The person at the center of this case
Ella Murray
Missing Person · Open
29 years waiting · since 1997
Missing Person: Ella Murray
Justice for Ella Murray — the trail went cold in 1997, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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witness
Lead #1Who reported the unconfirmed sighting at Bartow Wal-Mart, and can their account be verified or corroborated?
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evidence
Lead #2Were any of her personal belongings or clothing found after her disappearance?
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clue
Lead #3Given her memory problems and confusion, did she have a pattern of wandering or familiar locations she might have gone to?
Ella Murray, an 80-year-old woman, went missing from her Gordonville residence in Bartow, Florida on August 22, 1997. At the time of her disappearance, she was experiencing memory problems and confusion, and was last seen wearing lavender pants with a red and white shirt. An unconfirmed sighting placed her at a local Wal-Mart the day after she disappeared, but her whereabouts remain unknown nearly three decades later.
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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 #4What was the relationship between Ella and her roommate, and did the roommate provide additional details about her condition that day?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP5676. Missing person: Ella Murray.
Last known contact: 1997-08-22 in Bartow, Polk, FL. Circumstances: Ms.
Murray was reported missing from her Gordonville residence by her roommate on the morning of 08-22-97. At the time of her disappearance, she was experiencing memory problems and confusion.
There was an unconfirmed sighting of her at the Bartow Wal-Mart on the day after her disappearance. Demographics: 80 years, Female, Black / African American.
Physical description: 5 ft 0 in, 120 lbs, hair: Gray or Partially Gray, eyes: Brown. Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Lavender pants with a red and white shirt.
Investigating agency: Polk County Sheriff's Office | 97-133781.
Timeline of Events
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1997-08-22
Reported Missing
Ella Murray reported missing from her Gordonville residence by her roommate on the morning of August 22, 1997.
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1997-08-23
Unconfirmed Sighting
Unconfirmed sighting of Ella Murray at Bartow Wal-Mart the day after her disappearance.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 22, 1997
Last Updated:June 9, 2026
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Phone: 8632986834
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Case Information
Incident:August 22, 1997
Last Updated:June 9, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986834
You can remain anonymous