Over the years, high-profile mysterious disappearances have sparked widespread intrigue, drawing in families desperate for answers, media frenzies, and fans who eagerly spin theories. These stories, from vanished heiresses to unsolved murder mysteries, have captivated readers and investigators alike, leaving a trail of questions that seem impossible to answer.
Some cases involve the disappearance of wealthy heiresses lost at sea, others tell tales of betrayal and foul play. What remains the same across all these stories is the one unshakable fact: these famous individuals vanished without a trace. Despite years of investigation, no one truly knows what happened to them—only that one day, they were gone.
Here are some of the most puzzling disappearances that continue to leave detectives, governments, and curious minds scratching their heads.
1. Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart made history as the first female aviator to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic. She was a trailblazer, author, and champion of commercial air travel. Furthermore, Earhart wrote best-selling books about her aerial adventures.
On July 2, 1937, she began her final flight, aiming to fly around the world. She piloted a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, with navigator Fred Noonan by her side. They were last seen in Lae, New Guinea, before making their final stop.
The mysterious disappearance likely occurred when they ran out of fuel over the Pacific. As a result, a year and a half later, Earhart and Noonan were declared dead after vanishing without a trace.
2. Sean Flynn
3. Connie Converse
Elizabeth Eaton Converse, better known by her stage name Connie, is often regarded as one of the pioneers of modern singer-songwriters. She was also a skilled composer, poet, and writer.
Connie vanished on August 10, 1974. According to Howard Fishman, who authored her biography, a series of personal struggles severely impacted her mental well-being, pushing her into a deep depression. This led her to pack her belongings into her Volkswagen Beetle and leave, never to return.
Friends and family have shared that Connie identified as a lesbian and felt alienated both personally and professionally, particularly by her religious parents. She found some comfort in writing for the Journal of Conflict Resolution, but lost her job when the publication relocated to Yale in 1972.
Despite her family’s efforts to find her, the private investigator they hired ultimately informed them that he could not locate her and advised them to respect her choice to disappear.
4. Harold Holt
5. Oscar Zeta Acosta
6. Barbara Newhall Follett
7. Zoe Mcclellan
The actress, known for Designated Survivor and NCIS, faces accusations from her ex-husband, J.P. Gillain. In May 2021, Los Angeles County issued an arrest warrant for McLellan.
The charges include child custody deprivation, kidnapping, and child stealing amid a long custody battle. Gillain claims McLellan took their 4-year-old son, Sebastian, to Toronto without his consent.
McLellan has remained missing since April 2019, fueling a mysterious disappearance. She has not appeared in any productions and may be living under a different identity.
Fans debate her motives, with some believing she acted to protect her son from abuse. Others argue she had malicious intent and will be arrested once authorities find her.
8. Lord Lucan
9. Tammy Lynn Leppert
10. Ylenia Carrisi
Ylenia Carrisi, the eldest daughter of Italian singers Albano Carrisi and Romina Power, disappeared on January 18, 1994.
She traveled alone after taking a break from literature studies at King’s College London. Ylenia sold most of her belongings to fund her journey across South America. Subsequently, her final stop was Belize before returning to New Orleans on December 26, 1993.
A couple of weeks later, she was last seen in the French Quarter. She stayed at a hotel with street musician Alexander Masakela.
When her parents didn’t hear from her, they filed a missing person report on January 18. Consequently, an investigation was launched, but authorities dismissed Masakela as a suspect. Intriguingly, a security guard testified that he saw a woman matching Ylenia’s description jump into the Mississippi River.
The Coast Guard searched the area, but no body was ever found. Eventually, in December 2014, Ylenia was officially declared dead.
11. Ambrose Bierce
Bierce was a celebrated writer and editor who mysteriously vanished after traveling to Mexico in October 1913.
At 71, he left Washington to immerse himself in Mexico’s revolutionary conflict. He passed through Louisiana and Texas, then crossed into Mexico via El Paso.
Bierce reportedly joined Pancho Villa’s army as an observer, witnessing key events like the Battle of Tierra Blanca.
His last known communication was a letter to Blanche Partington on December 26, 1913. “I leave tomorrow for an unknown destination,” the letter said.
Afterward, Bierce disappeared without a trace, and numerous theories emerged about his whereabouts. Intriguingly, his fate remains unknown. Thus, the mystery continues to captivate many.
12. Jean Spangler
Spangler was a promising American actress and dancer born in Seattle, Washington. She disappeared on October 7, 1946, at 26 years old.
She began her career in show business, working as an extra in films. For instance, she appeared in When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) and Chicken Every Sunday (1949).
On the night of her disappearance, Spangler told her sister-in-law she would meet her ex-husband. She planned to discuss child support and then attend a late-night film shoot.
She was last seen at a grocery store. Two days later, authorities found her purse in Griffith Park. The purse had a torn strap and an enigmatic note addressed to “Kirk,” mentioning a visit to “Dr. Scott.”
