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

Theresa Ann Davidson-Murphy









Theresa, date, approximate 1999; Richard Murphy, date, approximate 1999
Date Missing 10/07/1999
Missing From
Rainier, Oregon
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Female
Race
White
Date of Birth 05/15/1965 (57)
Age 34 years old
Height and Weight 5'10, 140 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A green sweater, blue jeans, white sneakers, a wedding ring and a gold chain necklace.
Associated Vehicle(s) Pickup truck (accounted for)
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Theresa has a tattoo of a green rose on her right ankle. Her ears are pierced. Theresa's nickname is Terry, and she may use the last name Colpitts. Her last name may not be hyphenated (i.e. "Davidson Murphy"). She may only use the last name Davidson. Theresa's first name may be spelled "Teresa" and her middle name may be spelled "Anne."
Details of Disappearance Theresa resided with her husband, Richard Murphy, and her teenage daughter in Rainier, Oregon in 1999. Both of Theresa's children were from her first marriage; her son lived with his father in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a six-hour drive away.A photo of Richard is posted with this summary.
The family lived in the 72000 block of Hutchison Road. They relocated from Puyallup, Washington in July 1999 to be closer to Richard's relatives. Theresa reportedly regretted the move, as she missed her old job and her family and friends back in Puyallup.
Theresa dropped her daughter off at a friend's home for a three-day sleepover on October 7, 1999. Later that same day, Richard departed on a camping trip to Browns Creek in the Olympic National Forest in Mason County, Washington.
Theresa's daughter called her on October 9 and spoke to her mother, and later thought her mother "didn't sound like herself." Her mother was supposed to pick her up on October 10, but she never arrived. Her daughter called the house several times, trying to reach her, but no one ever answered, so she stayed with her friend.
Eventually, after a few more days, Richard answered the phone; he had returned home from his camping trip. He told his stepdaughter he had no idea where Theresa was. Richard came and picked up his stepdaughter, took her home. Shortly thereafter, Richard called Theresa's ex-husband and asked him to pick up the girl. She moved in with her father and brother in Oregon.
All of Theresa's personal belongings were inside the house. Her pickup truck was parked near the residence with the keys in the ignition. Theresa has never been heard from again. Her sister-in-law reported her as a missing person on October 23, 16 days after she vanished. The reasons for the delay of the report are unknown.
Richard also reported that the family's 1991 Colt 1911 A-1 .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun with serial number 2757178 was missing from their home after his wife disappeared. The weapon has never been located. In August 2001, nearly two years after her disappearance, authorities announced that they believed Theresa is deceased. Her remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
Oregon State Police
503-731-3020
Other
NamUs
Oregon State Police
The Daily News
Facebook Page for Theresa Davidson-Murphy

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