Disappearance of Patricia Jane Seelbaugh: A 1973 Cold Case

The Mysterious Disappearance of Patricia Jane Seelbaugh: A 1973 Cold Case from Grove City, PA

Unraveling the 1973 Disappearance of Patricia Seelbaugh at Barkeyville Truck Stop

Photo from NamUs

1973 Yearbook for Grove City Area High School. 

1971 Yearbook for Grove City Area High School

Case Summary: Patricia Jane Seelbaugh

Field	Details
Name	Patricia Jane Seelbaugh (used Patti as a nickname)
NamUs Case Number	MP7040
NCMEC Number	1149545
Date of Last Contact	October 26, 1973 (Friday)
Location Last Seen	Barkeyville Truck Stop, near Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, or at residence near Hallville (NamUs description on October 1st, 2025 is unclear)
Age at Disappearance	17 Years (Born Between: October 27, 1955, to October 26, 1956)
Current Age	69 Years (as of October 1st, 2025)
Biological Sex	Female
Race/Ethnicity	White / Caucasian
Height	5'0" (60 inches)
Weight	98 lbs
Hair Color	Black, long and straight
Eye Color	Hazel
Clothing	Blue jeans
Eyewear	Wore glasses for reading but did not have them at the time of disappearance
Circumstances of Disappearance	Last seen on October 26, 1973, at Barkeyville Truck Stop off Interstate 80, east of Interstate 79, in the company of friends. Dropped off with a known male at a residence in Hallville, near Grove City, PA, after midnight. Never seen again.
NamUs Case Created	May 4, 2010

Source: NamUs.gov, Case #MP7040

Patricia Seelbaugh’s 1973 Vanishing: A Truck Stop Riddle with a Mysterious MaleBy: Shane Lambert
Original time of publication: October 1st, 2025On Friday, October 26, 1973, 17-year-old Patricia Jane Seelbaugh vanished from Grove City, Pennsylvania. This is a case without much information online or in newspaper archives. On the latter matter, I did not find any original journalism regarding her case, which will make details scant to online researchers these days. Furthermore, some of the details that are available with this case are vague and even contradictory.

Where Was She Actually Last Seen?

According to the NamUs report (MP7040), Patricia was last seen at the Barkeyville Truck Stop off Interstate 80. This would be a rough hub for truckers and hitchhitters in the 1970s, where a teenager’s presence late on a Friday night feels strikingly odd. Truck stops were and remain well known for danger, with actions tied to prostitution and violent crimes like abductions and murders during that era. Taken alone, her last location at a truck stop would be a clue as to what happened for her.Yet, the report adds confusion. As it reads, it suggests the truck stop was not her last-known location after all. It says Patricia was dropped off with a “known male” at a residence in Hallville, near Grove City, after midnight, and that she was never seen again. The after-midnight qualification might make her disappearance date October 27th, 1973, adding another debatable fact pertaining to the case.But what I really don't like is this double last-location detail. Was she last seen at the truck stop or this male's residence?

Vague Reference to Known Male

Furthermore, the “known male” is a cryptic figure. Who was he—a friend, local, or predator? NamUs provides no clarity on his identity or why he’s noted, making the vague mention frustrating. The focus on Barkeyville suggests it may hold clues. Perhaps this is where she met the man but the residence marks her final sighting, shifting suspicion to that encounter.

Barkeyville Truck Stop: In the News

I decided to focus on the truck stop and how it appeared in the news over the years.
In one article for April 1987, the truck stop is mentioned in conjunction with a spate of missing women, who were prostitutes that served truckers at various truck stops in the greater region. The article appeared in the April 5th, 1987 Pittsburgh Press.

The 1987 article describes murders and disappearances associated with the greater area, including the Barkeyville Truck Stop. It's possible that there was more than one truck stop associated with the town but one can see the dangers. However, 1987 is a long time after Patricia's disappearance and thus the killings around 1987 are presumably not directly involved.
In a 1972 article regarding the truck stop, an article on June 30th referenced the arrest of five people at the truck stop who had drug charges dropped.

A March 13th, 1973 article references armed robbery at the truck stop. This further highlights the dangerous scene for the area where Patricia was potentially last seen. I found other instances of theft at the truck stop as well.

Oil City Derrick.

It remains unclear if her last-known location was the truck stop or the male's residence. I hesitate to fill in the blanks. However, that a missing 17-year old girl's final itinerary included such a clandestine place can't be ignored. 
This case is 52 years old and it probably won't be that long until it just slides into history. It's a shame that more details are not available and it would be nice if someone who remembers the night of her disappearance, if still alive, offered some insights into the comments (ie. her friends that were with her that night).