Speculation soon suggested Spangler was involved in a botched abortion, common in post-war Los Angeles. Additionally, other theories linked her disappearance to the mafia or actor Kirk Douglas. However, no substantial evidence supported these claims.
13. Richey Edwards
The guitarist for the Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers disappeared on February 1, 1995.
Edwards was the band’s main lyricist and discussed his depression openly in interviews. He used his art to express his inner turmoil.
On the day of his disappearance, Edwards was set to travel to the U.S. with the band. However, his abandoned car was found near the Severn Bridge, a cryptic site known for tragic events.
Edwards’ body was never found. Nonetheless, some fans claimed they saw him in India and the Canary Islands. Moreover, no concrete evidence has ever supported these sightings. Consequently, his disappearance remains an enduring mystery.
14. Bison Dele
The former NBA player disappeared on July 7, 2002, during a sailing trip in the South Pacific.
The 33-year-old sailed from Tahiti aboard his catamaran, the Hakuna Matata, with his girlfriend, Serena Karlan. Also, his brother, Miles Dabord, and the ship’s captain, Bertrand Saldo, joined the trip.
Of the four, Dabord was the only one to return to Tahiti on July 20. Police launched an investigation in September, discovering Dabord had forged Dele’s signature. Additionally, he used it to open mailboxes and buy $152,000 worth of gold.
Police later found Dabord fled to Mexico. Meanwhile, the Hakuna Matata was left in Tahiti under a different name. Its original name had been removed, and bullet holes were patched.
Dabord ended his life by overdosing on insulin on September 27. Intriguingly, the FBI found he had purchased $200 worth of weights to sink bodies into the sea. Consequently, the case remains inscrutable.
15. Rico Harris
Rico Omar Harris, the former Harlem Globetrotter, disappeared on October 10, 2014, while driving. He was traveling from California to Washington, where he planned a new life chapter.
Before this, Harris struggled with addiction after his basketball career ended. Consequently, he returned to his mother’s house in Alhambra with no job prospects. He started using heroin, meth, and crack cocaine, getting arrested over a hundred times.
After completing a rehabilitation program, Harris met Jennifer Song, who became his fiancée. Moreover, he worked as a security guard.
Harris was excited to turn his long-distance relationship with Jennifer into a live-in one. He secured a job interview in Washington and updated his driver’s license in that state.
Before leaving for Washington, Harris visited his family, hoping to find closure about his past. Then, he drove north of Sacramento and left Jennifer a message. He said he was “going up to the mountains to rest.”
Harris’s disappearance remains an unfathomable mystery, with no answers or clues to explain his fate.
16. Theodosia Burr-Alston
Theodosia was the daughter of Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States. At 29, she was traveling to New York to reunite with her father. Her son had recently died from malaria at age 10.
She disappeared while sailing aboard the Patriot on December 31, 1812. The Patriot was a fast ship that acted as a privateer during the war. Its weaponry was dismantled and hidden below deck. Moreover, it carried valuable cargo.
The Patriot never reached its destination, and its crew was never found. Speculation suggested piracy or an arcane storm off the Carolina coast sank the ship. Thus, the mystery remains unsolved
17. Joe Pichler
The former child actor, known for Varsity Blues and the Beethoven sequels, disappeared on January 5, 2006, at 18 years old.
Pichler moved to Los Angeles as a child to pursue acting, which began promisingly. He appeared in at least 14 movies and TV shows as a supporting actor.
However, at his parents’ request, he paused his acting career in 2003 to finish high school in Bremerton, Washington.
Four days after his disappearance, Pichler’s car, a silver Toyota Corolla, was found. Inside, there was a note expressing his wish to be “stronger” and asking for his belongings to go to his younger brother.
The lead detective found the case intriguing, suspecting self-harm. However, Pichler’s body was never found. Therefore, his fate remains uncertain.
18. Jim Sullivan
The mysterious disappearance of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jim Sullivan occurred in New Mexico on March 6, 1975. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara, and they moved to Los Angeles in 1968. Barbara got a job with Capitol Records, while Sullivan released two albums: UFO (1969) and Jim Sullivan (1972). Despite Hollywood connections, his records failed to gain traction. As a result, his career struggles affected his marriage, leading to their separation in 1975. Therefore, Sullivan decided to move to Nashville to restart his career. However, he mysteriously vanished while driving there. His abandoned car was later found, with his belongings inside. These included his guitar and unsold records. Despite many searches, Sullivan’s fate remains unknown. Consequently, theories about his disappearance range from foul play to self-harm.
19. Weldon Kees
Kees was an American painter, jazz pianist, filmmaker, and poet. He became a mysterious icon of the Beat Generation in mid-20th-century America. His works frequently appeared in renowned publications like The New Yorker and Time. Despite his artistic success, Kees struggled with personal issues, including bouts of manic depression. As a result, his life was often overshadowed by emotional turmoil.
On July 18, 1955, Kees mysteriously disappeared in San Francisco. Afterward, rumors began circulating that he had taken his own life. His car was found abandoned on the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge. However, without his body, no one could confirm these speculations.
