TUCSON, Ariz. — The investigation into the disappearance of an 84-year-old woman entered a critical phase as law enforcement officials conducted a new forensic examination at her residence.
The woman was reported missing on February 1 after failing to appear for a scheduled online church service. Authorities quickly deemed her disappearance suspicious, citing evidence found at the scene that suggested a crime had occurred. Family members have described her as having limited physical mobility but being mentally sharp, leading investigators to believe she did not leave her home voluntarily.
In a recent development, a white forensic canopy was briefly erected at the entrance to her home early Thursday morning. Such structures are typically used to protect potential evidence from environmental contamination or to shield a scene from public view. The area had previously been identified as a location where traces of blood were discovered. The canopy was removed approximately one hour after being assembled.
Simultaneously, the investigation has honed in on new surveillance footage captured roughly five miles from the woman’s home. The video, recorded around the time she vanished, shows an individual carrying a backpack with distinctive reflective shoulder straps. This description matches a backpack seen in earlier images released by investigators, who had identified it as a specific model carried by a person seen disabling a home security camera in the early hours of February 1.
The family continues to appeal to the public for information. In a recent statement, the missing woman’s daughter expressed unwavering hope and gratitude for the public’s support, saying, “We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.”
The search, now in its second week, remains active.