Most 21st birthdays are celebrated with fun filled evenings of pub crawls and fun times. At 21, most of us were more worried about where everyone was going Thursday night. No one plans for their 21st birthday to be their last birthday. But for one coed, that’s exactly what it was. Tracey Diane Neilson, born on January 5, 1960, was a woman known for her vibrant personality. She excelled in academics and sports, and exhibited a passion for life. She went on to join Pi Beta Phi Sorority at Oklahoma State University, where she met her future husband, Jeff Neilson, a pre-med student. They married in July 1980, and moved to Moore so Jeff could attend medical school; Tracey transferred to the University of Oklahoma. In the newlyweds’ apartment, on her 21st birthday, January 5, 1981, Tracey was found horrifically stabbed over 20 times. Despite extensive investigations by authorities, including a task force and technological advancements years later, her killer and motive remained elusive. Details emerged about YEARS LATER, but no conclusive leads were generated. Jeff Neilson and Tracey's family continued to seek closure, offering various rewards over the years for any information leading to the apprehension of her murderer. 

Jess’ case this week is an unsolved, cold case. For any information regarding Tracey Neilson's murder, contact the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017 or email [email protected].

Sources:

https://oklahomacoldcases.org/tracey-neilson/

https://www.koco.com/article/sister-osbi-continue-to-have-hope-in-solving-40-year-cold-case-of-slain-woman/35172339

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/cold-case-spotlight/could-missing-key-chain-be-key-solving-travey-neilsons-murder-n394676

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65142250/tracey-diane-neilson

https://morbidology.com/who-killed-tracey-neilson/

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/columns/2015/07/10/osbi-officials-release-evidence-in-34-year-old-moore-homicide/60735812007/

https://medium.com/@jennbaxter_69070/the-horrific-murder-of-tracey-neilson-46c2e27f0040