The Unsolved disappearance of Theresa Insana
Justice for Theresa Insana: Help Solve This Cold Case
On October 26, 2004, 26-year-old Theresa Insana disappeared from her Las Vegas home. Days later, her body was discovered, but her murder remains unsolved. Nearly two decades later, her family and friends are still fighting for justice. In our latest Sins and Survivors episode, we explore Theresa’s life, the circumstances of her disappearance, and efforts to identify her killer.
Who Was Theresa Insana?
Theresa, born in Niagara Falls, NY, was a vibrant and caring person. A top student, cheerleader, and dancer, she later attended SUNY Binghamton, earning a psychology degree. She moved to Las Vegas to build a career, landing a job at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Despite the distance, she stayed close with family and friends, regularly sending cards and updates.
The Disappearance & Investigation
On October 26, Theresa called her mom at 6:30 PM, sounding normal. But by 7:30, she was unreachable. Concerned coworkers checked on her two days later and found her car, phone, purse, and dog, Frankie, at home—signs she hadn’t left willingly. Police discovered blood stains, a missing towel rack, and a large footprint in her house. Days later, her body was found near Hualapai Way and Peace Way, wrapped in blankets, duct tape, and rope. She had been strangled and suffered blunt force trauma.
A DNA Breakthrough
In 2017, retired investigator Yolanda McClary funded DNA Phenotyping by Parabon NanoLabs. The analysis suggested the suspect was of Southeast Asian descent, possibly Filipino. Despite widespread circulation of the age-progressed sketch, no match has been found.
How You Can Help
Theresa’s case remains open, and you can support efforts to find her killer:
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Follow & Share: Justice for Theresa Insana on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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Donate: Support the documentary at theresainsanadocumentary.com.
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Submit DNA: Help law enforcement by uploading your DNA to the DNA Justice Database.
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Scholarship Fund: Contribute to the Theresa Insana Memorial Scholarship, supporting Niagara Falls students.
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Report Tips: Call Las Vegas Metro PD at 702-828-3521, Cold Case Voicemail 702-828-8973, or email coldcasehomicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or report online.
Keeping Hope Alive
Theresa’s family won’t stop fighting for answers. Tragically, her father, Joe Insana, passed away in 2021 without seeing justice, but her loved ones continue their pursuit. With advancements in forensic genealogy and increased public awareness, they remain hopeful that someone will come forward with information to finally solve this case.
Listen to our full coverage on Sins and Survivors at sinspod.co/71.
John
Co-Host
Your co-host John comes to you with 25 years of technology consulting experience and a strong interest in True Crime. John will host the Tech Corner episodes that punctuate Sins & Survivors. In those episodes, his focus will be educating people on the pitfalls of privacy in the digital age, and endeavor to make everyone a bit safer. Topics like cyberstalking, online safety, removal of information from online directories, and new privacy features on mobile devices are just a few topics we'll cover. Email him your questions at Tech@SinsandSurvivors.com
