The person at the center of this case
Mattie Lou Zabel
Missing Person · Open
48 years waiting · since 1978
Missing Person: Mattie Lou Zabel
Justice for Mattie Lou Zabel — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1Why was Mattie's purse left in the locked car at Black Hawk Park? What does this suggest about her departure?
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location
Lead #2What was the significance of Black Hawk Park? Why would her car be found there if she left no indication of going there?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Did anyone see Mattie at or near Black Hawk Park on March 21, 1978, or notice her car being left there?
Mattie Lou Zabel, a 45-year-old teacher's aide, disappeared on March 21, 1978, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, leaving behind a thawing chicken and locked car at Black Hawk Park—suggesting an unexpected departure. Despite extensive searches involving police, sheriff's deputies, search dogs, divers, and a National Guard helicopter, no trace of Mattie has ever been found. Her case remains unsolved and investigators continue to seek information about what happened to her that day.
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4The frozen chicken left thawing suggests she expected to return home soon—what interrupted her plans that day?
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 MP17179. Missing person: Mattie Lou Zabel.
Last known contact: 1978-03-21 in Cedar Falls, Black Hawk, IA. Circumstances: Mattie worked as a teacher's aide at River Hills School in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
She was reported missing to the Cedar Falls Police Department on March 21, 1978. She left a frozen chicken thawing in the kitchen sink for dinner.
No clothing was taken and she would not have had the assets to walk away. The day after she went missing, one of her sons found her car at Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls.
The vehicle was found locked with Zabel’s purse inside. An extensive search by Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Deputies, search dogs, divers and a National Guard helicopter turned up no trace of Mattie.
Demographics: 45 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 2 in, 118 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Cedar Falls Police Department | 78-459 | 1978-03-21.
Timeline of Events
👤
1978-03-21
Mattie Lou Zabel goes missing
Mattie disappeared from Cedar Falls, Iowa. She left a frozen chicken thawing in the kitchen sink for dinner, suggesting an unexpected departure.
📞
1978-03-21
Reported missing to Cedar Falls Police Department
Mattie was reported missing on the day she disappeared.
🔍
1978-03-22
Vehicle found at Black Hawk Park
One of Mattie's sons discovered her locked car at Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls. Her purse was inside the vehicle.
🕵️
1978-03-22
Extensive search launched
Black Hawk County Sheriff's Deputies, search dogs, divers, and a National Guard helicopter conducted extensive searches but found no trace of Mattie.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 21, 1978
Last Updated:July 17, 2026
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Phone: 3192738612
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Case Information
Incident:March 21, 1978
Last Updated:July 17, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3192738612
You can remain anonymous