Overview

• Full Name: Kimberly Ann Stewart (née Morgan)
• Nickname: Kimmie
• Age at Disappearance: 21
• Date of Birth: March 22, 1956
• Official Date Last Seen: May 24, 1977
• Last Known Area: Sheridan and the surrounding Placer County area, California; a reported meeting took place in nearby Wheatland, Yuba County
• County and State: Placer County, California
• Classification: Endangered missing person; suspected foul play has been reported
• Current Status: Missing; unresolved as of October 18, 2026
• Investigating Agency: Placer County Sheriff’s Office
• Official Case Number: 95-0306080
• NamUs Reference: 3879, reported by secondary case records
• Physical Description: Approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, 130 pounds, green eyes, and blonde or brown hair
• Clothing: Pink top, green Ditto pants, blue-and-white tennis shoes, and a green necklace, according to California’s missing-person record
• Main Circumstances: Kimberly disappeared after leaving her children with a family friend and reportedly meeting her estranged husband. Her abandoned vehicle was subsequently located near Highway 65.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Kimberly Ann Stewart: The Unsolved 1977 Disappearance of a Young Mother in Sheridan, California

On May 24, 1977, 21-year-old Kimberly Ann Stewart disappeared from the Sheridan area of Placer County, California, leaving behind two young daughters and a mystery that has remained unresolved for nearly five decades.

Known to loved ones as “Kimmie,” Kimberly had been experiencing difficulties in her marriage and was reportedly planning a divorce. She had arranged to meet her estranged husband, but she never returned to collect her children from a family friend.

Her vehicle was later discovered along Highway 65, with her keys still in the ignition and her checkbook inside. Kimberly was nowhere to be found.

Despite years of investigation, public appeals, and efforts by her family to obtain answers, her disappearance remains an open missing-person case. Investigators have considered the possibility of foul play, but no publicly verified evidence establishes that Kimberly was murdered.

Sources: Placer County Sheriff’s Office | California Department of Justice | The Charley Project

Case Summary

• Full Name: Kimberly Ann Stewart (née Morgan)
• Nickname: Kimmie
• Age at Disappearance: 21
• Date of Birth: March 22, 1956
• Official Date Last Seen: May 24, 1977
• Last Known Area: Sheridan and the surrounding Placer County area, California; a reported meeting took place in nearby Wheatland, Yuba County
• County and State: Placer County, California
• Classification: Endangered missing person; suspected foul play has been reported
• Current Status: Missing; unresolved as of October 18, 2026
• Investigating Agency: Placer County Sheriff’s Office
• Official Case Number: 95-0306080
• NamUs Reference: 3879, reported by secondary case records
• Physical Description: Approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, 130 pounds, green eyes, and blonde or brown hair
• Clothing: Pink top, green Ditto pants, blue-and-white tennis shoes, and a green necklace, according to California’s missing-person record
• Main Circumstances: Kimberly disappeared after leaving her children with a family friend and reportedly meeting her estranged husband. Her abandoned vehicle was subsequently located near Highway 65.

The California Department of Justice continues to list Kimberly as missing. Her official county case profile also remains publicly accessible.

Kimberly Stewart’s Background and Life Before Her Disappearance

Kimberly Ann Morgan was born on March 22, 1956. She grew up in Northern California and married Steven Michael Stewart, her high school boyfriend, while she was still a teenager.

According to The Charley Project, Kimberly married Steven when she was approximately 15 years old. The couple subsequently had two daughters.

Their relationship was reportedly troubled, with repeated separations and attempts to end the marriage. Kimberly filed for divorce in 1974 but later withdrew the action. On April 13, 1977, she filed again.

By May 1977, Kimberly was living in the Sheridan area, near Camp Far West, while navigating the difficulties of an impending divorce and raising her children.

Her two daughters were central to her life, according to relatives who later spoke publicly about her disappearance. Family members have consistently rejected the suggestion that Kimberly would voluntarily disappear without making arrangements for their care.

Those statements reflect her family’s knowledge of Kimberly and their beliefs about her intentions. They do not, by themselves, establish what happened to her.

The Days Leading Up to May 24, 1977

Kimberly reportedly arranged to meet her estranged husband at a pizza restaurant in Wheatland, California. The meeting was described in historical case accounts as an opportunity for her to collect money from him.

Before the meeting, she left her two young daughters with a family friend.

There is a discrepancy in the available accounts concerning the precise sequence of events. The Charley Project places the childcare arrangement and restaurant meeting on May 23, 1977, while official California and Placer County records identify May 24 as her last-seen date.

The sheriff’s public profile does not provide a detailed hour-by-hour chronology. For that reason, May 24, 1977, remains the official last-seen date used in this article, without treating the historical discrepancy as resolved.

Source: The Charley Project.

The Meeting at the Wheatland Pizza Restaurant

According to historical case information summarized by The Charley Project, Kimberly met Steven at a pizza restaurant in Wheatland.

