she was murdered and her body hidden away, she deserves to be found and laid to rest.
Her family deserves closure.
Her killer deserves to be brought to justice.
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Nicole Cearo or who may have information leading to the identification of witnesses or suspects involved with her disappearance is asked to call the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at (206) 684-5550 or the Seattle Police Homicide Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
SABLE VERITY is a Seattle-based reporter and commentator who covers social and political issues for KBCS Radio and a number of on-line and print news outlets.
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