If you’ve spent any time in the true crime world, you know the name. It’s the case that feels like it should have been solved thirty years ago. On June 7, 1992, Sherrill Levitt, Suzie Streeter, and Stacy McCall basically vanished into thin air from a house on Delmar Street. They left behind their purses, their cars, and even a flickering TV.
Since then, everyone from the FBI to local armchair sleuths has been looking for any sign of robert craig cox springfield three remains found in the Missouri soil.
But here is the blunt reality as of early 2026: despite the rumors, the "anomalies" under concrete, and the taunts of a convicted killer, no remains have ever been recovered. We are still waiting. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating things about this case. Every few years, a headline pops up suggesting a breakthrough, but the Springfield Police Department continues to list the three women as missing.
Who is Robert Craig Cox and why do people think he did it?
Robert Craig Cox isn't just some random guy the police picked out of a lineup. He’s a convicted kidnapper and a former death row inmate from Florida. His conviction for the 1988 murder of Sharon Zellars was eventually overturned due to a lack of physical evidence, which is how he ended up back in Springfield, Missouri, in 1992.
He was working as an underground utility worker in the area at the time of the disappearances.
That’s a big deal.
If you know the layout of Springfield, you know how much construction was happening back then. Cox had the skills and the access to bury something—or someone—where they’d never be found. When investigators first talked to him, his girlfriend at the time gave him an alibi. She later admitted she lied. That lie is a massive red flag that investigators haven't been able to move past for decades.
The 1996 prison interview that changed everything
In 1996, while sitting in a Texas prison for an unrelated robbery, Cox told a reporter named Dennis Graves, "I know they are dead."
He didn't stop there. He claimed he knew where they were buried and hinted that he might reveal the location after his mother passed away. His mother has since died. Cox is still alive—currently serving a life sentence at the Polunsky Unit in Texas—and he hasn't said a word about the location since.
Some people think he’s just a narcissist playing a game. Others believe he’s the only person on earth who knows where Sherrill, Suzie, and Stacy are.
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The parking garage theory: Are the remains under Cox Hospital?
If you search for robert craig cox springfield three remains found, you’re going to run into the hospital parking lot theory. It is the most persistent urban legend in Missouri.
In 2007, a local reporter hired a mechanical engineer to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) on the south parking garage of Cox Hospital. The scan found three "anomalies." They were roughly the same size and shape as human bodies.
People lost their minds.
The logic seemed sound: the garage was under construction in 1992. Cox was a construction worker. It was the perfect hiding spot. But the Springfield Police Department refused to dig. Why? Because the cost of tearing up a functional hospital parking garage is astronomical, and GPR is notoriously finicky. It can pick up pieces of rebar, air pockets, or old pipes just as easily as it can pick up a burial site.
Why hasn't anyone dug it up yet?
The police maintain that they need "probable cause" or a "credible tip" to justify the destruction of the property. They’ve stated publicly that the 2007 radar results don't meet that threshold.
Janis McCall, Stacy’s mother, has spent over thirty years fighting for answers. She’s been incredibly vocal about wanting the area cored or searched just to rule it out. It’s hard to imagine the pain of knowing exactly where your daughter might be, but being told it’s too expensive to check.
Breaking down the facts: What we actually know
It’s easy to get lost in the "what ifs," so let’s look at the hard data.
- The Scene: There was no struggle at the house. The only thing broken was a glass porch light globe. Someone cleaned it up, too.
- The Message: There was a weird, suggestive message on the answering machine that a friend accidentally deleted before the police could hear it.
- The Suspects: Aside from Cox, people have looked at Larry DeWayne Hall and even Suzie’s brother, Bartt (who was cleared).
- Current Status: As of 2026, Robert Craig Cox remains in a Texas prison. He became eligible for parole in March 2025, but his status hasn't resulted in a release or a confession.
The case isn't closed. It’s "cold," but the Springfield PD still gets tips. Most of them are junk, but they still have to check.
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Moving forward: What needs to happen for a resolution?
We aren't going to find the Springfield Three by accident. After thirty-plus years, any remains would be skeletal. They won't just "turn up" in a field.
The resolution of this case is going to come from one of two things. First, a deathbed confession from Robert Craig Cox. He’s 66 years old now. He’s spent most of his life behind bars. If he truly did it, the window for him to "make it right" is closing.
The second possibility is advances in technology. We’ve seen incredible breakthroughs with DNA and forensic mapping in the last five years. Maybe a new type of non-invasive scanning could prove once and for all what those anomalies under the Cox Hospital garage actually are.
Actionable insights for true crime followers
If you are following the robert craig cox springfield three remains found updates, here is how you can actually help instead of just speculating:
- Support the Families: Organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children still carry their profiles. Keeping their faces in the public eye prevents the case from being filed away and forgotten.
- Report Real Leads: If you lived in Springfield in 1992 and saw something—anything—that felt off near the hospital or the Delmar house, call the Springfield Police Department. Even "small" details can break a case decades later.
- Pressure for Scientific Testing: Public interest can sometimes push departments to use newer, less-invasive technologies. We don't necessarily need to tear down a garage; we just need better data.
The Springfield Three aren't just a "mystery." They were three women with lives, families, and futures. Sherrill was a talented hairdresser. Stacy and Suzie had just graduated high school and were ready to start their lives. They deserve more than to be a footnote in a killer's game. Until remains are found and verified, the search continues.
Stay skeptical of "breaking news" headlines that don't cite the Springfield PD or the FBI directly. When—and if—these women are found, it will be the biggest news in Missouri history.
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Next Steps for Readers
If you want to dive deeper into the technical side of the investigation, you can review the 2007 GPR reports available through local archives or follow the official Springfield Police Department cold case portal for verified updates. Advocacy groups like "The Springfield Three" social media pages often coordinate vigils and awareness campaigns that could use your signal-boosting.