The person at the center of this case
Norma Louise Houghland (age 27) and her sons Richard Houghland (age 8) and Thomas Houghland (age 6)
Violent Crime · Open / Unsolved
48 years waiting · since 1978
HOUGHLAND FAMILY - SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
Justice for Norma Louise Houghland (age 27) and her sons Richard Houghland (age 8) and Thomas Houghland (age 6) — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #11965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI, VIN: 237375K134785) has never been recovered—locating this vehicle could be crucial to solving the case
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evidence
Lead #2Why were unopened mail and a welfare check left at the residence? This suggests an unplanned departure rather than voluntary relocation
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person
Lead #3Norma had a documented history of suicide attempts—could this case involve a tragic outcome, or was there foul play involved?
On July 11, 1978, Norma Louise Houghland, age 27, and her two young sons Richard (8) and Thomas (6) disappeared from Sacramento, California after leaving a relative's house around 8:00 p.m. They were traveling in a 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans that has never been recovered. When family members checked their home days later, they found all belongings undisturbed, including unopened mail and a welfare check, suggesting an unexpected departure. Nearly 50 years later, the case remains unsolved with no confirmed sightings or evidence of their whereabouts.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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witness
Lead #4Who was present at the relative's house on July 11, 1978, and what was the condition and demeanor of Norma and her sons when they left?
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timeline
Lead #5What happened between 8:00 p.m. on July 11 and the family's home check a few days later? No sightings or contacts were reported during this period
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
July 11, 1978 Sacramento, California Norma Louise Houghland, age 27, and her two sons, 8-year-old Richard and 6-year-old Thomas, were last seen on the evening of July 11, 1978, at a relative’s house in Sacramento, California. They left the residence around 8:00 p.m.
and were believed to be headed to their residence (also located in Sacramento). Norma drove a 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI, VIN: 237375K134785), which is also missing and has never been recovered.
Family members, unable to contact Norma in the days following, responded to the family’s residence and found all of their belongings inside, including unopened mail and a welfare check. The Houghland family has not been seen or heard from since.
Norma worked as a typist. She had cesarean scars on her abdomen and had a history of suicide attempts.
Timeline of Events
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1978-07-11
20:00Family Departure
Norma Louise Houghland and her two sons left a relative's house around 8:00 p.m., believed to be headed to their residence in Sacramento
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1978-07-11
Disappearance
Norma, Richard, and Thomas Houghland disappeared. They have not been seen or heard from since this date.
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1978-07-14
Home Check
Family members unable to contact Norma responded to the family residence and found all belongings inside, including unopened mail and a welfare check
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:July 11, 1978 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:July 11, 1978 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:October 29, 2026