Missing persons cases always capture people’s attention. They are gripping, intriguing, and thrilling for those who follow them. Most of them don’t have happy endings. Some aren’t exactly terrible but wouldn’t exactly be called a good ending either.
Such was the case with this woman who disappeared over four decades ago. 42 years to be exact.
She never returned from her doctor’s appointment.
It was that day, 42 years ago, when Flora Stevens was dropped off by her husband for an appointment in Monticello, New York in the Catskills. For some reason, Flora vanished.
Detective Richard Morgan of Sullivan County, NY’s Sheriff’s office shared that with the help of technology, he was able to research and follow the case really quickly.
What they first thought to be her remains was a false lead.
Detectives tracked her social security number. It led them to an assisted living facility in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was the same first name and date of birth according to Morgan. There’s their missing person.
NY detectives met the elderly, white haired woman with dementia who went by the name of Flora Harris in Lowell.
They showed her an old photo of hers taken when she was 36 years old. The time when she worked as a chambermaid and waitress at a Catskills resort in the mid seventies.
Flora responded with, “That’s me.” or “Me.” according to Richard.
She was 78 during the encounter with the detectives. Her dementia meant that recalling what happened 42 years ago, and all the years that followed was no longer possible. It’s a forever mystery now.
“We really don’t know the circumstances of why or how she disappeared. She had psychiatric problems leading up to that point.”
Says detective Morgan.
Flora was in and out of psychiatric facilities in New Hampshire and New York City. She had been living in the Lowell facility since 2001. She has no known living relatives or family.
There was no update given about Flora’s husband. But detectives are relieved that a case over four decades old was finally solved.
Talk about a cold one.
Who knows why she vanished? Did she do it on purpose? Maybe something happened to Flora all those years ago and she just decided to leave it all behind. At least that’s the theory of a former worker named Festus Mbuva.
Her husband was listed as a Robert Stevens, and if reports are correct, the man used to work at The Concord. The same resort that Flora used to work for. Investigators never confirmed that they were actually married.
It was on August 3, 1975 when Stevens dropped her off for a doctor’s appointment. When he came back 2 hours later, Flora was gone. According to authorities, Flora had just gotten paid and that she got lots of tips from customers. There was also a bus station near the hospital.
It was Stevens who reported her “missing”.
Mbuva claims that Flora rarely talked about her family yet mentioned that Stevens was abusive.
Flora enjoyed attending Woodstock. She loved music from the 70’s and would knit and draw. She’s had a long life and who knows what really happened to her. Flora refuses to share anymore details. The elderly lady has chosen to keep her secrets.
What a story! Watch Flora’s case below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
