25 years later, family of missing woman still looking for closure

MENOMONEE FALLS (WITI) -- Almost 25 years ago, a young woman went to meet an ex-boyfriend and never returned. Now, her family is looking to the public in the hope that someone knows something that can bring them closure.

"When she came into the room, you knew it. She was beautiful -- probably the most beautiful of all the girls in the family, and funny, and very smart. She had a lot of plans for her life,"

Those plans would never come to pass for Sandra Bertolas.

On April 24th of 1988 20-year-old Bertolas was to meet her ex-boyfriend in West Allis. Her car was found in the then Red Carpet Lanes parking lot three days later.

25 years later, Sandy hasn't been seen or heard from since.

"Our sister's still missing, and somebody knows where she is -- her remains, and we would really like this closure because it affects us every day still,"

Over the past 25 years, there have been tips and leads. In fact, the family and investigators believed Sandy's body may have been at Milwaukee's Mount Olivet Cemetery.

"From three different angles (dogs) were let loose in that cemetery, which is very large, and they picked up her scent. She was there,"

However, even after a burial plot inspection, Sandy was not located.

"When you hear Sandra's name, when you see somebody that looks like her, you hear a song that reminds you of her, birthdays, holidays -- anything that reminds you that Sandra's not with us is very painful for us,"

Two days before the 25th anniversary of her disappearance, three of Sandra's eight siblings spoke for the family -- asking anyone who knows anything about what happened to speak up so they can finally have closure.

"That will happen as soon as her remains are found,"

Sandy's sisters say they have a burial plot reserved for her right next to her father at Saint Anthony's Cemetery. They are hoping with some help they can soon put it to use.

Menomonee Falls police say the case remains open -- with a detective assigned to it. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact them.