July 2024 Marks 41st Anniversary of Disappearance of Former Brevard Beauty Queen and Actress Tammy Leppert
By Matt O'Hern - Podcast Credit: Edward Dentzel - Host of UnFound Podcast // July 11, 2024
Leppert disappeared In 1983 shortly after performing in the chainsaw scene for the movie 'Scarface'
Leppert disappeared next to the now-demolished Cocoa Beach Glass Bank. To this day, no suspect has officially been named.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – July 6 marked the 41st anniversary that local and national media have covered the disappearance of former Brevard County beauty queen and actress Tammy Leppert of Rockledge.
She began participating in beauty contests when she was four years old, competing in nearly 300 beauty pageants and taking home about 280 crowns. Leppert was employed primarily as a model throughout her adolescent and teenage years,[1] appearing on the cover of CoverGirl magazine in October 1978.
Just before her disappearance in 1983, Leppert appeared in the film Scarface as the girl who distracts the lookout car during the bloody chainsaw scene.
Before that, among other minor roles, she played a party girl in Little Darlings (1980) and a participant in a boxing match in Spring Break (1983). Reportedly, Leppert’s legs, hips and torso were used in the main poster for the latter movie. It is also claimed she had plans to go to Hollywood in 1983. Leppert had a lead role playing herself in a film called Cover Girl Behind the Scenes.
“Today is the anniversary of when my sister Tammy came up missing on July 6, 1983, from Cocoa Beach Florida,” said Leppert’s sister in a recent Facebook post.
“I care very much about finding her. I have looked for her for a very long time now. I have done everything I can to find her. I can’t find her. I just please want to know is she ok. Is she alive or dead? Please keep her in your prayers to find her. It’s been way too long not knowing what happened to my sister. Someone must know something. Please share her information and flyer. I do look for her alive and Unidentified Jane Does. Some one must know what happened to her. Someone needs to please start talking.”
In 1983, shortly after Leppert finished her work in a brief acting scene for the movie Scarface, she disappeared next to the now-demolished Cocoa Beach Glass Bank.
To this day, no suspect has officially been named.
National media, including the TV series “Unsolved Mysteries” covered Leppert’s disappearance. Leppert’s disappearance was also covered in the “Unfound” podcast show, hosted by Edward Dentzel of Madeira Beach, Florida. The show is hosted on UnFoundPodcast.com
Extensive documentation of the case was posted by Anthony Wayne, a true crime blogger at CrimeBlogger1983.blogspot.com. Wayne was a guest on the Unfound podcast and shared information he received from a recent interview with Tammy Leppert’s family.
Tammy Lynn Leppert Case Facts:
■ Date Of Birth: February 5, 1965
■ Date of Disappearance: July 6, 1983
■ Age at Time of Disappearance: 18 years old
■ Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5-feet-4; 105 pounds
■ Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian. Curly blonde hair; hazel eyes.
■ Clothing: Leppert was last seen wearing a blue blouse with flower appliques on the shoulder and a denim skirt. She was not wearing shoes, nor was she carrying a purse.
■ Medical Conditions: She may have been 3 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
■ Circumstances of Disappearance: Leppert, whose resume lists Miss Teen Florida and Miss Sun and Surf titles among her accomplishments, drove away with a male friend, who later told police he left her outside a Cocoa Beach bank after an argument.
■ Agency Case Number: 21292
■ NCIC Number: M-104282291
If you have any information concerning Leppert’s whereabouts, please contact the Cocoa Beach Police Department at 321-868-3269. All information may be submitted on an anonymous basis.
Below is the UnFound podcast episode which aired in the fall of 2017, as well as additional information from various publications and family members who have kept stories alive for more than three decades.
Excerpt a Facebook Page started by Tammy’s sister, Suzanne:(Facebook.com/pg/findtammyleppert)
“My name is Suzanne.Tammy Lynn Leppert is my sister.She came up missing in Cocoa Beach Florida on July 6th 1983.I care very much of what became of her.
This face book page I started now.I had a face book account for my sister Tammy for many years.But it got deleted because I could have only one face book account.So I started this page for her to help find her now and the message board I care missing persons cold cases was started by me in 2004.This board is dedicated to her from me.It is my family board the CBPD has worked with.The pictures and information on this board you see is of my sister.Her name is Tammy Lynn Leppert.She came up missing in 1983 from Cocoa Beach Florida.she was 18 when she came up missing in 1983.She has never been found.I care very much of what became of her.In my heart I do not feel she is alive and well out there any more.But I pray in Jesus’s name she is .Someone,somewhere still has to care of what became of her.I do.We have worked with the CBPD and the FDLE for about 18 years now .Tammy and I have the same blood birth mother.They use me as a family contact for many years now.We have done a lot of work to try and find her.We called in the FDLE to help look for her in 1997 and again in about 2008.We had a few age progressions made for her made many years ago and again recently.I wrote and emailed many times every medical examiner and Sheriffs offices in the United States and other places over the years to find her.I put her on every board and missing persons sites I could find to help find her a long time ago .Most of the information on the internet is from my board for her to help find her and information I gave to them to help find her over the years.If you know any thing of where my sister Tammy is Please contact the Cocoa Beach Police Department and please also let me know.I just want to please know is she alive or dead.”
Sources:
- Cocoa Beach Police Department report filed in vital statistics
- Unsolved Mysteries
- IMBD.com Filmography of Tammy Lynn Leppert
- Anthony Wayne – Crime Blogger
- CharleyProject.com
