Mary Frances Gregory -- Missing Since 1978, Possibly in British Columbia in mid-90s

Paraphrased details from government source**: Mary Frances Gregory left her home in Parry Sound, Ontario on February 15th, 1978. She wanted to vacation in California but she failed to arrive at her destination in Palo Alto, California. She has not contacted any family members or friends since. Ms. Gregory is believed to have departed Canada by motor vehicle with a male acquaintance who states that he let her off at a bus station in Las Vegas, Nevada some ten days after leaving Canada. The driver claims to have driven to Nevada via the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

Missing Person: Mary Frances Gregory

Last-contact date: February 15th, 1978 (Wednesday)
The area where the MP was last seen: Scenario 1: Parry Sound, Ontario on February 15th, 1978; or Scenario 2: the Las Vegas bus station on February 28th, 1978; or Scenario 3: the Lougheed Hotel in Burnaby between 1993 and 1995
Link to government source: Canada's Missing Case reference 2006017399

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: White or Caucasian
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 19 years old
Birthdate: May 27th, 1958
Hair: Brown, straight, and shoulder lengthed according to Canada's Missing; her missing person page with the state of California's Department of Justice says her hair was blonde; it looks brownish in her picture.
Eyes: Hazel
Scar: None known
Height/weight: 5-foot-3 and 110 pounds
BMI*: Mary Frances Gregory was in the normal range for BMI.
Tattoos: Mary Frances Gregory had no tattoos associated with her profiles.

Distinctive: She had a mark on the right of her abdomen that was nickel-shaped and brown. One source places the mark on the right side of her chest by her rib cage. She had/has a mole on her wrist.

Mary Frances Gregory, a missing person, was last heard from on February 15th, 1978 when she was 19. This individual has now been missing for about 47 years as of early 2025.

This is an interesting case because it involves a border-crossing traveler. Mary Frances Gregory was Canadian and her last-known location is often said to be Parry Sound. However, if the male traveler that she was with is taken as credible, then her last known location would be the Las Vegas bus station. Interestingly, this location is not considered to be her last-seen location according to many of the sources that list missing persons. It suggests that the man she was traveling with was not believed.

The route that the travelers took from Parry Sound to Las Vegas doesn't seem complete: "The driver claims to have driven to Nevada via the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona." These states are not all adjacent so there are some gaps worth exploring. This kind of route between Parry Sound and Las Vegas would suggest that the two travelers were adventurous.

To get from Ontario to Nevada, the following route is possible: Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and then either Iowa/Nebraska or Missouri/Kansas, before getting to Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. In short, the states of Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas can be looked at for Jane Does that match to Mary Frances Gregory. Additionally, California can be considered as it has been stated that Mary was going to Palo Alto.

If you are looking at a Jane Doe as a potential match to Mary Gregory, then the mark on her right abdomen/chest might be the best identifier. If putrefaction has taken place, then consider her height against the Jane Doe's. Also, the Jane Doe's date of death being close to Mary's date of disappearance would be interesting.

Yet, this is a case where there was a lead in 2004 that suggested Mary was still alive as of the mid-1990s. The Province, a newspaper in Vancouver, ran an article that stated a trucker had conversed with her at a hotel. There are some details in the article below that are not the same as Mary's missing person profile: the article spells her middle name as "Francis" instead of "Frances" and her stated age of 20 at the time of her disappearance is off by a year compared to other sources. However, the picture makes it clear that we're talking about the same missing person case.

28 Oct 2004, Thu The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com

The Lougheed Hotel, the hotel that's mentioned in the article above, was located at 4343 Lougheed Highway. This is a highway that runs east/west from metro Vancouver to the town of Hope, north of the Fraser River. Google Maps ground views of the area of the hotel go back to 2007.

I did not find any follow-up articles on this case. Nor did I find any journalism from about the time of her disappearance. Please feel free to comment if you find some good newspaper articles from about the time of her disappearance.

Author: Shane Lambert (Vancouver, Canada)

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Shane Lambert (Vancouver, Canada) is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of April 2021.

If you like this blog, then you can join the affiliated Facebook group: MPC Facebook Group

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Might not be the exact meaning that NamUs or Canada's Missing conveys. I improve upon their descriptions with my research.
Disclaimer: Whenever possible, government sources are preferred for getting the details of a missing persons case. However, any source that the article writer deems reputable may be used.

