5 years after Melissa Trumpy vanished, search for answers continues

MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. (KWQC) - Five years after 37-year-old Melissa Trumpy vanished, law enforcement officials say the search to find her has not stopped.

In a recent update, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office reaffirmed that “this case has not been forgotten,” noting investigators continue to pursue leads in her disappearance.

Trumpy, of Monticello, Wisconsin, was last seen on Oct. 26, 2021, in Shannon, Illinois. Her vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Stephenson County. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation on Oct. 27, 2021, shortly after Trumpy’s boyfriend, Derek Hammer, was arrested in Carroll County on outstanding out-of-state warrants.

Over the past five years, investigators have pursued leads across Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida, partnering with nearly two dozen local, state, and federal agencies alongside volunteer search teams.

Authorities urge anyone with information on Trumpy’s disappearance, or anyone who noticed suspicious activity between the evening of Oct. 26 and early morning of Oct. 27, 2021, to come forward:

• Carroll County Crime Stoppers: Call 815-244-STOP (7867) or contact local law enforcement. Tips can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward if they lead to an arrest.
• Your local police or sheriff.
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office: Email TrumpyTips@ilag.gov or call 866-498-4122.