The person at the center of this case
Della Marie Hillard
Missing Person · Open - Unsolved
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 exterior of the vehicle suggests a violent encounter—was this blood analyzed and compared to known individuals?
🚗
vehicle
Lead #2The 1979 AMC Spirit was ransacked and moved to an apartment complex a mile away—who had access to the vehicle and why was it abandoned there?
📍
location
Lead #3Windows at Della's residence were open, which she often left that way—could an intruder have entered through an open window?
Della Marie Hillard, a 32-year-old woman, disappeared from Houston, Texas on May 3, 1988, after telling a friend she was going to sleep. Her car was found abandoned the next day at an apartment complex about a mile from her home, ransacked with blood on the exterior and her purse missing—circumstances that strongly suggest foul play. Despite decades of investigation by the Houston Police Department, her fate remains unknown and the case remains unsolved.
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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.
🎯
suspect
Lead #4Was the boyfriend's timeline and alibi thoroughly investigated, given he discovered her absence?
👁️
witness
Lead #5The friend Della called at 8:30 PM was the last confirmed contact—what was the exact nature of that conversation and has this person been fully interviewed?
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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, then called another friend approximately 30 minutes later stating she was going to sleep.
🕵️
1988-05-04
morningReported Missing
Della's boyfriend visited her house in the morning and found her absent. She was reported missing after failing to appear at work.
🔍
1988-05-05
Vehicle Found
Della's 1979 AMC Spirit sedan was discovered at an apartment complex at 12800 Dunlap, approximately one mile from her home. The vehicle was ransacked, her purse was missing, and blood was found on the back and side of the car.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:May 3, 1988 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:June 4, 2026
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Phone: 8323941840
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Case Information
Incident:May 3, 1988 at 8:00 PM
Last Updated:June 4, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8323941840
You can remain anonymous