['missing and murdered', 'Missing and murdered indigenous women', 'Shane Lambert Forsa', 'Shane Lambert Facebook', 'Missing person Facebook Group', "Canada's Missing", 'CharleyProject.org Mary Frances Gregory', 'DoeNetwork Mary Frances Gregory', 'Mary Frances Gregory missing person', 'what happened to Mary Frances Gregory', 'missing Parry Sound person', 'missing Ontario person', 'missing Parry Sound woman', 'missing Ontario woman', 'missing Parry Sound women', 'missing Ontario women', 'missing woman Parry Sound', 'missing woman Ontario', 'missing from Parry Sound', 'missing from Ontario', 'Parry Sound missing persons', 'Ontario missing persons', 'Mary Frances Gregory missing from Ontario', 'disappearance of Mary Frances Gregory', 'foul play', 'missing since', 'has not been seen', 'whereabouts of', 'missing person', 'missing persons database', 'theories', 'what happened to Mary Frances Gregory']

Teresa Kay Davis -- Missing From Tacoma, Washington Since 1973

Details from NamUs**: 

"Missing person (MP) was staying with her sister in Tacoma. Sister came home one day and found the front door open and MP gone, but all of MP's possessions still there. Later received a letter from MP from Anchorage, Alaska. There was never any further contact."

Missing Person: Teresa Kay Davis
Last-contact date: November 1st, 1973
The area where the MP was last seen: Tacoma, Washington
Link to government source: NamUs MP

---

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: American Indian or Alaskan
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 18 years old
Birthdate: Teresa Kay Davis was born between November 2nd, 1954, and November 1st, 1955 based on her reported age at her reported last date of contact.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown or Hazel, different colors listed at NamUs for each eye; if accurate this might be heterochromia.
Scar: No scars known
Height/weight: 5'6" and 120 pounds
BMI*: Teresa Kay Davis was in the normal range for BMI.
Tattoos: Teresa Kay Davis did not have any tattoos associated with her profiles. If you know that the missing person did have tattoos, then please post a remark at the end of this blog post on the matter.

Teresa Kay Davis was last heard from on November 1st, 1973 when she was 18 years of age. This individual has now been missing for 48 years as of the original publication date of this blog post.

What stands out with this case is that the missing person left many of her possessions behind. It would be interesting to know what she took, however. For instance, if she left with her vitals, like her bank card, her ID, and such important documents then it would be a good sign that this was a voluntary disappearance.

One troublesome detail was that the front door was left open. This suggests many things, like someone that left in a rush. There is something a little odd with this detail because normally people want to at least close a door when they leave a house. Was it a gesture? Was she abducted and the abductor didn't care to close the door? Unfortunately, it's not enough to start any kind of reasonable conjecture with.

The letter and the link to Anchorage is interesting too. I wondered if it was authenticated to be of Teresa's handwriting or work. 

Given the missing person's age at the time of her disappearance, there is a chance that she assumed a different last name through marriage at some point. I did a search for all people named "Teresa Kay" and left the last name blank at Ancestry to see what turned up for hits in Alaska. There were some individuals there but I wasn't able to authenticate any of them as being of the missing person. I do think that Websleuths or amateurs can possibly open this angle up.

If you like this blog, then you can join the affiliated Facebook group: Missing Persons Commentary https://www.facebook.com/UncoolNegated.

Author: @UncoolNegated on Twitter

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

@UncoolNegated on Twitter is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of March 2021.

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Text might be paraphrased. If taken verbatim, then grammar or spelling errors are not necessarily corrected from original sources.
Disclaimer: Non-opinionated information at this site generally comes from government sources like NamUs, Canada's Missing, or police reports. Other sources may be used at the writer's discretion.

Nellie Florence Flickinger -- Missing Since March 1979 from Pennsylvania

Details from NamUs**: 

She was only back in Erie (From Arizona) for a short while. When she left, she said she was going to California.

Missing Person: Nellie Florence Flickinger

Alias: Nellie Florence Cornman (maiden name)
Nickname or alias: Lindy Sue Henry
Last-contact date: March 1st, 1979 (the date could be March 1st, however, NamUs conventions mean it could also be any time in March that she disappeared)
The area where the MP was last seen: Erie, Pennsylvania
Link to government source: NamUs MP#6849

---

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 29 years old
Birthdate: Nellie Florence Flickinger was born between March 2nd, 1949, and March 1st, 1950.

