Labor Day Mystery Haunts A Small Massachusetts Town Years Later

In 1977, Simone Ridinger was what one may call a free spirit, a boho-princess, a hippie.

Simone’s sister would later recall some of Simone’s antics, which included running off to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and asking her sister to call her off work.

There was never a dull moment with Simone around.

At age 17, Simone was also a responsible girl, although her adventurous spirit often took over. It was summer, and she was working a job at a local restaurant and had just obtained her own apartment in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Not bad for a teenager.

As Labor Day approached, Simone was making plans. Her mother was going to be out on Martha’s Vineyard for a week at their family cottage, and Simone was planning on traveling out there to stay with her mom.

That Friday, September 2, Simone clocked out of work at the Rainbow Restaurant in Sherborn, Massachusetts, around 3:00 p.m. A coworker saw her go into the bathroom and change clothes before leaving.