Michele Cecile Wallace: The Shocking Death of a Rising Photographer

Michele Cecile Wallace befriended a predator and disappeared without a trace.Photo byThe Wallace Family

25-year-old Michele Cecile Wallace was born to George Sr. and Margaret Wallace in Chicago, Illinois, in 1949. As a teen, she developed an interest in photography and often took photos of areas and people around the city. After she graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School, she left home to attend Utah State College but dropped out after only two years and moved to Gunnison, Colorado, in early 1974.

While traveling through Denver, Michele met Roy Allan Melanson, a drifter who hailed from Texas and survived by using people for his benefit. He was also a compulsive liar and master manipulator who gained trust due to his friendly demeanor. On the other hand, he portrayed a façade that allowed him to commit crimes against his unsuspecting victims. Little did Michele know she crossed paths with a career criminal.

Roy had an extensive criminal record that included assault and burglary. Since he was transient, he could commit his crimes and move on without detection. He was also intimidating due to his tall stature and piercing glare. However, Michele likely didn’t suspect she was in danger upon meeting Roy because his predatory background was unknown to her.

When Michele didn’t contact her family, they feared she was kidnapped or a victim of foul play. She called her mother and father nearly every day. Therefore, her lack of communication was unusual.

One tragic event that occurred only several weeks after Michele's disappearance was her mother's suicide. When Margaret feared that Michele was no longer alive, she lost her will to live.

During an investigation into Michele’s disappearance, authorities discovered that Chris Matthews, a rancher, briefly crossed paths with her. The encounter between Chris, Michele, and Roy also involved Wallace’s red Mazda Volkswagen and her pet German Shephard Okie:

Wallace dropped off the men at a bar, but Melanson asked if she would drive him a short distance down the road to where his car was parked. Matthews found this odd, since Melanson had told him he didn't own a car. Nonetheless, Matthews watched as Melanson rode away with Wallace and her dog. It was the last time anyone other than Melanson would see her alive. – Courtesy of The Pueblo Chieftain

In September 1974, Roy was arrested in Pueblo, Colorado, while parked in front of a local high school. When a detective searched his car, he found Michele’s Mazda registration and car key. He also retrieved a pawn shop ticket detailing Michele's professional camera and accessories and a roll of film, including shots of local Denver and Gunnison residents and Okie. Also, there were several personal photos; one displayed Roy and a young, unidentified woman who sat in the background.

Only one week after Michele's disappearance, Okie was shot to death by a farmer who claimed to be protecting his livestock. He was identified by his dog tag.

In June 1979, a married couple and their friends found a pair of sun-bleached braided ponytails less than a mile from their cabin. Ironically, Michele wore a similar hairstyle often, and a forensic examination confirmed the ponytails belonged to her.

In 1992, Necro search workers discovered Michele's skeletal remains on a mountain incline. One of the remains the workers located first was a sun-bleached human skull with a gold tooth attached.

Twenty years earlier, Michele’s father told the police that she had a similar tooth due to extensive dental work. A police report included his revelation, and it helped workers determine the skull belonged to Michele.

Roy was serving a prison sentence for burglary during the discovery. He was extradited to Colorado to stand trial and received a life sentence. His arrogance also helped the parole board deny his release despite his choice to attend the hearing via closed-circuit television.

Roy submitted his DNA for another test and was connected to three other crimes:

In 1988, Charlotte Sauerwin was found lifeless in a local laundromat. Forensic analysts discovered evidence that her killer was in close contact with her at the time of her death.

Anita Fagiani-Andrews was found lifeless on her family's lounge floor in 1974. Before her death, a man stood outside alone while acting suspiciously. While Anita cleaned and prepared to close the lounge for the night, the man, later identified as Roy, was the only other individual in the area.

Roy attacked Katherine O. in August 1972. The encounter started when he offered to help change her flat tire. She defended herself against his aggressive advances until he overpowered her and then assaulted her repeatedly.

Although a forensic test linked Roy’s DNA to various crimes in 2007, he never faced a trial due to his older age. He maintained his innocence and never held himself accountable for his crimes before he died in 2020.