Hair: Brown, medium to long length
Eyes: Brown
Scar: numerous scars on her leg

Distinctive: this individual had been in a motorcycle accident; she had a plate and screws holding her right leg together (source in the main body)
Height/weight: 5-foot-0 to 5-foot-4 and 120 to 140 pounds
BMI*: Nellie Florence Flickinger was in the normal range for BMI.

• Please, Google-search BMI if you aren't familiar with the phrase. I think it's an important tool to be aware of when working on missing person cases.

Tattoos: Nellie Florence Flickinger did not have any tattoos associated with her profiles. If you know that the missing person did have tattoos, then please post a remark at the end of this blog post on the matter.

Nellie Florence Flickinger, a missing person, was last heard from on March 1st, 1979 when she was 29 years old. This individual has now been missing for 42 years as of the original publication date of this blog post.

When people are missing for several years as this person has been, some of their distinctive characteristics may no longer be relevant as identifiers. For instance, she was known to have scars on her legs but that kind of identifier would only be likely to be useful if she was found alive or recently deceased. However, in Nellie's case, the scars seem to have been from surgery involving inserting metal into her leg. 

This metal would likely remain if her long-dead remains are found. It is the likely reason that her legs were of different sizes, according to her NamUs profile. She was compared to a Jane Doe several years ago.

Mon, Feb 25, 2008 – Page 17 · Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

What stands out with this case is that she left for California in the company of a man whose name is not known. It stands to reason that this was not a long-term acquaintance of Nellie's given that others in her life did not know his name. I found a section of a newspaper article that I think those interested in this case will want to read. The blurb below describes her departure from Erie, Pennsylvania.

Mon, Feb 25, 2008 – Page 17 · Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

As mentioned, there was an attempt to match Nellie Flickinger to a Jane Doe found in a drainage ditch near Sacramento. This Jane Doe had a metal plate screwed into the bones of the right leg. However, it seems that this attempt to match was not successful.

Sat, Aug 23, 2008 – Page 9 · Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com

Those working on this case should make attempts to find a Jane Doe in databases where there is a metal plate and screws in the right leg. Jane Does are added to databases all the time so it could pay to check and recheck periodically. You can go to NamUs, search in the "Unidentified Persons" database and simply put the word "metal" the "Distinctive Physical Features" search field.

The missing person did not have any articles or items associated with her missing person's reports, at least of the sources that I consulted. Please share this article to social media using hashtags that are related to where the missing person went missing from, which is Erie, Pennsylvania.

Author: Shane Lambert (Vancouver, Canada)

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Shane Lambert (Vancouver, Canada) is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of March 2021.

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Text might be paraphrased. If taken verbatim, then grammar or spelling errors are not necessarily corrected from original sources.
Disclaimer: Whenever possible, government sources are preferred for getting the details of a missing person's case. However, any source that the article writer deems reputable may be used.

Betty Loggins Emmett -- Missing Since October 1977

Details from NamUs**: 

"Betty Loggins Emmett and her four-month-old daughter Holly Ann Emmett (NamUs #MP68878) were last seen at their home in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia on October 27, 1977. Betty’s husband/Holly’s father reported Betty took Holly and left their home at approximately 1:00 a.m. Betty told her husband that she was leaving the state but did not say where she was going. An unknown vehicle drove up and to pick Betty and Holly up. Betty went back inside the home to grab her clothes and then left. Betty and Holly have not been seen or heard from since."

Missing Person: Betty Loggins Emmett

Last-contact date: October 27th, 1977
The area where the MP was last seen: Gainesville, Georgia
Link to government source: NamUs #MP68758

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 36 years old
Birthdate: between October 28th, 1940 and October 27th, 1941

• The range is calculated using the missing person's age on the date of her disappearance.

Hair: Blond/Strawberry
Eyes: Hazel
Scar: None listed at NamUs
Height/weight: 5-foot-8 and 120 pounds
BMI*: In this case, the missing person was underweight by BMI at the time of the disappearance.

• Please, Google-search BMI if you aren't familiar with the phrase. I think it's an important tool to be aware of when working on missing person cases.

