Veronica Lynn Safranski

When Veronica “Voni” Safranski disappeared on October 26, 1996, she left behind four children who would grow up in the shadow of unanswered questions. Her daughter Lisa, just 13 at the time, remembers waiting that stormy night, expecting her mother to return from a Halloween party at Mick’s Bar. But Voni, who had been going through a separation, never came home. Her children, ages 11 to 21, endured years of heartbreak as tips came and went, each one renewing hope, only to leave them devastated. Their father, Edmund, became the foundation of their lives, helping them push forward, though the family was haunted by a deep void. Today, Lisa and her siblings are married with families of their own, yet they still yearn for answers.
Missing Person: Veronica Lynn Safranski
• NamUs Case Number: MP329
• Date of Last Contact: October 26, 1996
• Missing From: Warren, Minnesota
• Missing Age: 40 years old
• Current Age: 68 years old
• Sex: Female
• Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
• Height: 5 feet 3 inches (63 inches)
• Weight: 105 pounds
• Hair Color: Blond/Strawberry
• Eye Color: Blue
Circumstances of Disappearance:
• Veronica “Voni” Safranski attended a Halloween party at Mick’s Bar in Warren, Minnesota, on the night of October 26, 1996. She was last seen at approximately 12:30 a.m. after a friend went to the restroom and could not locate her upon returning. Witnesses reported that she left the bar with a man named Kevin Skjerven, driving a black 1977 Dodge Power Wagon pickup truck.
• Voni left her coat and purse behind at the bar. A month later, her costume belt was found three miles from Skjerven’s home in rural Newfolden. Skjerven has a history of sexual offenses and was questioned as a person of interest but has not been named a suspect.
Physical Description:
• Distinctive Features:
• Clothing: American Indian Halloween costume
• Jewelry: Mary Kay brand ring with diamonds shaped like an “S.”
Additional Information:
• Voni was a devoted mother of four, and her children have been seeking closure for nearly 27 years. They express the need to know what happened to their mother, stating, “We just want her back.”
• The case remains active, with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office continuing to investigate any leads that arise.
Contact Information:
• If you have any information regarding Veronica Safranski’s case, please contact the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department at 218-745-5411.