A Maryland man has been arrested in connection with the death of his wife, 24 years after she went missing.
Michelle Rust, 24, went missing in July 2002 from her family’s house 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 said.
Dwight, 48, reported Michelle missing on the afternoon of July 20, 2002, and officers went to the couple’s home to investigate. He allegedly informed responding officers that Michelle had gone to the store earlier that morning to shop for his son’s forthcoming third birthday celebration, but she never returned.
Authorities launched a search, and Michelle’s father-in-law located her vehicle in the adjacent town of Lansdowne. Police examined the vehicle and discovered that the key had been broken off on the driver’s side door.
Investigators interviewed multiple witnesses and discovered that Michelle was never seen leaving her home that morning, and no one reported seeing her driving her vehicle.
Additionally, authorities discovered no financial activity in her bank account following her abduction. Because of the discovery and the fact that she was on diabetes medication, authorities suspected she was a victim of foul play. Her friends and family also informed authorities that the circumstance was out of character for her, as she would not have abandoned her 3-year-old child.
It’s unclear what evidence linked Dwight to the crime. However, authorities previously stated that they had never ruled out anyone as a suspect, with the exception of Michelle’s parents.
In light of his recent arrest, Dwight has been charged with first-degree murder. During a court hearing on Wednesday, April 22, a judge ordered Dwight to remain in custody without bail.
During a press event, Dwight’s defense counsel said that he has “not heard a single theory or any factual evidence that shows that Mr. Rush was involved in his wife Michelle’s disappearance,” as reported by WBAL.
It is presently unclear whether Dwight has entered a plea. The Baltimore County Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for information on 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.
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