(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police are taking another look at the deaths of two teenage girls nearly 40 years ago.

 

The bodies of Tamara Gifford, 16, and Christina Hillis, 17, both of Florida were found in March of 1989 about three months after their estimated time of deaths.

 

Gifford, who had relatives in Starke County, was found dead in a water filled ditch along Indiana 8 about a mile west of Indiana 39 while the body of Hillis was located in that general area, police said.

 

Police said the girls were reported as runaways and believed to have been in Starke County prior to their passing.

 

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said the cause of death for Gifford was ruled a homicide as a result of a violent act that was undetermined.

 

The ruling in the death of Hillis was she probably died from a broken neck resulting from an unspecified act of “homicidal violence.” 

 

As time passed, no additional information was developed and the case grew cold, police said.

La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen said cold cases, in general, are occasionally given a fresh look to try and come up with new leads.

 

Several weeks ago, police said detectives began reviewing the cause and manner of both deaths and, recently, investigators visited the area where the bodies were found.

 

Contact was also made with family members of both victims, police said.

 

Anyone with information that might be helpful to the case is encouraged to contact Chief of Detectives Andy Hynek at (219) 326-7700 extension 241 or ahynek@lcso.in.gov.