New age progression image released on 30-year anniversary of teen's disappearance

Sara Bushland vanished from her rural Wisconsin home in 1996 at age 15, and her family continues to search for answers.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a single, unidentifiable personal item or piece of evidence related to the Sara Bushland disappearance case, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.As the search for answers continues three decades after Sara Bushland's disappearance, a new age-progressed image aims to generate renewed public interest and potentially uncover new leads in the cold case.Spooner Today

Thirty years after 15-year-old Sara Bushland went missing from her home in rural Spooner, Wisconsin, authorities have released a new age-progressed image showing what she may look like today at age 45. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance, and the Washburn County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case, conducting searches and interviews, though no arrests have been made.

Why it matters

Sara Bushland's disappearance has weighed heavily on her family for the past three decades, leaving them searching for answers and closure. The release of the new age-progressed image aims to generate renewed public interest and potentially uncover new leads that could help solve the cold case.

The details

On April 3, 1996, 15-year-old Sara Bushland was last seen getting off the school bus at the end of her driveway in rural Spooner, Wisconsin. Witnesses reported seeing her walk towards her house, but investigators are unsure if she made it inside. Extensive searches and interviews have been conducted over the years, but no arrests have been made, and foul play is suspected in her disappearance.

  • Sara Bushland went missing on April 3, 1996.
  • The new age-progressed image was released on the 30-year anniversary of her disappearance, April 3, 2026.

The players

Sara Bushland

A 15-year-old girl who went missing from her rural Wisconsin home in 1996.

Lesley Bushland

Sara Bushland's sister, who has said that Sara's absence has weighed heavily on their family.

Washburn County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that has been investigating Sara Bushland's disappearance for the past 30 years, conducting searches and interviews.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Sara's absence has weighed on her family, and it feels like she is stuck in a bad movie.”

— Lesley Bushland, Sara Bushland's sister

What’s next

The Washburn County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate Sara Bushland's disappearance and encourages anyone with information to contact them or submit a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The takeaway

The release of the new age-progressed image on the 30-year anniversary of Sara Bushland's disappearance serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing search for answers and closure for her family, and the importance of keeping cold cases like this one active in the public eye.