The person at the center of this case
Cathy Marie Huffman
Missing Person · Open - Body not recovered
40 years waiting · since 1985
Missing Person: Cathy Marie Huffman
Justice for Cathy Marie Huffman — the trail went cold in 1985, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why was the blouse turned inside out and heavily covered with rock? What does this indicate about the force and duration of water movement?
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location
Lead #2Were systematic searches conducted downstream beyond where clothing was found? Could her body have traveled further or become lodged in debris?
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witness
Lead #3Did the husband or other witnesses observe any other details about the flood conditions, water velocity, or debris that day?
Cathy Marie Huffman, 19, disappeared on November 4, 1985, in Franklin, West Virginia during a severe flood while attempting to cross a swollen waterway with her husband. Her husband crossed safely but returned to find her missing; her purple jacket and blouse were recovered 300-400 yards downstream, suggesting she was swept away by the floodwaters. Despite extensive search efforts, her body has never been recovered, leaving questions about her fate in the turbulent waters.
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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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clue
Lead #4The specific recovery locations of clothing items suggest a trajectory—could underwater searches or sonar mapping of the streambed reveal additional evidence?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP133107. Missing person: Cathy Marie Huffman.
Last known contact: 1985-11-04 in Franklin, Pendleton, WV. Circumstances: During the Flood of 1985, Cathy Huffman and her husband were attempting to get to their home, her husband crossed a flooded water way and was almost swept away by the current but managed to grab a tree branch and make it to the opposite bank, he advised Cathy to stay put and he would go get a chainsaw to down a tree so that she could use it as a bridge to cross the swollen water way.
He returned to the bank where he had left Cathy and she was nowhere to be found, the victim was either swept away by a dammed up wall of water, or fell into the stream, while trying to cross to the southside of the stream and was washed away. The victim's purple jacket was later found 300-400 yards downstream east of her last known location, and about 150 feet further down from the jacket was the victim's blouse that was turned inside out snagged on a locust limb, about 2/3 of the blouse was covered with rock.
The victim's body has not been recovered. Demographics: 19 years, Female, Multiple.
Physical description: 5 ft 2 in, 115 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Unknown. Investigating agency: West Virginia State Police - Franklin | CF1664 | 1985-11-04.
Timeline of Events
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1985-11-04
Cathy Huffman disappears during 1985 flood
Cathy Huffman and her husband attempted to cross a flooded waterway in Franklin. Her husband crossed safely but returned to find her missing. She was likely swept away by dammed-up floodwaters or fell into the swollen stream.
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1985-11-04
Purple jacket recovered
Cathy's purple jacket was found 300-400 yards downstream east of her last known location.
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1985-11-04
Blouse recovered
Victim's blouse, turned inside out and snagged on a locust limb with rock coverage, found approximately 150 feet further downstream from the jacket.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 4, 1985
Last Updated:July 11, 2026
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Phone: 3043582200
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Case Information
Incident:November 4, 1985
Last Updated:July 11, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3043582200
You can remain anonymous