Elizabeth Gill was only 2 ½ years old when she vanished from her family’s home, in the area of the 300 block of south Larimer Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The little blonde haired toddler had been playing in the front yard with a sand pail on June 13, 1965, at approximately 4PM. Decades later, the family has never given up the faith that they will find her alive.The family has long believed a group of drifters that had been staying at a hotel in the area of Elizabeth’s residence may have kidnapped her. A witness reported seeing the individuals on two different occasions try to lure Elizabeth into their vehicle. The drifters had been selling purses close to the house, and early on in the investigation considered persons of interest, but could never be located.
Detective Jim Smith reopened the cold case in 2003. Smith told the Associated Press, “What do they think about every night, every holiday, every birthday? Their family has never been complete. They are always going to wonder what happened to Elizabeth. If I could give them an answer, it would be one of the greatest things that’s has ever happened to me as a law enforcement officer.”
Recently, the family hired a private detective who visited with Smith and Elizabeth’s sister, Martha Gill-Hamilton. Mike Neverett, a Florida private investigator, and Smith believe it may only be a matter of time before they solve this mystery. Neverett traveled to Missouri this April to meet with Elizabeth’s family and the detective to research the case.
Taking an interesting approach, Neverett, who has been involved in the case for over seven years, recently visited the old Gill home on Lorimar Street and began taking pictures of what he describes as “pictures through the eyes of a child.” Clicking pictures of surrounding homes and the neighborhood from the height Elizabeth would have been at time of her disappearance. He hopes this may jar the memory of a woman who would now be 49 years old, and the youngest of ten children. Elizabeth’s father passed away in 1970 never knowing what happened to the youngest apple of his eye, but Elizabeth’s mother and remaining siblings have never given up hope of being reunited.
Having worked alongside law enforcement for nearly two decades with many cold cases, I agree this case had all the potential elements of a solvable case. With increased national news exposure, law enforcement and private investigators working cooperatively, and especially utilizing the power of social media, there is a good potential of bringing Elizabeth home to her family. The pictures could be the key to jogging the memory of a woman who has never truly known who she is.
Even I have memories of standing in my crib calling out to my mother because I had an earache. I could not have been more than a year and a half old. The mind stores everything and things decades old like a smell, a sound, and yes, even a picture can take us back. We also know in every case of a suspicious disappearance of a child or adult, someone out there knows something.
We can all take a part in reuniting Elizabeth with her family by sharing her information. Let us all unite as a real social community and bring Elizabeth home!
For additional information, please visit www.missingkids.com. If you have information or believe you may be Elizabeth Gill, please call Det. Jim Smith at the Cape Girardeau (MO) Police Department at 573-335-6621, ext. 1120.
Author – Kym L. Pasqualini
Founder, National Center for Missing Adults
& Social Network Advocate
Missing Persons Advocacy Network
According to the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as of May 1, 2012, there are 47,673 active missing adult cases in the United States. Many of these cases date back decades.
Madeline Anna Babcock was 35 years old when she vanished from Venice, CA. The beautiful young woman who went by the nickname Lynn, had been employed as a barmaid at Fred’s Tavern and worked a second job on an assembly line at a local factory, in Santa Monica.
According to Patricia Foy, Madeline’s sister, the last time anyone heard from Madeline was the afternoon of June 11, 1968 at approximately 4:00pm when she called her mother from a payphone in Venice. She told her mother that she planned to have a friend drive her to her mother’s home the following day, approximately 20 miles away; she never arrived.
In July, Madeline’s mother and sister travelled to Venice in search of her, and they were told by the owner of the tavern that Madeline had not reported to work the first week of July. Madeline’s property owner at her apartment on Flower Street permitted her mother and sister entry into her apartment, where they found all of her personal belongings were gone. It appeared she had moved out, though the property owner had not been aware of any activity at the residence. The identity of Madeline’s friend who she indicated was going to drive her to her mother’s home was never identified. Foy and her mother proceeded to attempt to make a missing person report with Venice Police Department, but they were told by police that Madeline probably left willingly; her family disagrees.
In 1968, law enforcement’s handling of missing person cases was very different than it is today. The FBI’s NCIC system did not exist and families were lucky to get police to accept a missing person report. Currently, Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the case, but leads have grown cold in the years following. She would be almost 80 years old today.
In 2007 a person came forward and said they may have possible information that Madeline had been located, but unable to speak for herself. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS), Madeline was born with hydrocephalus, an often disability condition that can cause swelling of the brain. Madeline’s mother has since passed away but Foy provided a DNA sample to cross-reference with the DNA from the unidentified woman but it was not a match.
