The person at the center of this case
Della Marie Hillard
Missing Person · Open
38 years waiting · since 1988
Missing Person: Della Marie Hillard
Justice for Della Marie Hillard — the trail went cold in 1988, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1Blood found on the back and side of the vehicle—was it Della's blood and does it match any known suspects?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2Why was the car ransacked but her home left in order? Does this suggest she was taken from the vehicle or elsewhere?
📍
location
Lead #3The apartment complex where the car was found is only a mile from her home—was this a deliberate drop point or coincidental?
Della Marie Hillard, a 32-year-old woman, vanished from Houston, Texas on May 3, 1988, after telling friends she was going to sleep. Her car was discovered the next day at an apartment complex about a mile away, ransacked with blood on it and her purse missing, while her home remained undisturbed—strongly suggesting foul play. Despite decades of investigation by the Houston Police Department, her fate remains unknown and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
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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.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Who were the friends she spoke to that evening, and did they notice anything unusual in her tone or behavior?
💡
clue
Lead #5Her windows were often left open—could an intruder have entered her home, or was she taken before reaching it?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP8543. Missing person: Della Marie Hillard.
Last known contact: 1988-05-03 in Houston, Harris, TX. Circumstances: Hillard was last seen in Houston, Texas on May 3, 1988.
She said goodbye to some friends on May 3, 1988, around 8PM about a half hour later, she told another friend on the phone that she was going to sleep. She has never been seen or heard from again.
Hillard's boyfriend went to her house the morning of May 4, 1988, but Hillard wasn't home. He reported her missing after learning she wasn't at work.
Hillard's car, a 1979 AMC Spirit sedan, was found the next day at an apartment complex at 12800 Dunlap, about a mile from her home. The car appeared to have been ransacked and her purse was missing.
There was blood on the back and the side of the car. There was no sign of her at the scene.
Hillard's apartment appeared in order and nothing had been taken. Some of her windows were open, but she often left them that way.
She had moved out of an apartment complex into the house just two months before she disappeared. Foul play is suspected.
Demographics: 32 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 5 in, 120 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Green.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: NCIC clothing entry: Beige blouse with lace collar; Rose colored slacks; Beige and white heels.; Jewelry: She was known to wear a Houston Baptist University class ring (solid gold, no stones), 5-6 gold hoop earrings and several diamond studs in each ear.. Investigating agency: Houston Police Department | 034553488E & 034317588.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1988-05-03
20:00Last Contact
Della said goodbye to friends around 8 PM and later told another friend by phone she was going to sleep
🕵️
1988-05-04
Reported Missing
Boyfriend went to her house in the morning and found her absent; reported her missing after she failed to appear at work
🔍
1988-05-05
Vehicle Found
Her 1979 AMC Spirit sedan discovered at apartment complex at 12800 Dunlap, ransacked with blood on back and side; purse missing
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:May 3, 1988 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8323941840
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Case Information
Incident:May 3, 1988 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8323941840
You can remain anonymous