Missing Person Case: Jeannetta Ruth LaBelle (Presumed Drowned)

Missing Person Case: Jeannetta Ruth LaBelle

Jeannetta Ruth LaBelle, a 39-year-old White/Caucasian woman, went missing on January 25, 1969, in Ojai, Ventura County, California. She was swept downstream during a creek flood, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs #MP138874). According to limited newspaper coverage that I found, she was in her home at the time of the flash flood.

At the time of her disappearance, Jeannetta stood at 5'5" and weighed 170 lbs, with red/auburn hair, green eyes, and a distinctive horizontal scar on her leg. However, if her remains are discovered, the scar would not be an indicator at this point as only skeletal remains can be expected.

The blurb below spells the first name differently but only slightly. Due to everything else matching, it appears to be the same case. This blurb appeared the day after Jeannetta disappeared in a newspaper local to where she lived.

January 26th, 1969. Ventura County Star.

Case Form F:

(1) Subject known and seen to be swept into flood waters.
(2) Subject not seen again.

This is a generalized form of a kind of missing person that I use at this site. It fits because the newspaper article confirms that she was "swept away" into raging waters that appear to be what we would call a flash flood today. She remains missing as of October 1st, 2025.

Missing Person Case: Jeannetta Ruth LaBelle
NamUs Case Number	MP138874
Name	Jeannetta Ruth LaBelle
Date of Last Contact	January 25, 1969
Missing From	Ojai, Ventura County, California
Missing Age	39 Years
Current Age	96 Years
Biological Sex	Female
Race / Ethnicity	White / Caucasian
Height	5'5" (65 Inches)
Weight	170 lbs
Hair Color	Red/Auburn
Eye Color	Green
Distinctive Physical Features	Horizontal scar on leg
Circumstances of Disappearance	Swept downstream during a creek flood in Ojai, CA on January 25, 1969
NamUs Case Created	February 19, 2025

Commentary

By: Shane Lambert

People who disappear into rivers or flood waters can stay missing for ages. That is the case even when they are known to have been swept away, which is different than someone who was only presumed to be swept away (ie. no witness).

Jeanetta might have ended up buried under a lot of sediment and there is potential for dismemberment en route. Accordingly, it probably won't be amateur researchers that shed any light on this case. 

If she is found, then it will likely be due to a chance event, like excavation, or a nature lover encountering her remains somehow (ie. luck). My recommendation for amateur researchers is not to work on this case as people who are known to be swept away and presumably drowned are not the kind of missing people that surface with 'new lives' at some other point.

However, a Jane Doe found in the area could be cross examined. On that matter, people who are lost in rivers or flood waters are likely to show up in so-called "depositional zones." These are places alone the water's route where something slows the flow of the water, like a bend. A beach in this area is more likely than other spots to contain buried human remains of people lost to the waters.

The San Antonio Creek flows into the Ventura River which flows toward the Pacific Ocean. Jane Does found in this drainage system could be cross referenced to Jeannetta's case but it's hard to picture one intact skeleton after all these decades.

NamUs Unidentified Women Uploaded in September 2025 – Seeking Public Help for Resolutions

15 Recent NamUs Jane Doe Cases: Unidentified Women Uploaded in September 2025 – Seeking Public Help for Resolutions

By: Shane Lambert
Published: October 1, 2025

There were 15 new unidentified female cases—known as Jane Does—uploaded to NamUs between September 1 and October 1, 2025. These cases span decades, from tragic discoveries in the 1990s to fresh investigations in 2025. 

Today, we're shining a light on these stories, including enhanced details on three poignant cases: an infant found in a Texas dumpster in 1993, decomposed remains in Missouri from the same era, and a hospital patient in South Carolina who passed under a false name. Public tips could be the key to identifying them—have you seen someone matching these descriptions?

Overview of the 15 NamUs Jane Doe Cases Uploaded in September 2025

These cases represent a mix of historical cold cases and recent recoveries, all entered into NamUs to leverage advanced matching algorithms, DNA analysis, and public outreach. Sorted by date the body was found, the table below summarizes key details. Readers should note that the date a body was found, certainly does not mean that the person died close to that date.

