Valerie Lorraine Cuccia, age 20, vanished on May 4, 1974 from Brooklyn, New York.
Valerie and a female friend became separated while at a nightclub, known then as Banana Fish. It later became the Mustard Seed, and the building now houses a grocery store. It was at 9604 3rd Avenue, near 96th, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Valerie’s friend said she last saw Valerie get into a blue metallic painted car with two men who were “hard looking”. The car had Massachusetts plates. A couple reports suggest she was seen as she was being forced in the car, but there don’t seem to be any actions on the part of witnesses to suggest that anyone was concerned. Valerie had been seen talking to these men in the club earlier that evening.
Just before arriving at the club, Valerie and her friend, who both lived in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, had met up at a school, and hitchhiked together to the club.
Valerie’s two brothers, one a retired New York State police officer, still seek answers as to what happened to their sister. She lived in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, was a college student and accomplished musician.
Valerie had sold one of her musical compositions to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers at age 16. By the time of her disappearance, two of her tunes were used on an album by a group called January Tyme.
This song, Rainy Day Feeling, features her music, and she is credited on the album.
Valerie’s parents dealt with hoaxes and false leads over the years. People attempted to extort money in exchange for their daughter’s return from a cult, other false tips sent them to Florida.
Both of Valerie’s parents are now deceased, leaving her two brothers hoping to locate her remains.
Note: Although news articles report that the location of Banana Fish later became Mustard Seed, it’s possible the locations were actually next door to each other. A message board poster who says they frequented the area claims that the two were not in the same exact spot. The poster states that Banana Fish Nightclub (where Valerie was last seen) was situated in the rear half of the building, which had a restaurant in the front. The poster described the club as “rowdy”.
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I’d like to contact a brother if possible to ask a question about their sister.
Her songs were great… someone should give this story to Tarrantino and use the songs as a soundtrack.