Skye Lynn Budnick was a 21-year-old junior at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut, studying international business with a minor in Japanese, a choice rooted in her longstanding passion for Japanese culture, anime, and manga, which she had enjoyed since middle school. Skye was described by her family and those who knew her as a sweet, hardworking, but deeply introverted and shy young woman who struggled to make friends and adapt socially, though she maintained a small close-knit group. She was quiet and isolated, with her personal time largely devoted to watching or reading Japanese anime and manga; the only known school activity she regularly participated in was the university’s anime club.

On her Facebook page, she occasionally shared simple comics featuring a stick-figure cat named “Sticky,” with her last note dated October 17, 2007 (later edited on March 13, 2021, likely by family members maintaining the page). Academically, Skye was struggling with her courses at the time of her disappearance but had no record of disciplinary issues.

Skye’s social challenges mirrored a deepening struggle with depression, which had a history in her family. In January 2007, she posted online about dissatisfaction with her workplace, a situation that had not apparently improved by October based on later posts. By early 2008, her depressive tendencies had worsened, though she refused medical help, insisting she could manage on her own. Several setbacks that year compounded her difficulties: she was unhappy at school and work, had an argument with one of her closest friends, and in March 2008, she was heartbroken to learn she had missed the deadline for her university’s study abroad program to Japan—a lifelong dream that wouldn’t be available again until after graduation.

Then on the first day of April, Skye simply flew away from everything.

On March 31, 2008, Skye was last seen by her family at their home in Southington; she mentioned casually that she planned to stay at a friend’s dorm for a few days but seemingly said nothing about traveling abroad.

Most articles state that Skye had not provided her family with any information about the trip (Link); however The Japan Times reported that she had left the family a note that was later found after her disappearance stating that she would be staying with a friend while in Hokkaido (Link). This may have been a mix-up however with the reference to staying in her friend’s dorm. 

Regardless, it appears that unbeknownst to her family at the time, Skye had purchased a one-way ticket to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, with a layover in Tokyo. She had reportedly booked a similar ticket earlier in 2008 but canceled it, possibly in anticipation of the study abroad program. Rumors suggest she had been saving money for the trip, indicating some level of planning, though the extent remains unclear.

Skye boarded her flight on April 1, 2008, from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and arrived in Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital, on April 2. She left without most personal belongings, taking only her laptop, Nintendo DS, and approximately $1,000 in cash; she had no cellphone or bank cards, and her car was later found in the airport parking garage.

The airline has confirmed that Skye made it on her flights and successfully arrived in Sapporo. For about a week, Skye traveled around Hokkaido, visiting tourist spots including hot springs and spas in the south. Her last confirmed sighting was on April 7, 2008, when she checked into a hostel in Noboribetsu, a southern town known for its thousands of cherry trees lining the road and for its onsen (hot springs). She appeared upbeat and positive while speaking with the innkeeper about her plans to return to Sapporo, and her email showed a purchase for a one-way ticket (mode and date is unclear) back to the city. After that, her trail vanished.

When Skye didn’t contact her family after four days, they grew concerned and accessed her email on April 4, discovering the itinerary. They reported her missing to Southington Police, who involved Interpol, and located her car at the airport within an hour—nothing suspicious was found.

In her email, family also discovered a drafted, unsent letter to a friend expressing a desire to see Japan’s cherry blossoms. Some say the letter included suicidal ideas but others say it was more reflective of just starting anew. She had previously mentioned to family that if she were to commit suicide, she would like to do so in Japan; so this note was particularly upsetting. 

The choice of Hokkaido for cherry blossoms was unusual, as the trees bloom from south to north, typically not reaching the island until late April or early May—later than in central areas like Tokyo. Immigration details, such as whether she presented a return ticket (often required but not always strictly enforced for short stays), are unconfirmed.

I [the author of this site] visited Sapporo back in late April of 2018 (nearly a decade later admittedly) and it is a beautiful city. When I visited, the trees were in full blossom and the streets were filled with traces of the onset of spring. Sapporo has several shopping districts and parks, as well as many delicious restaurants to feast in. The railways and city are both easy to navigate and there are plenty of small hostels and inns to stay at. If you follow the railway line to the coast, you’ll come across the small suburb of Otaru.There tourists can find views of the ocean as well as shopping streets filled with traditional craftsmen and museums. It is a lovely place and would have easily attracted Skye’s interest.

Skye’s mother and sister rapidly flew to Japan to file a missing person’s report and to conduct their own search for the missing girl. The police and American Embassy both assisted in the search and issued search teams and helicopters to comb the surrounding natural areas. The investigation was however hindered by the fact that at 21, Skye is a legal adult and concerns about her mental state were insufficient to override the laws protecting her right to privacy and independence as an adult. 

The family does have a Go Fund Me running to raise financial support for their continued search. On January 19th of 2024, Skye’s sister Megan announced on the site that they were planning to return to Japan to search once more.

Although most of the online resources seem to have been strongly biased towards the suicide theories, there is no actual evidence that Skye traveled to Japan for that purpose. The email in her inbox had not been sent to her friend and Skye was active on the island for at least a week after arriving. She was finally getting to experience a lifelong dream, so her emotions should have actually been pretty positive. Furthermore, Skye was unfamiliar with Japan and it would have been very difficult for her to have found a place where, to this day, her remains have been undiscovered. Is is possible, but seems unlikely.

Skye may have been enticed to the country by an unknown online acquaintance. She was a very private individual and her family would not necessarily have known if she was speaking with someone. Skye is rumored to have been active on some of the sites popular with anime/manga enthusiasts (e.g., Deviant Art) and she might have been messaging someone on those sites instead of through email. Police have not classified the case as criminal.

It is unclear if immigration confirmed whether she showed a return ticket when entering through customs (a popular requirement in Asian countries). If she did have one, the payment does not appear to have been found in her bank account. This may point towards someone else helping arrange her trip. Typically, immigration does ask about your purpose for visiting; it is not clear what Skye answered to those questions.

On June 17, 2024, Susan and Megan provided familial DNA samples to Japanese investigators in Hokkaido for comparison against unidentified remains, prompted by advancements in DNA technology; the process required in-person submission. As of May 2025, no matches have been found, but the family noted Japan’s evolving urban landscape could allow someone like Skye to blend in more easily than in 2008.

Now 17 years missing, the case remains open with Southington Police (860-378-1698) and Japanese authorities. The family clings to hope for closure, with Megan stating in 2024, “We refuse to give up hope and remain determined to uncover the truth.” Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities or the family’s resources.

• March 31, 2008

  Last sighted by her family.

• April 1, 2008

  Flew to Japan on a one-way ticket.

• April 2, 2008

  Arrived at Hokkaido, Japan

• April 7, 2008

  Final sighting by a local Japanese innkeeper. Last known contact.