Customers reportedly told investigators that the couple argued while inside the establishment and departed shortly afterward.

Steven subsequently told investigators that he and Kimberly left in separate vehicles.

The reported restaurant argument is relevant to the disappearance because it forms part of the last known sequence of events. However, an argument alone is not evidence that either participant committed a crime.

The available public records do not establish a confirmed destination for Kimberly after she reportedly left the restaurant.

Kimberly Fails to Return for Her Children

Kimberly did not return to collect her daughters from the family friend caring for them.

This immediately became one of the most troubling aspects of the disappearance.

Her family later emphasized that leaving her daughters without explanation was inconsistent with the behavior they knew.

In an August 28, 2013, report by CBS Sacramento, Kimberly’s older sister, Susan Fasig, described the family’s enduring grief and belief that Kimberly would not have willingly abandoned her children.

The family’s statements have been a significant part of the public understanding of the case, although the precise circumstances of Kimberly’s disappearance remain unknown.

Source: CBS Sacramento — 36 Years After Sheridan Woman’s Disappearance, Family Still Seeking Answers.

Investigation History and Evidence

The Discovery of Kimberly’s Chevrolet Vega

One of the most important reported pieces of evidence was Kimberly’s vehicle, a gray 1975 Chevrolet Vega hatchback.

According to The Charley Project, a relative of Steven Stewart reportedly observed the vehicle parked along Highway 65, approximately two miles from Sheridan.

That relative also reportedly described seeing an unidentified vehicle nearby.

Steven later told investigators that he and his brother located Kimberly’s Chevrolet on the highway.

Two details about the car were particularly significant:

• The keys reportedly remained in the ignition.
• Kimberly’s checkbook was reportedly still inside.

Kimberly herself was missing.

The discovery raised questions about whether she had left the vehicle voluntarily, experienced an emergency, or encountered another person.

The unidentified vehicle described in the historical account remains an unverified lead in the publicly accessible material. No reliable public source reviewed establishes its driver, occupants, or connection to Kimberly’s disappearance.

The public case summaries also do not establish whether fingerprints, biological material, or other forensic evidence were recovered from the Chevrolet.

Source: The Charley Project.

Early Investigative Accounts

Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding Kimberly’s disappearance, including the reported meeting with her husband and the discovery of her car.

Steven reportedly suggested that Kimberly might have voluntarily departed with another person. This was an explanation described in historical case accounts, not a conclusion established by investigators.

Investigators have also considered foul play.

The Charley Project reports that authorities suspected Kimberly may have been the victim of a crime, partly because her disappearance was inconsistent with her family’s description of her devotion to her daughters.

However, the official California Department of Justice record continues to classify Kimberly as a missing person.

No publicly verified criminal conviction, homicide determination, or discovery of Kimberly’s remains has been established in the sources reviewed.

Family Searches and Continuing Appeals

Kimberly’s relatives have spent decades seeking answers.

In its August 2013 coverage, CBS Sacramento reported on the family’s prolonged search and their continued uncertainty about what happened to her.

Her sister, Susan Fasig, publicly expressed the belief that Kimberly had been killed.

That belief is important to understanding the family’s experience, but it must be distinguished from an official finding of homicide.

The 2013 report demonstrated that the case remained a matter of concern and public awareness decades after Kimberly vanished.

It did not establish that a suspect had been charged or that the disappearance had been solved.

Source: CBS Sacramento.

Physical Description and Identification Information

California’s official missing-person record provides the following identifying details:

Kimberly was approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed about 130 pounds when she disappeared. She had green eyes. The California Department of Justice lists her hair as blonde, while the Placer County Sheriff’s Office describes it as brown.

She was reported to have worn a pink top, green Ditto pants, and blue-and-white tennis shoes. The state record also lists a green necklace.

The California Department of Justice indicates that dental X-rays are available.

Dental records may be important when investigators attempt to identify unidentified human remains. However, the existence of dental X-rays does not establish that a match has been found or that any particular remains are connected to Kimberly.

Source: California Department of Justice.

DNA Testing and Forensic Genealogy

Modern missing-person investigations may use DNA comparisons, forensic genealogy, and national missing-person databases to evaluate unidentified remains or develop leads.

In Kimberly’s case, however, the publicly available official records reviewed do not confirm a recent forensic genealogy initiative, a new DNA match, or a successful identification of remains.

Historical online discussions mention the availability of identification records, but those discussions do not establish a completed modern forensic examination.

It would therefore be inaccurate to suggest that a new DNA breakthrough has occurred.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

Several possibilities have been discussed in connection with Kimberly’s disappearance. None has been publicly established as the definitive explanation.

Was Kimberly the Victim of Foul Play?

Foul play is one of the principal possibilities described in historical case reporting.

The circumstances that have contributed to that concern include Kimberly’s sudden disappearance, her failure to retrieve her daughters, and the discovery of her vehicle along Highway 65.

Her family has also repeatedly maintained that she would not willingly have abandoned her children.