Later, friends revealed that Kees had expressed a desire to either jump from the bridge or flee to Mexico. Consequently, his sudden disappearance only deepened the mystery surrounding his life. To this day, his legacy remains shrouded in uncertainty, leaving many to wonder what truly happened to him.
20. Levi Davis
Levi Davis, a 24-year-old British rugby player, disappeared in Barcelona in October 2022. He had traveled from Ibiza, and his last contact was a voice note sent after midnight.
Levi’s mother, Julie, is frustrated by the lack of progress in the investigation. Initially, police suspected he drowned after a man was seen in the water near the port. However, the case was later closed due to insufficient evidence.
Journalists Dan Evans and Tom Latchem criticized the investigation, claiming authorities failed to gather key evidence. They stated, “The police didn’t obtain CCTV footage, communications history, or conduct a thorough investigation.”
Moreover, Evans and Latchem suggested that Levi might have been blackmailed, expressing frustration over the lack of cooperation. Consequently, they pointed to the failure of Spanish and British police working together.
Levi’s mother is now urging UK authorities to take over the case. She remains uncertain about her son’s fate and struggles with the emotional toll of this unsolved mystery.
21. Forrest Schab (Dy)
Forrest Schab, known by his stage name DY, was hailed as one of Canada’s top artists. In February 2010, Billboard recognized him as an emerging talent. However, he mysteriously disappeared on November 18, 2010.
DY had planned to fly to Mexico in August of that year. Soon after landing, he vanished without a trace. Canadian police quickly launched an investigation, but it proved unsuccessful.
At the time, speculation linked his disappearance to drugs, organized crime, and his contract termination. Additionally, his departure from CP Records likely affected his mental health. Consequently, the investigation remains unresolved.
22. Daniel Lind Lagerlöf
23. Christina Mckichnie
Mostly known by her stage name “Licorice,” the Scottish musician mysteriously vanished in 1987. She had been hitchhiking across the Arizona desert when she disappeared without a trace.
Licorice reached the peak of her fame when she performed at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. However, by the late 1980s, she had largely faded from the public’s attention.
Accounts of her whereabouts are contradictory. Her sister claimed she was recovering from surgery in Sacramento in 1990. Meanwhile, media outlets reported that she had vanished in 1987.
Additionally, Rose Simpson, a former ISB member, stated, “There’s a possibility that she may be dead.”
24. Dorothy Arnold
Ms. Arnold was a wealthy socialite in early 20th-century American society. She mysteriously disappeared on December 12, 1910, at 25 years old in New York City.
Dorothy was the daughter of successful fine goods importer Francis R. Arnold and lived luxuriously. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College and dreamed of becoming a writer, but fate intervened.
On the day she vanished, Dorothy left her home to shop for a dress. She was last seen by a cashier and a friend on Fifth Avenue. According to her friend, Dorothy planned to stroll through Central Park before returning home.
Her father, Francis, hired private investigators to search for her, but their efforts were fruitless. As a result, he gave up after a year, telling the press he accepted her death.
25. Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
Although he’s mostly known for writing The Little Prince, Antoine was also a journalist, aviator, and poet. His expertise in aviation eventually led to his disappearance in July 1944. He embarked on a reconnaissance mission from Corsica over the Mediterranean, preparing for the Allied invasion of southern France.
Saint-Exupéry didn’t volunteer for the mission out of love for his country, however. Historians recorded that he was pressured into the role by Charles de Gaulle, a French general of the Vichy Regime, which Saint-Exupéry opposed. As a result, the novelist became depressed and began drinking heavily.
Moreover, air force members discussed expelling him due to his deteriorating physical and mental health. Although his body was never found, a fisherman discovered his silver identity bracelet in September 1998. Subsequently, wreckage from his plane was found in May 2000 and is now displayed at the French Air and Space Museum.
26. Scott Smith
Loverboy’s bassist, Scott Smith, disappeared on November 30, 2000, during a sailing trip. He was piloting his sailboat, the Sea Major, en route to Los Angeles with friends. Suddenly, a 25-foot wave struck, sweeping Smith overboard without warning.
The Coast Guard quickly mobilized to search for Smith, but they found no trace. Despite relentless searching for an entire day, his body was never recovered.
“One minute he was there, and the next he was gone,” Ellis told the Montreal Gazette. He added, “It happened very, very quickly.”
The band honored Smith with the song Stranded, which appeared on their 2007 album Just Getting Started. Consequently, the song remains a tribute to their lost bandmate.
27. Anastasia Romanov
The Grand Duchess of Russia was the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last sovereign of Imperial Russia.
Initially, many believed she had survived in hiding after her family was murdered by the Bolsheviks on July 17, 1918. However, in 2007, her remains were discovered, disproving her survival through DNA testing. Consequently, this discovery ended decades of women falsely claiming to be Anastasia.
Her supposed survival famously inspired the 1997 animated film Anastasia by Fox Animation Studios. Moreover, the film was adapted from a 1956 live-action movie starring Ingrid Bergman. This, in turn, followed the plot of a 1952 theater play.