Often long-term missing person cases fall through the cracks and sadly, decades can pass without resolution for surviving family members. Many families have turned to private investigators for help. With any cold case, private investigators focus on reviving leads by interviewing individuals who knew the missing person at the time of their disappearance, former coworkers, friends, and family. Working cooperatively with law enforcement, private investigators bring with them a new set of eyes to review details of the case and the ability to spark the interest of media providing exposure necessary to potentially generate new leads. Advocates caution families to check the work history of any private investigator they plan to hire to avoid becoming victims of financial and emotional exploitation, but also agree hiring a private investigator may be their only hope to find the fate of their missing loved one.
Author – Kym L. Pasqualini
Founder, National Center for Missing Adults
& Social Network Advocate
Missing Persons Advocacy Network
Nearly 6 years ago, Roxanne Paltauf went missing on July 11, 2006, from a Budget Inn motel in Austin, TX. She was staying at the hotel with her boyfriend Lewis Walls. The hotel was located near Interstate 35 and Rundberg. Walls reported that Roxanne had left the hotel after they had been arguing and that she never came back. He claims the last time he had seen her was around 8:30pm that evening.
Being close with her daughter, Roxanne’s mother, Elizabeth Harris, says they talked frequently at least every other day, and to not hear from Roxanne is unusual.
Police suspect Roxanne’s disappearance could be linked to her boyfriend.
Background on Roxanne Paltauf
Roxanne was the oldest of 5 children, and she was finishing up getting her GED when she went missing. Roxanne’s mother says she was always helpful around the house and was very talented and artistic. Her dream was to study fashion and interior design.
Description of Roxanne Paltauf
Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 124
Hair Color: Light Brown
Eye Color: Green
Clothing: Pink or peach tank top, light blue shorts, flip-flops.
Identifying Characteristics: Double pierced ears, pierced navel, quarter size scar on left knee, mole on right side of neck, false upper front tooth
If you have any information about Roxanne, contact the Austin Police Department at (512) 974-5750 or CrimeStoppers at (512) 472-TIPS.
Alexis Mills is a Volunteer for the MissingPersonsNetwork.org and a recent graduate of Purdue University
Michael Taus Summary of Disappearance
Michael Taus, a 25 year old man from West Islip, NY, and his dog Romeo were reported missing on the night of June 18, 2010. Michael’s father, Russell, reported that Michael had mentioned going on a blind date with a woman he met on an internet dating site. What’s odd is that authorities say Michael’s dog, Romeo, and his food and water bowls were also missing from his home.Michael Taus, a 25 year old man from West Islip, NY, and his dog Romeo were reported missing on the night of June 18, 2010. Michael’s father, Russell, reported that Michael had mentioned going on a blind date with a woman he met on an internet dating site. What’s odd is that authorities say Michael’s dog, Romeo, and his food and water bowls were also missing from his home.
Description of Michael Taus
Gender: Male
Race: Caucasian
Physical: Pierced ears,
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 190
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Last Seen: Wearing pink shirt and light colored jeans
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Michael Taus, please contact Suffolk County Police Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.
Alexis Mills is a Volunteer for the MissingPersonsNetwork.org and a recent graduate of Purdue University
Ashley Carroll Summary of Disappearance
Ashley Carroll, 24, was reported missing on May 6, 2010, from Albany, NY. Ashley was allegedly supposed to be traveling to New York City that weekend to meet some friends. She was last seen at 1st Street and Quail Street in Albany, where she was dropped off by her friend Courtney Deaton. It was reported that Ashley had been fighting with her boyfriend, Jermon McLean, the morning of her disappearance. The area where Ashley was dropped off is a neighborhood known to be frequented by her boyfriend.
It was believed that Ashley’s plan was to meet with McLean, pack some of her belongings for her trip, and then head to NYC where she was going to stay with some friends. She intended to return on May 9, which was Mother’s Day. Ashley had left her one year old daughter, Arionnah, with a friend while she went away. Reports say there is no indication that she ever made it to the city. Her family questions whether or not she ever even left, as her jewelry was still at her apartment.
Background on Ashley Carroll
Ashley was in-between jobs at the time of her disappearance. Her family states that this is out of character for her, as Ashley would never leave her daughter or her family without notifying anyone.
Description of Ashley Carroll
Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 140
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Defining Characteristics: Last seen at 1st and Quail St in Albany, NY on May 6, 2010 wearing a black t-shirt, light colored jeans and flip flops; Tattoo right arm: “Arionnah”, tattoo left hand: “Steve” – red & black, tattoo right foot: rosary with cross “Maria”, tattoo left side of neck: “Steve”, tattoo lower back: tribal, tattoo on calf: tiger cub, tattoo right wrist: “What goes around comes round”, tattoo right calf: tiger, tattoo right thigh: cat paws.
If you have any information about Ashley, you’re asked to contact either the Rensselaer Police Department at (518) 462-7451 or Albany Police Department at (518) 458-5660. You can also contact Ashley’s mother Margaret at 518-334-1680.
Alexis Mills is a Volunteer for the MissingPersonsNetwork.org and a recent graduate of Purdue University
