She confessed to something no one wanted to believe. Three years later, she was gone too.
Liehnia "Lena" Chapin was last seen at her apartment outside Steelville, in Dent County, Missouri, on February 14, 2006. Her case, tied to the earlier disappearance of her stepfather, became the final episode of Netflix's 2020 "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot — and remains unsolved.
A Stepfather Vanishes First
In May 1999, when Lena was 13, her stepfather Gary McCullough disappeared from the family's ranch near Cassville, Missouri. Gary had reportedly told friends he intended to divorce Lena's mother, Sandra "Sandy" Klemp, over infidelity and was in the process of moving his belongings out. Sandra didn't report him missing for two days, and only after deputies happened to visit the property for an unrelated matter. Investigators later found no trace of Gary's clothes or belongings in the home, despite Sandra's claim he'd simply left. He was formally declared legally dead in 2005.
Sandra had been in a relationship with Kristopher Klemp during her marriage to Gary; the two moved in together within days of Gary's disappearance and married in 2000. Kristopher was briefly arrested in 1999 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, but the charge was dropped months later for lack of evidence.
A Confession, Recorded
In 2003, at 17, Lena visited Gary's brother, Albert McCullough — her own former stepfather from an earlier marriage — and, visibly shaken, told him that her mother had shot Gary and that she had been made to help clean up the scene afterward. She described helping scrub blood from the floors and burning Gary's body until only fragments remained, saying she went along with it out of fear her mother would go to prison and leave her five sisters without a guardian. Albert recorded the conversation without Lena's knowledge and turned the tape over to police. When investigators contacted Lena afterward, Sandra arranged for her to have legal counsel, and Lena declined to speak further with authorities — though she never recanted what she'd told Albert.
Lena Disappears
Lena became engaged and had a son, Colter. On the morning of February 14, 2006, her fiancé said goodbye to her before leaving for work; when he returned that evening, Sandra was at the apartment cleaning out Lena's belongings, telling him Lena had left with another man for Florida. Lena has not been seen since.
Her disappearance wasn't formally reported to police until 2008 — nearly three years later — when her father, Robert Chapin, filed a missing person report after Lena was subpoenaed for testimony in a related civil case and couldn't be located. The Dent County Sheriff's Office didn't begin actively investigating until 2012.
What Was Left Behind
Lena's apartment building's owner later said a window had been found cracked, with a large dark stain on a nearby covering that wouldn't come clean; not suspecting foul play at the time, he discarded it. The unit was later destroyed in a fire. Lena's Social Security number has shown no activity since her disappearance, and all of her personal belongings were left behind.
The Civil Trial
In 2006, Gary's daughters from an earlier marriage filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Sandra and Kristopher Klemp, arguing they were responsible for Gary's death. In July 2013, a Stone County jury unanimously found the couple liable in Gary's death and awarded $7 million in damages. It's important to be clear about what that verdict means and doesn't mean: a civil finding of liability uses a lower burden of proof than a criminal conviction, and neither Sandra nor Kristopher has ever been criminally charged in connection with either Gary's or Lena's disappearance. Both have maintained their innocence throughout. Kristopher and Sandra divorced in 2014.
The Netflix Episode
In 2020, Lena and Gary's case became the subject of the final episode of Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot, titled "Missing Witness." The episode drew significant public attention and led to renewed online theorizing, including tips generated through Reddit communities following its release. Series co-creator Terry Dunn Meurer has noted publicly that, because there's no statute of limitations on murder, Sandra could still theoretically face criminal charges if new evidence emerged.
Where Things Stand Now
Both Gary McCullough and Lena Chapin remain listed as missing persons by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which has stated it suspects foul play in Gary's disappearance. Sandra Klemp has continued raising Lena's son, Colter, and has declined to discuss the case in detail with law enforcement or media in the years since.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has anyone been criminally charged in these cases?
No. Sandra and Kristopher Klemp were found liable in a 2013 civil wrongful-death lawsuit, but neither has ever faced criminal charges, and both have maintained their innocence.
Is Lena Chapin's disappearance connected to her stepfather's?
Investigators haven't confirmed a direct connection, but Lena's disappearance came about three years after she told a family member her mother had killed Gary McCullough, and many close to the case believe the two are related.
Could Sandra Klemp still be criminally prosecuted?
Because there's no statute of limitations on murder in Missouri, it remains legally possible if sufficient new evidence emerged, though no charges have been filed as of the most recent reporting.
Is there a documentary about this case?
Yes. It was the subject of the sixth and final episode of Netflix's 2020 "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot, titled "Missing Witness."