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
47 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 #1The 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI) has never been recovered—locating this vehicle could be crucial to understanding what happened to the family
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witness
Lead #2Who else was at the relative's house that evening and what were the exact circumstances of their departure?
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evidence
Lead #3Why were unopened mail and a welfare check left at the residence—does this indicate forced departure or voluntary disappearance?
On July 11, 1978, Norma Louise Houghland, age 27, and her two young sons Richard (8) and Thomas (6) vanished from Sacramento, California after leaving a relative's house around 8:00 p.m. in a 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans. When family members checked their home days later, they found all belongings untouched, including unopened mail and a welfare check, suggesting an abrupt departure. Despite nearly five decades of investigation, the family and their vehicle have never been located, making this one of California's most enduring missing persons mysteries.
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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 documented history of suicide attempts and cesarean scars—could medical or psychological factors have influenced events that night?
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timeline
Lead #5The gap between July 11 evening and when family checked the home days later—what specific day was the home discovered undisturbed, and were there any sightings in between?
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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 Last Seen
Norma Louise Houghland and her two sons Richard (8) and Thomas (6) last seen leaving a relative's house in Sacramento around 8:00 p.m., believed headed to their residence
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1978-07-11
Vehicle Information
1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI, VIN: 237375K134785) missing and never recovered
🕵️
1978-07-14
Family Home Checked
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:May 19, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:July 11, 1978 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:May 19, 2026