Tattoos: Betty Loggins Emmett did not have any tattoos associated with her profiles. If you know this to be a mistake, then please contact this site.

Betty Loggins Emmett, a missing person, was last heard from on October 27th, 1977 when she was 36 years old. This individual has now been missing for 44 years as of the original publication date of this blog post.

This was a case without many details available. The missing person's name did not show up in the newspaper archive searches that I performed. There is an online discussion of this individual's case at the Websleuths forum. Identifying the husband, in this case, would be interesting, however, I wasn't able to do that confidently at Ancestry.

At the time of original publication, there is one other case on this blog that involved a mother and a daughter going missing at the same time. I like to compare and contrast unrelated cases as food for thought. In the case of Tina Marie Sinclair and Bethany Anne Sinclair, the individuals are considered dead even without bodies, and foul play is suspected. I use the hashtag "daughter and mother missing" to describe blog posts where a daughter and a mother have simultaneously gone missing.

If you want to read a related article at this site, then please click the hashtag below that interests you.

Author: Shane Lambert

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Shane Lambert is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of March 2021.

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Text might be paraphrased. If taken verbatim, then grammar or spelling errors are not necessarily corrected from original sources.
Disclaimer: Whenever possible, government sources are preferred for getting the details of a missing person's case. However, any source that the article writer deems reputable may be used.

Symone Kylie Flowers -- Missing From Edmond, Oklahoma Since 2019

Details from NamUs**: 

It is unknown who Symone was last seen with. She left an address in Edmond with unknown persons. She had stated she wanted to go to Colorado, Venice beach, CA, and Vegas.

Missing Person: Symone Kylie Flowers

Last-contact date: March 1st, 2019
The area where the MP was last seen: Edmond, Oklahoma
Link to government source: NamUs #MP78361 (dead link as of March 10th, 2025)

• When NamUs cases are removed, it often means the case is resolved in some way (person located, whether alive or deceased); however, this wasn't a case that made the news so there's no online updates.
• The information below is for historical archiving, as this will be treated as a resolved case for this website's purposes.

VITAL DETAILS

Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 22 years old
Birthdate: About February 1997
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Scar: None indicated
Height/weight: 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds
BMI*: Symone Kylie Flowers was in the normal range for BMI.

• Please, Google-search BMI if you aren't familiar with the phrase. I think it's an important tool to be aware of when working on missing person cases.
• At the original time of publication, there was no photo available for this person. If one isn't found, then rely on BMI, height, weight, ethnicity, and other physical features to describe or picture the person.

Symone Kylie Flowers, a missing person, was last heard from on March 1st, 2019 when she was 22 years old. This individual has now been missing for 2 years as of the original publication date of this blog post.

The description from NamUs depicts an adventurous and youthful person that appeared to have plans to travel. Whether she settled somewhere else or whether she suffered some kind of mishap during her travels is something that Websleuths or amateur investigators can try to shed some light on. The NamUs profile is not a strong one for looking at Jane Doe profiles due to an absence of distinctive characteristics, clothing, and personal items.

In my research on this case, I did find a lead. This has been reported to NamUs. Feel free to inquire as to the status of this lead, however, the details I have decided not to publish in case this is a voluntary disappearance. Adults can choose to disappear if they would like to.

Please share this article to social media using hashtags that are related to where the missing person went missing from, which is Edmond, Oklahoma.

Author: S.K. Lambert (Blogger Hobbyist and Freelance Writer)

All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

S.K. Lambert (Blogger Hobbyist and Freelance Writer) is not a Private Investigator, however, he is currently studying to be one as of March 2021.

Website hashtag: #MPCSL

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges that are given for height and weight.
**Text might be paraphrased. If taken verbatim, then grammar or spelling errors are not necessarily corrected from original sources.
Disclaimer: Whenever possible, government sources are preferred for getting the details of a missing person's case. However, any source that the article writer deems reputable may be used.

Marilyn Kay Pratt -- Missing From Spokane Since 1971

Details from NamUs**: "Marilyn was last seen on the evening of 10/08/1971 by her husband and friends at a local restaurant. Marilyn only had her purse with her when she was last seen. Marilyn has not been seen or made any contact with family or friends since that evening."

