A Maryland man has been arrested in connection to the death of his wife 24 years after she went missing.
Michelle Rust was just 24 years old when she went missing in July 2002 from her family’s home in Arbutus.
More than two decades later, her husband, Dwight “DJ” Rust Jr., was arrested on Tuesday, April 21, on a murder charge in connection with her disappearance, Baltimore County police confirmed in a statement.
Dwight, 48, reported Michelle missing on the afternoon of July 20, 2002, and authorities reported to the couple’s home to look into the matter. He allegedly told responding officers that Michelle went to the store to shop for their son’s upcoming third birthday party earlier that morning, though she never returned home.
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Authorities set out on a search, and Michelle’s father-in-law found her vehicle in the nearby town of Lansdowne. Police looked at the vehicle and said the key had been broken off on the driver’s side door.
Investigators conducted several witness interviews and learned that Michelle was never seen leaving her home that morning, while no one reported seeing her driving her vehicle.
Additionally, investigators found that there was no financial activity in her bank account following her disappearance. Due to the discovery and the fact that she was dependent on medication for her diabetes, police speculated that she was a victim of foul play. Her friends and family also told police the situation was out of character for her, as she would not have left her 3-year-old behind.
It’s not currently clear what evidence linked Dwight to the crime. However, police previously said they never ruled anyone out as suspects except for Michelle’s parents.
In light of his recent arrest, Dwight has been charged with first-degree murder. During a court appearance on Wednesday, April 22, a judge ordered that Dwight remain behind bars without bail.
Dwight’s defense attorney shared insight into the case during a press briefing, in which he said he has “not heard a single theory or any factual evidence that shows that Mr. Rush was involved in his wife Michelle’s disappearance,” according to WBAL.
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It is not currently clear if Dwight has entered a plea. The Baltimore County Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case regarding the developing case.
Officials never gave up on Michelle’s case, and the Baltimore County police detectives worked with a team of Towson University forensic students to search the Rusts’ home for evidence in 2023.
“We are out here today to do ground-penetrating radar just in an effort to try to obtain any information related to her disappearance,” Dana Carter, with Baltimore County police, told WBAL-TV 11 News at the time.