NamUs Case Number	Date Body Found	Location Found	Age Range	Race	Height	Weight	Circumstances	NamUs Case Created
UP150622	04/20/1993	Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas (Candlewood Apartments)	Infant	White / Caucasian	1'2" (14 inches)	8 lbs	Found in a dumpster under newspaper	09/27/2025
UP149967	09/21/1993	St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri	Adult (Pre-50)	Uncertain	5'4" (64 inches)	Cannot Estimate	Decomposed remains discovered	09/12/2025
UP150810	11/15/1994	Myrtle Beach, Horry, South Carolina	45-50 Years	White / Caucasian	5'5" (65 inches)	148 lbs	Died in hospital under alias "Elenoir Hart"	10/01/2025
UP150846	03/01/2023	Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida	--	Black / African American	--	--	Was entering USA illegally. Was being returned, but died.	10/01/2025
UP150119	05/18/2025	San Francisco, San Francisco, California	40-60 Years	White / Caucasian	--	--	--	09/25/2025
UP149976	07/09/2025	Queens, Queens, New York	50-80 Years	Black / African American	--	--	--	09/18/2025
UP150593	07/11/2025	Corpus Christi, Nueces, Texas	35-55 Years	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/27/2025
UP149757	07/29/2025	Franktown, Douglas, Colorado	30-50 Years	Multiple	--	--	--	09/27/2025
UP149746	07/29/2025	Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee	30-60 Years	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/16/2025
UP149753	07/29/2025	Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee	40-60 Years	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/16/2025
UP149837	08/08/2025	Lutz, Hillsborough, Florida	--	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/27/2025
UP149885	08/19/2025	Hood River, Hood River, Oregon	--	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/23/2025
UP150599	08/20/2025	Coweta, Wagoner, Oklahoma	--	Uncertain	--	--	--	09/30/2025
UP150506	09/17/2025	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan	--	White / Caucasian	--	--	--	09/27/2025
UP150777	09/26/2025	Houston, Harris, Texas	--	Black / African American	--	--	--	09/30/2025

Note: Data sourced from NamUs uploads as of October 1, 2025. All cases remain unidentified, with no public matches reported. Submit tips via NamUs.gov.

Spotlight on NamUs UP150622: The Heartbreaking 1993 Corpus Christi Infant Case

NamUs case UP150622 is an unidentified female infant discovered on April 20, 1993, in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas. Dubbed "Baby Jane Doe," the newborn—estimated at just 1'2" (14 inches) tall and 8 lbs—was found by a woman rummaging through a dumpster at an apartment complex, concealed under a piece of newspaper. Her straight, thick black hair and dark eyes were noted, with her face recognizable despite the circumstances.

I did find a newspaper article pertaining to this case. There was one in the April 21st, 1993 edition of the Corpus-Christi Caller Times.

In my opinion, if solved, then it would be DNA that does it. However, someone coming forward is still not out of the question despite the 32 years that have passed. In cases like these, there is not going to be a missing person report that corresponds to the Jane Doe because, when dealing with newborn Jane Does, the deceased doesn't usually have an advocate that knew her.

Deep Dive into NamUs UP149967: 1993 St. Louis Decomposed Remains Mystery

Shifting to another 1990s cold case, UP149967 involves an adult female (pre-50 years) whose decomposed remains were found on September 21, 1993, in St. Louis City, Missouri (ZIP 63147). Estimated height: 5'4" (64 inches); weight and precise age range unavailable. The skeleton was near-complete but not recognizable, with race uncertain. Uploaded to NamUs on September 12, 2025 (ME/C #CITY-1993-1948), this case evokes questions of foul play or exposure in an urban setting. No hair, eye, or distinctive features were documented due to decomposition. 

Examining NamUs UP150810: The 1994 Myrtle Beach Hospital Alias Case

Rounding out the trio is UP150810, a white/Caucasian female aged 45-50 found deceased on November 15, 1994, in Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina (ZIP 29578). She checked into a local hospital the day prior as "Eleanor Hart" (or "Elonoir Hart") but passed from natural causes before next-of-kin could be verified and her details proved false. At 5'5" (65 inches) and 148 lbs, she had gray/partially gray hair and blue eyes, with a "recognizable face" in the NamUs description.

Usually, that designation is meant for Jane Does that are deceased and decomposed but this Jane Doe is someone hospital staff must have spoken to while alive. Despite this, no photo was uploaded to the case, which would aid greatly in identification.

Why These NamUs Jane Doe Cases Matter: The Push for Identification in 2025

With over 13,000 unidentified cases in NamUs nationwide, these 15 uploads—especially the detailed 1993 infant, St. Louis skeleton, and South Carolina alias—renew calls for forensic genealogy, DNA submissions, and tips. Resolutions bring peace to families; in 2023 alone, NamUs facilitated hundreds via matches. As cases like these resurface, SEO-optimized awareness (keywords: NamUs Jane Doe cases 2025, unidentified women Texas Missouri South Carolina) amplifies reach. Share this post, submit leads at NamUs.gov, and help close these chapters. Have information? Contact authorities today.