In an unexplained and puzzling event, a freelance journalist from the area of Tri-State mysteriously disappeared. Susan Walsh, a 36 years old mother, resided in a dilapidated brick abode with her adolescent son in Nutley, New Jersey, situated somewhat close to Newark and roughly a one-hour drive in the northwest direction from Manhattan. The curious circumstances surrounding her disappearance in 1996 sparked interest amongst media outlets who paid special attention to her past involving substance misuse and her part-time job as a stripper. According to Arthur Merchant, Walsh’s brother, Susan had no intentions of abruptly disappearing and not returning.
Walsh’s profession as an investigative reporter saw her diving deep into topics like the Russian Mafia, illegal operations of strip clubs, and vampire subcultures. Her disappearance sparked a plethora of theories revolving around her odd stalkers, involvement in substance abuse, and her investigative work. Susan Walsh resided in a rented apartment on Washington Street, above her separated spouse, Mark Walsh.
As per the reports received from her relatives, Susan Walsh departed from her home on the 16th of July 1996, leaving her son in the care of his father. Planning to use a nearby payphone, she assured her loved ones that she would return in three quarters of an hour. She left behind essentials like her purse, her keys, and beeper at home, suggesting that she intended to return. Concurrently, she was pursuing a Masters in writing from New York University.
As the search for the missing person progressed, investigators were unable to ascertain if Susan had either made or received any calls on the payphone on the day she disappeared. Over the years, they started to explore claims from a few witnesses who reported that Walsh had stepped into a limousine on the day of her disappearance, but this information led nowhere.
In 2006, despite suspecting suspecting Mark Walsh earlier, it was officially reported that he is not a suspect in Susan’s disappearance. He was, however, alleged to have denied the authorities when they sought his permission to conduct forensic examinations in the apartment.
Barely making ends meet, Susan Walsh worked occasionally at strip clubs along with her freelancing writing job. In her reporting career, she had crafted multiple articles that tackled divergent issues, which led to equal parts acclaim and threats. Despite the theories circulating around the subjects she wrote about, no substantial leads surfaced.
After digging into organized crime for some time, Walsh’s focus shifted towards another intriguing topic: the underworld of vampire subcultures. As stated by a close acquaintance of hers, Susan had a very intellectual approach towards her work and was intrigued by different subcultures. She also had a penchant for penning down dark topics.
Susan Walsh’s history of mental health issues and drug addiction led friends and family to wonder if this might have played a role in her abrupt disappearance. Prior to her disappearance, Walsh was reportedly in a continually deteriorating phase of life. Despite twelve years of sobriety, it was reported that Susan had suffered a relapse.
Walsh’s system became familiar with alcohol again, adding to her troubles. She allegedly started misusing Xanax, a drug originally prescribed to her for addressing her depression. Despite all odds, her unanticipated departure left her circle puzzled, unsure whether her mental health and substance abuse had any role in her disappearance.
More than twenty-eight years have passed since Susan’s mysterious disappearance, and her location remains an enigma. In an attempt to grasp the situation better, her brother, Arthur Merchant, filed a lawsuit against the local police department in the year 2020 in order to access records pertaining to his sister’s case.
The police department defended themselves by contesting the claim, stating that they were not required to publicize the records under the state’s open records act since Walsh’s case was still ongoing. However, Arthur Merchant challenged the police department’s stance and managed to win. By 2022, a court officially stated that the police department was ‘not actively investigating this matter’.
The last confirmed appearance of Susan Walsh was in Nutley, New Jersey, on the 16th of July, 1996. She was attired in a dark tank dress, coupled with black sandals, and adorned a golden ring with a black gem. With a height of approximately 5 feet 6 inches and weighing between 110-120 lbs., Susan was a striking figure.
She had died her hair bleach blonde which was contrasted by a memorable New Jersey accent. Additional physical markings were a scar on her right wrist. To date, no leads have emerged to provide any solid explanation surrounding Susan Walsh’s mysterious vanishing.