Neighbors of an 84-year-old Tucson woman reported a suspicious, unmarked white van on their street in the days before she vanished from her home, according to new accounts from residents.
The woman was last seen on the evening of Saturday, January 31, after being driven home from a family dinner. She was reported missing the following day after failing to arrive at a church service. A subsequent search of her residence by authorities led to the discovery of blood near the front door, which was later confirmed through testing to belong to the missing woman. The home has been designated a crime scene.
A neighbor living directly across the street stated he contacted police after noticing the unmarked van parked on the residential street. “It was a full-sized white van with no markings on the sides,” the neighbor said. “Typically, service vehicles have some form of identification, so it stood out.” The neighbor added that the incident has prompted him and his wife to consider installing security cameras at their own home.
Law enforcement sources indicate the woman’s doorbell camera was disconnected in the early morning hours following her disappearance. Approximately thirty minutes later, the device detected motion, but no video was recorded. Her medical pacemaker is also reported to have gone offline around the same time.
In a development reported by multiple outlets, an unverified ransom note was received, demanding a substantial sum in cryptocurrency for her safe return and setting a deadline. The note has not been authenticated by investigators.
Prior to that deadline, the woman’s children, including a well-known national broadcaster, issued a public plea via a video statement. “We are ready to talk,” one family member stated, while also requesting proof of life. They emphasized their mother’s age and fragile health, noting she requires medication.
The FBI has become involved in the case and is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to her location. As of last week, officials stated they did not have a identified suspect or person of interest. The investigation remains active.