In 1975 Flora Stevens was dropped outside her doctors at the Community General Hospital in Monticello, New York, by her husband for a routine appointment, and promptly disappeared.
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| Police Had Only Had Old Pictures Pre 1975 (I cleaned and coloured as best I could) |
She didn't see her doctor, and simply joined the ranks of the 13,000 people who are reported missing in New York City each year. But unlike the vast majority who turn up quickly, she was never found.
Nor was she numbered amongst the very few whose bodies are found .... in fact according to police statistics, 65 per cent of missing people voluntarily return home or are found inside 48 hours, 82 per cent within seven days, 87 per cent in 14 days, 94 per cent in 30 days and 99.9 per cent in six months to a year.
By 1985 her husband was dead, and no one was looking for her anymore. But in 2017, cold case detectives made one last effort using the databases available now, that weren't in existence in the pre-Internet 1970's. Big surprise, they found her aged 78, and under the surname Harris, but with 'Flora Stevens’ social security number, living in a care home in Lowell near Boston since 2001 ... sadly the mystery of her disappearance 42 years earlier may never be solved as she has advanced dementia and isn't able to shed any light on the matter.
Records showed that she been in two other care homes prior to her current location. Her carers only knew that she had told them that she came from a bad marriage and that her husband had been abusive. She had also told them she had grown up in Yonkers, had been a hairstylist and went to the 1969 Woodstock concert. But had always refused to give any other information about her life before the care homes.
The police showed her photos they hoped would trigger her memory. She recognised her own picture and that of Robert Stevens — she uttered the word “Robert” when she saw it, and reacted to other photo's, but couldn't answer as to what had happened all those years ago.
For missing adults, 99 per cent, leave voluntarily, usually because of domestic or employment problems, and usually do not want to be found. 57 per cent of the juvenile missing person cases reported involve females under 17, but for those younger than 12, most of the reports involve boys.
Nor was she numbered amongst the very few whose bodies are found .... in fact according to police statistics, 65 per cent of missing people voluntarily return home or are found inside 48 hours, 82 per cent within seven days, 87 per cent in 14 days, 94 per cent in 30 days and 99.9 per cent in six months to a year.
By 1985 her husband was dead, and no one was looking for her anymore. But in 2017, cold case detectives made one last effort using the databases available now, that weren't in existence in the pre-Internet 1970's. Big surprise, they found her aged 78, and under the surname Harris, but with 'Flora Stevens’ social security number, living in a care home in Lowell near Boston since 2001 ... sadly the mystery of her disappearance 42 years earlier may never be solved as she has advanced dementia and isn't able to shed any light on the matter.
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| Flora Stevens Was Found Under The Name Harris |
Records showed that she been in two other care homes prior to her current location. Her carers only knew that she had told them that she came from a bad marriage and that her husband had been abusive. She had also told them she had grown up in Yonkers, had been a hairstylist and went to the 1969 Woodstock concert. But had always refused to give any other information about her life before the care homes.
The police showed her photos they hoped would trigger her memory. She recognised her own picture and that of Robert Stevens — she uttered the word “Robert” when she saw it, and reacted to other photo's, but couldn't answer as to what had happened all those years ago.
For missing adults, 99 per cent, leave voluntarily, usually because of domestic or employment problems, and usually do not want to be found. 57 per cent of the juvenile missing person cases reported involve females under 17, but for those younger than 12, most of the reports involve boys.
And there I was suspecting the husband of foul play... although it does look like he was the problem. Well done to Flora Stevens for making a better life for herself.
ReplyDeleteWell we hope and assume it was a better life. I guess we will never know for sure. Thanks for the comment.
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