Missing Person: Marilyn Kay Pratt

Alias: Lynn Pratt
Last-contact date: October 8th, 1971
The area where the MP was last seen: Spokane, Washington

• Spokane is a small city in America's northwest; the closest major city would be Seattle

Link to government source: NamUs #MP77394

Ethnicity: White/Asian mix

Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 30 years old
Hair details: Brown
Eye details: Blue
Scars: Abdomen
Height/weight: 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-6 and 160 to 170 pounds
BMI*: The missing person was overweight by BMI at the time of the last contact.

• BMI is body mass index. It relates to an individual's height and weight.

Marilyn Kay Pratt was mainly associated with the area around Spokane, Washington. Marilyn has not been seen since October 8th, 1971 when she was 30 years old.

This missing person's case was not really below the radar: there were numerous newspaper articles that were published regarding her disappearance. Many of them appeared in The Spokane Chronicle or The Spokesman-Review. I did not find anything that was published close to her date of disappearance. The first mention of her that I found concerning her disappearance was in 1979.

Mon, Mar 5, 1979 – 2 · Spokane Chronicle (Spokane, Washington) · Newspapers.com

Wed, Mar 7, 1979 – 11 · The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) · Newspapers.com

She was declared legally dead on April 10th, 1979. 

There was a huge article in The Spokesman-Review on May 10th, 1983. It raised the question of who the real Marilyn Pratt was. 

She is depicted as a borderline alcoholic in that article, someone who may have cheated on her spouse. The article left open the question of whether she was alive or dead.

On the balance of everything, this felt like a missing person case where the individual might have been alive after she disappeared. Perhaps the husband wanted to have her declared dead in absentia so that she couldn't return and take custody of the children. The sense I got was that he was bitter that she walked out on him. I did not get the feeling that he was involved in her disappearance.

A married woman, with five children, who had a drinking problem, who lived in a poor neighborhood, who walked out of a bar after a small argument, and then disappeared permanently is probably somebody that hit a breaking point.

If she did crack, then the question is what did she do next? Join a life with another man? There was a hint of infidelity with Marylin. There's also the possibility of suicide.

What would be interesting in this case is a Jane Doe with particulars that match Marilyn in the Spokane area. However, with a chance that she lived after her last-seen date, it would be interesting to produce an authenticated document that suggests that she tried to enter a different life somewhere else. I think anyone with an active membership behind the paywall at Ancestry should comb the records for any kind of documented activity involving her.

But over the years, there’s been little progress in the case. When the Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner Marcus Kelly declared her legally dead, he noted that her character suggested she would have reached out to her family if alive. I think that's important because walking out on a husband and five children permanently is very odd and decades have now passed.

If you know where this person might be or have any information on this case, then please contact the authorities. In Canada, look for Canada's Missing website with the Federal government. In the USA, you can look for the NamUs profile. Conversely, you can post a remark to this article.

Margaret Peters -- Missing Since March 1962 From Seattle, Washington

Missing Person: Margaret Peters
Last-contact date: March 1st, 1962
The area where the MP was last seen: Seattle, Washington

Link to government source: NamUs #MP25713

Ethnicity: White

Sex: Female

Age at time of disappearance: 40 years old

Birthdate: between March 2nd, 1921 to March 1st, 1922
Hair details: Brown
Eye details: Brown
Scars: None known
Height/weight: 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-5 and 110 pounds
BMI*: In this case, the missing person was underweight by BMI at the time of the disappearance.

*For BMI values, I use the UPPER or HIGHER ranges. BMI is body mass index. It relates to an individual's height and weight. Even with photographs, getting an idea of what a person's body might have looked like might help with a missing person's case.

Details from NamUs**: Last seen by her daughter in the spring or summer of 1962. May have gone to Nevada where she lived from 1958-1961.
**Grammar or spelling errors are not corrected from original sources.

Margaret Peters has not been seen since March 1st, 1962 when she was 40. At about that time, she was known to have been from the Seattle, Washington area.

What stands out, in this case, is the NamUs description. It injects some hope into the case that the missing person might have been alive after her last-seen date. Websleuths or amateur investigators can look for a record of this person in Nevada after her disappearance. If you know this individual's middle initial or middle name, then it would be useful information.

I found someone named Margaret Peters who was born on January 28th, 1922 that had an association with a residence in Nevada. The birthdate is in the range of the MP, however, I was not able to authenticate the profiles as being of the same person. This person died in March 1996.

Thank you for reading. If have any information about this case, consider contacting the authorities.

