Missing
Karen Ann Penson
Karen, approximately 1970 (approximately 13 years prior to her disappearance; more recent photographs are unavailable)
Date and time person was reported missing : 05/21/1983
Missing location (approx) :
Tacoma, Washington
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Female
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 05/25/1952 (69)
Age at the time of disappearance: 30 years old
Height / Weight : 5'2, 105 pounds
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Karen's maiden name is Marzano.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Karen was last seen at her residence in Tacoma, Washington on May 21, 1983. Her husband of twelve years, Michael Penson, stated they argued and Karen called a friend to come get her. He left their home before she did and when he came back she was gone. She has never been heard from again. On May 26, someone found Karen's purse with her belongings, wet, on the beach.
Michael married again in 1990. In 2001, while he was living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho he shot his second wife in the pelvis, wounding her, and police officers who responded to the scene shot him to death after he pointed his gun at them. He was 49 years old. His wife made a full recovery and the police shooting was ruled a justifiable homicide.
It's unclear whether Michael had anything to do with Karen's disappearance, but the couple did have a history of domestic problems. Authorities stated that since his death, they had no further leads to pursue in the investigation. Karen's parents are now deceased and her case remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Tacoma Police Department
253-591-5506
September 2021 updates and sources
Washington State Missing Persons Information
The Idaho Spokesman-Review
October 12, 2004. July 22, 2016; Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : updated.
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
