THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 2, 1996 TAG: 9601020047
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
The husband of a missing 28-year-old woman said Monday that he fears the worst.
``I don't have a clue'' to her fate, said Robert W. Denney, 31. ``All I can assume - and the police have told me to prepare for the worst - I believe, and I have believed since yesterday, that she may be dead.''
Stephanie F. Denney was reported missing Saturday by her husband.
She was last seen by him at their home in the 1600 block of Darrow St. about 3:45 p.m., police said, when she left to go to a tanning salon. After the tanning session, she was to have met with the business manager of her husband's company, which police have described as ``a large-scale professional escort service.''
The woman did not show up for either appointment, police said.
``I hope it's a prank, but I just know it's not a prank,'' Robert Denney said Monday. ``And I'm here to tell you that she didn't run away. Everything that she has is still here. She had access to the company money bag, and there's about $5,000 in it, and it's right here.''
Denney said she also had access to all the company's accounts, which he said are untouched.
Denney said his company, the Denney Corp., in the 5200 block of Challedon Drive, is ``a referral service'' for go-go dancers.
He said he didn't like talking about the business ``because what we are talking about is my wife is missing.'' But he added that he knows the business may play a role in her vanishing. ``It really is possible,'' he said.
Police initially described Stephanie Denney as a co-owner of the business, but Robert Denney said she was not.
``Being my wife, and the business is a simple business to run, if I needed a hand, she helped,'' Denney said. ``But she wasn't an employee. I own 100 percent of the stock. It's a privately held company.''
On Monday, police spokesman Lou Thurston said only that the investigation is continuing and that police are encouraging anyone with information to call investigators.
Denney said that while there are several people whom he described as ``disgruntled former employees,'' he doesn't believe they are responsible for her disappearance.
``In my mind, if someone abducted her with the intent of robbery or rape, they would have done what they wanted to do and then discarded her,'' Denney said. ``We're going into 48 hours and no one has heard hide or hair of her. Something is not right here.''
Stephanie Denney is described as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 100 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket and white shoes.
She was driving a 1994 GMC Safari that is white with brown trim and has Virginia license ZTX-3197.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at 427-0000. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Stephanie F. Denney, 28, was last seen driving a white 1994 GMC
Safari with brown trim, Virginia license ZTX-3197.
KEYWORDS: MISSING PERSON by CNB