By  Seamus McGraw

October 10, 2006

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BURLINGTON, Vt. (Crime Library) — Authorities probing the disappearance of a 21-year-old University of Vermont co-ed who vanished after spending an evening out with friends are looking for a blond- haired white male who may be able to shed some light on the case.

Authorities have not identified the muscular, six-foot tall man who was seen driving a white hatchback as a suspect in the early Saturday morning disappearance of Michelle Gardener-Quinn. But they are interested in talking to him after another woman told them that he approached her the next day a short distance from the spot where Michelle was last seen and asked her to get into his car. Authorities have described the car as a white "Subaru-type" hatchback, possibly with Vermont plates.

Michelle Gardner-Quinn

So far, authorities have no evidence that Michelle was the victim of foul play, though in a statement on its web page the Burlington Police Department, which is being assisted in the probe by state authorities and the FBI described her disappearance as "highly suspicious."

Burlington Police Patch

The young co-ed, a senior majoring in Latin American studies and environmental studies who had traveled extensively overseas during her years at school was last seen early Saturday morning after having spent the evening with a group of her friends, one of whom was celebrating a birthday. Michelle had apparently broken off from the group around 2:15 a.m. and began walking back toward the campus, accompanied, witnesses said, by a person she had only just met.

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