Paula Merchant was 25 years old when she disappeared on January 4, 1999. Merchant lived in Forest Acres in Columbia, South Carolina, and her disappearance continues to haunt the city, 26 years later.
Merchant’s 1989 Nissan Sentra was found on fire on that cold January morning on Commerce Drive. Inside the vehicle, her purse was found with keys in the ignition, but Paula was nowhere to be seen.
Someone knows exactly what happened to Paula Merchant on that day: maybe that person is you.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Paula Merchant, contact Lt. Kevin Isenhoward of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 803-576-3000 or call Crimestoppers at 1-888-Crime-SC.