Melissa Garrett -- Missing Since August 31st, 2017

Author: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: January 8th, 2021
All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Missing person: Melissa Roseanne Garrett
Last-seen date: August 31st, 2017 (Thursday); boyfriend claims September 1st, 2017
Last-seen location: Ingleside, Texas (zip code 78362)
Link to Government Source: NamUs #MP62386
Ethnicity/Race: White
Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 47-years-old
Hair: Brown, short, and wavy
Eye color: Hazel
Height and weight at the time of disappearance: 5'3" to 5'4"/147 to 180 pounds

Other: scar
Clothing: Red long-sleeve top and shorts. She also had a brown suitcase.

Betty Marie Roberts -- Last Known to be With a Man Named Charles

Author: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: December 31st, 2020
All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Betty Marie Roberts: The Unsolved Missing Person Case

Missing Person Overview: Betty Marie Roberts

"She left with a man from Charlotte, NC and went to Baltimore, Maryland. Her sister received a letter 3 days later. The letter stated she was doing fine and she would write later. The letter was postmarked Baltimore, Maryland. Never heard from her again." NamUs profile: Qtd March 19th, 2025.

Key Details of Betty Marie Roberts' Disappearance

Last-seen date: November 6th, 1959

Last-known communication: November 9th, 1959

Last-seen location: Baltimore, Maryland or Charlotte, North Carolina

Identification and Physical Description

NamUs # and Link: #MP7259

Ethnicity/Race: White

Sex: Female
Age at time of disappearance: 29 years old

Hair: Brown
Eye color: Hazel
Height and weight at the time of disappearance: 5'6" to 5'7" and 135 pounds
Other: Dentures, scar on stomach, and tattoo saying "Jeff" on left forearm

Background of Betty Marie Roberts' Case

The case of Betty Marie Roberts is a memorable one for the last interaction that she had at her last time. Her sister, who was probably angry with being left in charge of Betty's two children, reportedly said “If you walk out, you’re not my sister. Don’t ever come back.”

In the years that followed, the two children ended up in an orphanage and a foster home. At some point, Louise Doane, the sister, searched for a reference to Betty Marie via her Social Security Number and driver's license. Nothing matched up after the year 1959.

Discrepancies in Missing Person Databases

This is a case with some contradictions when one consults multiple missing person's databases. At the time of writing, I noted the following:

• NamUs said she went missing on November 6th, 1959; CharleyProject said it was November 3rd of that year
• NamUs said she disappeared from Baltimore, Maryland; the same source said this: "She left with a man from Charlotte, NC and went to Baltimore, Maryland." That would suggest she's missing from Charlotte, not Baltimore.

The contradiction can be reconciled if we take a letter to be her last-seen date. However, technically she was last seen on November 3rd, 1959 in what looks to be Charlotte, North Carolina and her last communication was from Baltimore three days later according to a postmarked letter.

That would make the CharleyProject's date of November 3rd make more sense (ie. that's when she was last seen). The November 6th date is more like when she was last heard from.

Potential Leads to Find Betty Marie Roberts

In this case, I submit that the potential for finding her is grounded in two things, one firm and physical and the other much more tenuous.

Physical Evidence: Dentures as a Clue

Firstly, there are the dentures to consider. This is a physical characteristic of Betty's that is unlike the scar on her abdomen and the tattoo on her forearm. If a Jane Doe is found that is skeletonized the dentures will remain a clue for identity. Importantly, "dentures" is a searchable term in some unidentified remains databases, like the one with NamUs.

Websleuths or amateurs that come across a Jane Doe where dentures are mentioned in the report should cross-reference other details of the Jane Doe with Betty Marie Roberts. On that note, remember to note the contradictions above and to keep an open mind to both cities, Baltimore and Charlotte.

The Mysterious Companion: Charles Wegman

The tenuous lead on Betty Marie Roberts has to do with the man who saw her last. She was running off with a man that Louise, Betty's sister, said was named Charles Wegman. CharleyProject offers this: "Roberts's sister sent photos of Roberts and Wegman to the FBI, and an agent told her Wegman was actually named Charles Dennison but didn't disclose any further information about him."

Investigating Charles Dennison: Who Was He?

