Two Teens Set Out To Elope Before Their Car Is Found Abandoned

In 1958, Donnis Marie Redman, affectionately known as “Pinkey,” was a striking young girl with curly red hair and blue eyes.

At just 14 years old, Pinkey was mature for her age and deeply in love with Michael Lawrence Griffin, a young man four years her senior. Michael was 18 at the time.

In March of that year, the couple, who lived in San Pedro, California, made a daring decision: they would run away to Las Vegas to elope.

The last time they were seen was on March 1st 1958. Pinkey, who stood 5’1”, was reportedly wearing a yellow sweater with brown capri pants as she climbed into Michael’s white 1950/51 Dodge Clipper.

The car, Michael’s pride and joy, featured a twin exhaust and loud mufflers. No one could have imagined that this would be the final time anyone would see the young couple alive.

The 4.5-hour drive to Las Vegas, however, did not go as planned. Something sinister occurred along the way, setting in motion a mystery that would remain unsolved for more than six decades.

When the couple failed to contact their families, they were reported missing. Several days later, their vehicle was found abandoned in Williams, Arizona — approximately 220 miles from their intended destination.

There was no sign of Pinkey or Michael in the car, nor any clue as to their whereabouts.

Authorities initially speculated that the teens may have married before attempting to disappear, possibly out of fear of their families’ disapproval. Yet, no marriage certificates were ever filed under their names or any known variations.

Adding to the strangeness, Michael’s car had Virginia license plates, prompting speculation that the couple may have fallen victim to a robbery, with the plates switched to avoid detection. Despite these leads, the case soon grew cold.

Then, on Halloween 1958 — nearly eight months after the disappearance — a Jane Doe was discovered in the Grand Canyon, roughly 60 miles from where Michael’s car had been abandoned.

Dubbed “Little Miss X,” the unidentified female was estimated to have been in the area for 9–14 months. Her age was believed to be between 11 and 17, with a petite frame of 5’0” to 5’3” and reddish hair — characteristics matching Pinkey.

The body was found nude, though oversized clothing was nearby. Perhaps most compelling was a small plastic nail file engraved with the initials “P.R.”

No DNA testing was ever conducted to confirm whether the remains belonged to Pinkey Redman, leaving her fate unverified.

Before her disappearance, Pinkey had been living with her mother at her aunt’s home. After she vanished, her mother rarely spoke of her daughter, likely as a way of coping with the tragedy.

Decades later, in 2001, another potentially related discovery was made. In the attic of the TJ Ruffney Mortuary in Flagstaff, Arizona, the skeletal remains of a Caucasian male, aged 14–18, were found inside a casket packing crate, dated September 8th 1985.

Detectives familiar with Pinkey and Michael’s case suspected the bones might belong to Michael Griffin, but DNA testing later disproved this. The remains were eventually buried in a pauper’s grave.

To this day, no further leads have emerged. As of 2025, the case remains unsolved.

If alive, Donnis Marie Redman would be 81, and Michael Lawrence Griffin would be 85.