LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) - The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office has reignited an investigation into a 36-year-old cold case.

The case had to do with two reported runaway teens from Florida. Their bodies were found three months later here in Michiana.

On March 11, 1989, LaPorte County sheriff’s deputies were called to the area of State Road 8, about a mile west of State Road 39, for a body found in a water-filled ditch. It was later identified as 16-year-old Tamara Gifford.

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

Officials say Gifford had relatives who lived in Starke County, which could explain why they were in our area.

As time passed, no new information developed, and the case grew cold.

Sev

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