The identification of Charles Dennison is a subject that some work has been done on. I've consulted AndTheyWere.com's contribution to this case. The description there of Dennison is as follows: “tall and thick, and pleasant-looking, in his late 30s.” Charles also said he was from Houston which, if taken at face value, might be a lead. It's with assumptions like this that efforts start to get tenuous.

Charles Dennison’s Criminal Background

The AndTheyWere.com blogger wrote this:

"I was unable to find information about Charles Wegman, but there were two entries in Texas inmate records for Charles C. Dennison. While some of the demographics differ slightly, Charles was a native-born Texan serving time in the late 1940s and early 1950s for burglary and theft. He had served in the Army and/or merchant marines and at one time lived in New York. This individual likely died in 1983 according to Social Security death records."

Linking Charles Dennison and Charles Wegman

Unifying the identity of Charles Dennison with Charles Wegman is a challenge in this case. Wegman said he was from Houston and Dennison was from there as well. However, that hardly makes them a lock for being one and the same people.

The differing demographics between the Dennison files alluded to in the quote above, have to do with two different birthdates across the two files for Charles C. Dennison in the Texas Convict and Conduct records. However, despite those two different birthdates, it is clear that the two files are for the same person. When I consulted the documents, they were linked by a remark in the latter one that referenced the file number of the former.

Texas Convict Records Analysis

According to the Texas Convict and Conduct Records, there is a Charles Clifford Dennison with a record date of August 3rd, 1949. This individual has a convict number of 114392 and a birth year of 1922. There is also a Charles C Dennison with the birth year of 1920 and a convict number of 120126. Of course, those could be different people except that someone who worked with the document wrote some chicken scratch in the final column which appears to be directing whoever reads it (ie. me) to convict number 120126.

Also, there is some writing near the convict's name which encourages the reader of the document (ie. me) to look at convict 120126 in conjunction with 114392. The two Dennison's with different birth dates are actually the same person and the birth years are just wrong.

Charles C. Dennison: Biography and Timeline

I think Charles C. Dennison was all of the following according to the documentary records:

• Born: either 22 Sep 1923 in Houston, Texas or 22 Sep 1922 in Houston, Texas
• Died: either 10 Aug 1983 Harris County, Texas or 15 Aug 1983
• Death certificate: 076838
• Possible stepfather: Arthur L Nurse
• Possible biological father: might be James Radley Malin
• Last name: probably connected to Geo K Dennison, a romantic interest of his mother's
• Possible mother: Majorie Pearl Lewis or Mable Lewis
• He was a convicted burglar and thief
• Known to be in custody as of July 25th, 1949; was said to be of New York before this time; appeared to be in prison all the way to Jan 12th, 1953
• His four-year sentence would have ended July 25th, 1953 but a comment suggests that he might have been out as of May 15th, 1951; that date is listed with "Revoked" written beside it on his Texas conviction record
• However, the next record for him suggests that he was not out of prison until January 12th, 1953; I think the first record for Convict #114392 is for a first sentence that lasted from July 25th, 1949 until it was revoked on May 15th, 1951; the Convict #120126 pertains to his second sentence starting without any time out of prison; it ends Jan 12 1953

That he might have been in New York is supported by a passenger list that I found. The passenger list for the Queen Mary vessel is listed as arriving in New York on January 3rd, 1946 as per the records I looked at with Ancestry. They show an "Inf" (infantry?) named Charles C. Dennison on that vessel. There is an Army Serial Number there if anyone wants to have a look and expand further.

Physical Characteristics of Charles Dennison

If someone can read the following then please remark on it. It appears to be something to do with a physical characteristic in the region under his left eye, I think. As far as I can see it says "ct sc under lf eye. app sc st storm."

Also, what does this say exactly? I see "2 at wheel upper rt arm. Scr lo. lft arm." which I interpret to mean he has a scar on his lower left arm and 2 on his upper right?

Challenges in Unifying Identities

I was not able to find anything that substantially unified the identities of Charles C. Dennison and Charles Wegman together. The premise is all based on the description of the FBI's response to the picture of Charles Wegman. One connection I could make, besides both being of Houston, is tenuous: Charles C Dennison had aliases and his real name is hard to find.

