The person at the center of this case
Norma Louise Houghland (age 27) and her sons Richard (age 8) and Thomas (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 (age 8) and Thomas (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 #1Where is the 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI)? Recovery of this vehicle could provide critical evidence.
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witness
Lead #2Did anyone see the Pontiac Lemans on the evening of July 11, 1978, between the relative's house and the family residence?
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evidence
Lead #3Why were mail and a welfare check left unopened? This suggests sudden, unplanned departure or foul play.
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 driving a 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans that has never been recovered. When family members checked their home days later, they found all belongings untouched—including unopened mail and a welfare check—suggesting an unexplained and sudden 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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person
Lead #4Norma had a history of suicide attempts and cesarean scars—could medical or psychological factors explain the disappearance?
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timeline
Lead #5What happened between 8:00 p.m. on July 11 and when family members discovered the home undisturbed days later?
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 Departs Relative's House
Norma 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
1965 Light Blue Pontiac Lemans Missing
The family vehicle (CA Plate 254SBI, VIN: 237375K134785) has never been recovered and remains missing.
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1978-07-14
Family Home Found Undisturbed
Family members unable to contact Norma responded to the residence and found all belongings inside, including unopened mail and an uncashed 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:September 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:July 11, 1978 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:September 11, 2026