Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Case Updates with Photos

Ruth Purcell Murphree Dorsey

Dorsey, date, approximate 1974
Date Missing 08/17/1974
Missing From
Opelika, Alabama
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Female
Race
White
Date of Birth 07/21/1905 (117)
Age 69 years old
Height and Weight 5'4, 105 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A flowered blouse and a long brown skirt or pants.
Associated Vehicle(s) 1972 Ford Galaxie (accounted for)
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Light brown hair, gray eyes.
Details of Disappearance Dorsey was last seen on August 17, 1974 in Opelika, Alabama. She visited the Spring Villa Grocery between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. and got gasoline for her car, a 1972 Ford Galaxie. Dorsey told the gas station attendant that a relative had called her and she was going to pick the person up.
One of Dorsey's neighbors reported seeing her turn into her driveway at 6:00 p.m. She has not been seen since. She was reported missing after she failed to arrive at church the next day; she was a Sunday School teacher and pianist and it was uncharacteristic of her to miss services.
When authorities went to Dorsey's home on Route 1 in Opelika, they found the front door open and a side door unlocked. Laundry was hanging on the outside clothesline, Dorsey's Bible and Sunday School teaching materials were laid out on the table, and her bed did not appear to have been slept in.
Her three dogs were found "cowering" in the bathroom, which is unusual; the animals would typically try to defend the property if someone came in while Dorsey was there.
Dorsey's car was found in downtown Opelika near the First Baptist Church after her disappearance. The keys were the ignition and her eyeglasses and purse were on the front seat. Nothing appeared to be missing from the purse and it contained $11 in cash. Investigators stated it appeared that the car had been left by someone who was running an errand and intended to return within a short time.
Curiously, the vehicle was parked in front of the first house Dorsey had lived in with her late husband. The door of the house was open, but authorities found no indications that Dorsey had been there recently.
There have been no withdrawals from Dorsey's account since she disappeared. Police initially believed she left of her own accord, but her family suspected foul play from the beginning, as she was close to her relatives and it is uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning.
Dorsey is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Women's College in Ashland, Virginia. She taught French and mathematics until her marriage in 1928. Her husband died in 1965. After his death she worked for the First National Bank in Opelika; she retired shortly before her disappearance. Dorsey is described as a strong, independent woman. Her remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
Opelika Police Department
334-705-5220
Lee County Sheriff's Department
800-239-7072
Other
The Opelika-Auburn News
Porchlight for the Missing & Unidentified

Missing Person Photos

A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe. By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends. A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.

Resources for Missing Persons

According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day. Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends. Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.

Missing Person Case Updates with Photos