Missing Person: Marla Jean Thomas - Anacortes, WA 1974 Unsolved Case

Missing Person: Marla Jean Thomas (nee Crabtree)

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased):

Marla Jean Thomas was last seen on December 11th, 1974 (Wednesday) in Anacortes, Washington (specific location unknown).

Last contact: December 11th, 1974, approximately, unknown specific time
Last location: Anacortes, Washington(may be 511 T Avenue in Anacortes)
Age when Marla Jean Thomas disappeared: 22
DOB: April 22nd, 1952 (Charley Project)
Sex: Female
Height in inches: 62
Weight in pounds (lbs): 140
BMI: 25.6 - Overweight (calculated to help picture what Marla Jean Thomas might have looked like)
Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Hair color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Link to Government Source: NamUs MP31485 (right-click to open)
Discussion page: Marla Jean Thomas Case on Facebook (right-click to open)

Family: Alfred P. Thomas Jr. (husband); there was a divorce record after she disappeared (initiated by husband) on August 20th, 1976.

March 24th, 1970. The Daily Herald.

Unraveling the Mystery: Key Insights and Updates

By: Shane Lambert
Original time of writing: August 18th, 2025
October 15th, 2025: There are some statements online at Websleuths suggesting that this person was identified. The article below is unchanged from my original publicaton on August 18th, 2025 but readers should be aware that there is potential for this article to change.

Marla Jean Thomas, a 22-year-old White/Caucasian woman, vanished on Wednesday, December 11th, 1974, from Anacortes, Washington, under mysterious circumstances. Standing 5'2" and weighing approximately 140 pounds, Marla had brown hair, blue eyes, and a BMI of 25.6, indicating a slightly overweight build.

No distinctive physical features or clothing details are mentioned in her NamUs profile. Furthermore, her exact last known location in Anacortes, Washington remains unspecified.

Anacortes, located on Fidalgo Island in Skagit County, is a picturesque coastal town about 80 miles north of Seattle, known for its stunning views of the San Juan Islands, vibrant maritime culture, and small-town charm. This would be a close-knit community in Puget Sound.

I did not find a missing persons report in the journalism from the time of her disappearance. However, I do recommend looking through the Facebook group that I hyperlinked. She was married with three children.

On thing that stood out with this case is that she and her husband were involved in a lawsuit against a local company, one that started just 2-3 months before Marla's disappearance. 

September 28th, 1974. Kitsap Sun.