Firstly, the C initial for his middle name might stand for Clifford or Clinton. Secondly, according to the 1940 census he might have been Charles Nurse at the age of 17 and of 7427 Avenue O, Houston, Texas in relation to someone who I think was his stepfather (see below). He also might have been known as Charles Malin at birth in relation to his biological father. Charles Dennison comes later in relation to a George K. Dennison. A user on Ancestry wrote this:

"Charles was the biological child of James R. Malin and Marjorie P. Lewis. Marjorie's second husband was George K. Dennison. (Mable Emogene Lewis was Marjorie's sister and the aunt of Charles C. Malin Dennison.)" (postkrispykritters on 1/17/2017).

The Classified Ad: A Possible Clue in Betty’s Disappearance

It was my hope that the classified advertisement that Betty replied to would yield some clue. However, finding the advertisement wasn't easy. My best guess is that it was the following:

Sat, Sep 19, 1959 – 23 · The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina) · Newspapers.com

The date of the advertisement is about right. Furthermore, Betty's age fits the age range in the ad. Also, it says that she has to be free to travel and she did up and leave. Furthermore, it mentions photography and that's true to the description of Betty's missing person webpages.

Analyzing the Advertisement’s Details

In an expanded look at this ad, it appeared in the Charlotte area newspapers between February 22nd, 1957, and November 3rd, 1961 according to what I found. The wording in the advertisement changed here and there. The alphanumeric code at the end would be a mailbox number or even a phone number, I think, as there is no other form of communication in the ad (ie. 334-2176). There are similar ads placed to a phone number or mailbox number "ED 3-8581."

The Tom Jones that is mentioned was, I think, the owner of a legitimate and successful studio called "Jones & Presnell Studio's." I think their address was 433 Lawton Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28216. I'm wondering if Charles Wegman or Charles Dennison was employed with that company but it's a tenuous connection because I don't even know that this was the ad Betty Marie replied to: it just seems to match-up. This is something Websleuths or amateurs could investigate if they have a brainwave on how to do it. I do know his Social Security Number.

Is the Ad a Red Flag?

The advertisement does strike me as the phony kind. I think this advertisement targets someone who is gullible. $360 pay is about $3200 by modern standards per month. That's pretty good pay for someone with "No experience necessary." Also, "Paid vacations" sounds a little too good to be true but maybe they just meant you get paid time off every year.

This ad targeted women as it was placed in a column designated "FEMALE HELP." I'm not sure why women were needed to be photographers over men. However, this position seemingly was working with children and the 1950s was a time when women were seen as better suited for such work. Perhaps some still feel that way. Other ads with strikingly similar wording that appeared in the area said that they needed a Child Photographer as a large-print headline instead of "Want A Change."

Conclusion: What Happened to Betty Marie Roberts?

My read on this overall situation is not a great one when it comes to finding evidence that Betty Marie Roberts survived much longer after she left with the man named Charles. Firstly, I defer to Louise's efforts to find evidence of her based on her identification which suggests that 1959 was a terminal year in Betty Marie's life.

Family Dynamics and Disappearance

The animosity that Louise communicated toward her sister is a small clue. It doesn't point to Louise but rather, I think, it references Betty Marie's discretion in leaving her children behind to go off with a strange man. Betty Marie was dropping everything and leaving and that speaks to a breakdown of sorts.

The Danger of Charles Wegman/Dennison

The situation seems particularly dangerous because she was running off with a man who an FBI agent seemingly recognized only from a photograph. If that's the case, then that's interesting in and of itself: what kind of man is the kind that an FBI agent recognizes from a photograph alone? That kind of person is likely to be one with a rap sheet -- and not just for jaywalking or going five over in a 50 zone.

So what do we have? A woman who's breaking down is running off with a man who's on the FBI's radar. That doesn't sound like a situation that's going to lead to harmony.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Her credentials have not entered the documentary record since. In my opinion, the balance of the conjecture, in this case, would support the notion that Betty Marie is long dead. On that matter, the graves of the people associated with this case might start showing up on Findagrave.com. More and more memorials from the past are being digitalized.

The work on this case has to do with connecting Charles Wegman to Charles Dennison in a convincing way and then tracing his location between 1959 and 1983. Also, remember that if you come across a Jane Doe with dentures, especially one with a date-of-death assumed to be in the ballpark of 1959 near Charlotte or Baltimore or even points in between, that she's a candidate for a rule out. It wouldn't hurt to search for "dentures" in NamUs from time to time and list your Jane Does that match in the comments.