Bob Kasarda

LAPORTE — LaPorte County police have reopened a 36-year-old cold case involving the discoveries of two deceased teens.

The case goes back to March 11, 1989 when county police responded to Ind. 8, approximately one mile west of Ind. 39 where a body was found in a water-filled ditch.

The deceased was identified as 16-year-old Tamara Gifford of Florida, who had relatives in neighboring Starke County, police said.

Two days later, detectives found the body of 17-year-old Christina Hillis, also from Florida, in the general area where Gifford’s body had been located.

"The deaths of Gifford and Hillis were estimated to have occurred in December of 1988," police said.

Police said they conducted many interviews in the wake of the discoveries and learned the females had been reporte

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