It’s been more than 25 years since Tabitha Brewer was last seen.
Tabitha was outside of her dad’s home on the night of April 27, 1998, in Shawnee, Kan. The then-16-year-old was with her boyfriend, Nicholas Travis.
The two reported were going to meet up with someone in Kansas City. Days later, Tabitha’s purse was found partially burned in a dumpster near 55th and Paseo in Kansas City, Mo. About four months later, Nicholas’ body was found buried in a shallow grave in the 5400 block of Paseo – less than a mile west of Highway 71.
According to the Kansas City Star, a Jackson County jury acquitted Brandon B. Howell in the killing of Tabitha and Nicholas.
The Kansas Department of Corrections says Howell, in October 1999, Howell committed aggravated assault, kidnapping, cruelty to animals, aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping. He was convicted of the crimes in September 2000 and was paroled in February 2011.
Howell was charged with killing five people in south Kansas City in 2014. In May 2019, Howell was sentenced to life in prison. He was convicted for beating two people to death and shooting and killing three others. The victims were in their late 60’s to upper 80’s.
To this day, Tabitha has not been found. Many believe she was also killed.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has continued to release age-progressed photos of what Tabitha may look like. In the latest photo, it shows what she may appeared to be at 34 years old. If alive, she would be in her late 30’s.
TABITHA DIANE BREWER
Missing from: Shawnee, Kan.
Missing since: April 27, 1998
Age then: 16
Height: 5’7’’
Weight: 115 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
If you have information that could help the case, contact the Shawnee Police Department at (913) 631-2151; or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) THE-LOST or online with NCMEC by clicking here. You can also report it to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation by calling (785) 296-4017 or by clicking here.
Want me to investigate another case? Email annettelawless@hotmail.com.