She Vanished Walking to the Bus Stop — 43 Years Later, DNA Named Her Killer

On the morning of November 16, 1983, 16-year-old Sheri Jo Elliott left her home on Flint's west side and walked toward her school bus stop. She never arrived. Days later, the Carman High School sophomore was found dead — and for more than four decades, no one could say who was responsible. Investigators once wrongly suspected someone close to the family. But the killer had left DNA behind. In 2026 — nearly 43 years later — Michigan State Police cold case detectives, working alongside the Western Michigan University Cold Case Program, used forensic genetic genealogy to put a name to that DNA: Roni Collins, 75, of Grand Blanc. Collins died before he could be brought to justice, but the science finally gave Sheri Jo's family the answer they'd waited a lifetime for. This is the story of Sheri Jo Elliott — how she lived, how her case went cold, and how a new generation of investigators refused to let her be forgotten. If you have information on an unsolved case, contact Michigan State Police or your local Crime Stoppers. This video is a factual, respectful account compiled from public news reporting and official law-enforcement statements. Our goal is to honor victims and support the pursuit of justice. Subscribe to Case Reopened Files for carefully researched cold cases, and turn on notifications so you never miss an update. #TrueCrime #ColdCase #SheriJoElliott