Baltimore County, MD – An arrest has been made today in a decades-old missing person case that has remained unsolved since 2002, bringing renewed attention to the disappearance of Michelle Rust.
According to the Baltimore County Police Department, a grand jury indicted Dwight “DJ” Rust Jr. on Tuesday, April 20, 2026, on a charge of first-degree murder. He was arrested Wednesday and is currently being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center. Authorities noted the indictment remains sealed.
The case dates back to Saturday, July 20, 2002, when officers responded around 3:00 p.m. to the 1800 block of Clarke Boulevard in the Towson area for a reported missing person. According to police, Rust allegedly told officers his wife had left their home earlier that morning to pick up items for their son’s third birthday party but never returned.
She was last seen driving a green Dodge van. A search by police and family members led to the discovery of the vehicle in the 2400 block of Zion Road. Authorities said it was found parked and unoccupied, with a key broken off in the driver’s door lock.
Investigators have not publicly detailed what led to the recent indictment, but the development marks a significant step in a case that has spanned nearly 24 years.
Officials have not released additional information as the investigation continues.
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