Craig Daily Press / Missing woman’s disappearance suspicious

July 9, 2007

Investigators are now suspicious that foul play may be the cause behind a Craig woman’s disappearance, the Police Department reported Monday morning.

“There has been no known contact with Cynthia Hankins/Runnels since June 3,” police reported in a press release. “Her disappearance is very suspicious in nature and she may be the victim of a crime.”

Hankins, a former Craig Motel employee, was last seen June 7 in Craig. Police asked for the public’s help in late June in locating Hankins, who was last seen with an unknown male.

Following the distribution of a missing person’s flyer, investigators developed several leads from contacts in Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico. No new information on Hankins’ whereabouts was developed from the leads.

However, police are reporting that the victim’s husband — Terry Hankins — is a “person of interest in this investigation.”

According to court records, Terry Hankins filed a restraining order March 28 against his wife in 14th Judicial District Court. About a week later, on April 4, he asked that the order be vacated.

For more on this story, read tomorrow’s Craig Daily Press print or online editions.