These circumstances support continued investigation, but they do not independently establish the cause of her disappearance or identify a perpetrator.

Did Kimberly Leave Voluntarily?

A voluntary departure was reportedly suggested in early accounts, including the possibility that Kimberly left with another individual.

There is no verified public evidence in the reviewed sources establishing that she began a new life, deliberately concealed her whereabouts, or maintained contact with anyone after disappearing.

The voluntary-departure explanation therefore remains unsubstantiated.

What Happened Along Highway 65?

The reported discovery of Kimberly’s Chevrolet creates several unresolved questions.

Why was the car left there? Why were the keys reportedly in the ignition? Who, if anyone, was associated with the unidentified vehicle described by Steven’s relative? Did Kimberly reach the location herself?

The available records do not provide definitive answers.

Without additional verified witness accounts, forensic findings, or investigative disclosures, the vehicle’s discovery cannot establish exactly how Kimberly disappeared.

What Happened After the Restaurant Meeting?

The meeting at the Wheatland restaurant is another important part of the case.

Historical reporting describes an argument, followed by the couple leaving in separate vehicles according to Steven’s account.

But the public record does not establish Kimberly’s subsequent movements.

There is also no verified public evidence in the reviewed sources sufficient to identify a particular person as responsible for her disappearance.

No individual should be treated as guilty based solely on a reported argument, relationship difficulties, or speculation about the case.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates

Research status: October 18, 2026

Official Missing-Person Listings Remain Active

The most important current information is that Kimberly Ann Stewart remains listed on the official Placer County Sheriff’s Office missing-person website.

The California Department of Justice also continues to publish her missing-person record, identifying the Placer County Sheriff’s Office as the reporting agency.

These listings establish that her case remains publicly recorded as unresolved. They do not establish that investigators have recently discovered new evidence.

August 28, 2013: Family Renews Public Appeal

One of the most substantial verified news reports about Kimberly’s case was published by CBS Sacramento on August 28, 2013.

The report included interviews with her sister, Susan Fasig, and described the family’s continuing efforts to find answers.

CBS also reported that family members distributed missing-person flyers to Kimberly’s former classmates during a Lincoln High School reunion.

The report stated that investigators had not publicly disclosed whether there was a suspect or person of interest.

This was a significant public-awareness effort, not a confirmed investigative breakthrough.

Source: CBS Sacramento.

July 28, 2025: Historical Case Retrospective

On July 28, 2025, the independent California Cold Cases blog published a retrospective titled The Disappearance of Kimberly Ann Stewart, May 1977.

The article revisited the circumstances of Kimberly’s disappearance, her reported meeting with Steven, and the discovery of her Chevrolet.

The publication is a secondary historical account, not an official law enforcement announcement. Its publication does not establish a newly discovered witness, arrest, forensic result, or other investigative development.

Source: California Cold Cases.

Current Status of DNA Evidence, Arrests, and Suspects

As of October 18, 2026, the publicly accessible sources reviewed did not establish any of the following:

• A confirmed identification of Kimberly’s remains.
• An announced DNA or forensic genealogy breakthrough.
• A publicly confirmed arrest or criminal charge connected to her disappearance.
• An officially identified perpetrator.
• A newly announced search resulting in significant physical evidence.
• A publicly released new age-progression image.
• A verified announcement that the disappearance has been reclassified as a homicide.

No publicly confirmed recent investigative breakthroughs were located.

This does not necessarily mean that investigators have stopped working on the case. Investigative activity can occur without public disclosure, and the absence of a news announcement should not be mistaken for proof that no work is being conducted.

Conclusion: Nearly Five Decades Without Answers

Kimberly Ann Stewart was only 21 when she vanished from the Sheridan area in May 1977.

She was a young mother with two daughters, facing a difficult period in her marriage. After leaving her children with a family friend and reportedly meeting her estranged husband, she disappeared.

Her vehicle was discovered along Highway 65, but the available public evidence has never established what happened to her afterward.

For Kimberly’s family, the disappearance has meant decades of uncertainty, unanswered questions, and the absence of a loved one.

Her case remains important not only because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding her disappearance, but because she was a person whose life and relationships mattered deeply to those who knew her.

How to Submit Information About Kimberly Stewart

Anyone with information concerning Kimberly’s disappearance, the reported events at the Wheatland restaurant, her vehicle along Highway 65, or her whereabouts after May 1977 is encouraged to contact the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office

2929 Richardson Drive, Auburn, CA 95603

Phone: 530-889-7800

Case Number: 95-0306080

Information can also be submitted through the California Department of Justice’s missing-person hotline at 1-800-222-3463 (1-800-222-FIND).

Even information that appears minor may be useful when evaluated alongside evidence and statements collected during an investigation.

Anyone who believes they have relevant information should provide it directly to law enforcement rather than publicly accusing individuals or attempting an independent confrontation.

Kimberly Ann Stewart has been missing since May 24, 1977. Her disappearance remains unresolved, and her family deserves reliable answers.