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 #1What was the source and significance of the blood found on the back and side of her vehicle?
🚗
vehicle
Lead #2Why was the car ransacked and the purse taken, but her apartment left undisturbed?
📍
location
Lead #3Why was the vehicle abandoned at an apartment complex a mile away rather than at her home?
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 the next day at an apartment complex about a mile from her home, ransacked with blood on it and her purse missing, while her apartment showed no signs of disturbance. Foul play is suspected, and despite decades of investigation by the Houston Police Department, her fate remains unknown.
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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 #4Who had access to her residence and vehicle, and were there any known threats or conflicts in her life?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5What happened during the 30 minutes between saying goodbye to friends at 8 PM and her phone call about going to sleep?
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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 told another friend by phone approximately 30 minutes later that she was going to sleep
🕵️
1988-05-04
morningBoyfriend Discovery
Della's boyfriend went to her house in the morning and found her missing; he reported her missing after learning she wasn't at work
🔍
1988-05-05
Vehicle Found
Della's 1979 AMC Spirit sedan was found at an apartment complex at 12800 Dunlap, about a mile from her home; the car was ransacked with blood on the back and side, and her purse was missing
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