Letter prompts new investigation into 1988 disappearance of Piia Ristikankare in Piikkio, Finland

In March, a letter addressed to crime journalist Tuomas Rimpiläinen arrived at the Yle office. Typically, such letters come from older individuals who have seen him on television or heard him on the radio. On March 15, Rimpiläinen opened the letter, which was unusually secured, requiring him to tear it open to access the contents. The sender’s identity was not disclosed.

The letter expressed knowledge about the disappearance of 15-year-old Piia Ristikankare from Piikkio in 1988, a case that remains unresolved nearly 36 years later. The National Bureau of Investigation suspects that Ristikankare was murdered, but neither the body nor the killer has been found. In autumn 2023, police investigations focused on the Ristikankare family home, where Piia was last seen alive. Heikki Ristikankare, Piia’s father, has been a suspect in the case since the late 2010s but denies any wrongdoing, with no substantial evidence against him.

Rimpiläinen met Heikki Ristikankare in May 2024. During their visit, Heikki shared memories of the police investigation and the family’s challenges since Piia’s disappearance. He had never heard of the individual mentioned in the letter.

Weeks later, Heikki passed away at the age of 86. The letter raised new suspicions about a man living in Kaarina, who matched a physical description provided by the anonymous sender, suggesting he could be linked to the case. This individual firmly rejected any association with Ristikankare’s disappearance, claiming it might be an attempt to harass him.

The police have requested the original letter for further examination, highlighting the ongoing interest in solving the long-standing case of Piia Ristikankare’s disappearance.