Unsolved Murder of Laurie Murninghan: Kidnapping and Murder in Michigan

In 1970, the Murninghan family of Lansing, Michigan, experienced a tragedy that no parent should ever endure. Laurie Murninghan, a 16-year-old high school student, was kidnapped from a store by an armed robber. Her father, Max Murninghan, a former mayor of Lansing, pleaded publically for her safe return. Sadly, Laurie's body was discovered two days later in a nearby town, and her murder remains unsolved to this day. The details of this Lansing, Michigan, cold case read like the plot of a Hollywood movie, not something you'd imagine happening in broad daylight.

The Kidnapping of Laurie Murninghan

According to DementedMittenTours.com, on July 9, 1970, Laurie Murninghan was working part-time at Gallagher's Gifts and Antiques in Lansing when an armed gunman entered the shop, demanded money, pistol-whipped the owner, and in a last-minute decision, decided to take her hostage. It is believed that the gunman, described as a 'goateed' African American, was between the age of 20-25. According to the New York Times, the hold-up made him $60 and one of the nation's most wanted men.

The kidnapping was widely covered by the media, and many people in the community helped with the search. Her father, Max Murninghan, immediately went public with pleas for her safe return on WJIM TV, asking: "to release her or call WJIM news telling them she is safe or where she can be picked up."

The Discovery of Laurie's Body

It was 8 days later that Police Chief Derold Husby announced that the body of Laurie Murninghan had been found in a remote area near Barnes and Meridian Roads. The boys were looking for pop cans when they discovered Murninghan's corpse. She had been shot in the head with a 22-caliber bullet. The discovery of the body was a devasting blow to the Murninghan family and the entire community. The police investigation into her murder went on for years, but no arrests were ever made.

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The Cold Case of Laurie Murninghan

The Murninghan case is one of the oldest cases in Michigan and the oldest cold case for the Lansing Police Department's Cold Case Unit (LPDCCU). The LPDCCU is dedicated to reviewing unsolved crimes, including the murder and kidnapping of Laurie Murninghan.  The unit is staffed by experienced detectives who use modern techniques to re-examine old evidence and follow up on new leads.

Anyone who has information about the kidnapping and murder of Laurie Murninghan should come forward and contact the Lansing Police Department. Even if the information seems minor, it could be crucial to solving the case. The Murninghan family and community of Lansing have never forgotten Laurie, and they continue to hold out hope that her killer will one day be brought to justice.