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
📍
location
Lead #1Why was her car found locked at Black Hawk Park? What was her connection to that location?
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evidence
Lead #2What condition was the vehicle in and were there any signs of struggle or foul play?
⏰
timeline
Lead #3What was Mattie's routine that day and did anyone see her after she left for work or between work and home?
Mattie Lou Zabel, a 45-year-old teacher's aide, disappeared from Cedar Falls, Iowa on March 21, 1978, leaving behind a thawing chicken and her purse in a locked car found the next day at Black Hawk Park. Despite extensive search efforts involving sheriff's deputies, search dogs, divers, and a National Guard helicopter, no trace of her has ever been found. Her sudden disappearance under unusual circumstances—with no indication she intended to leave—remains a mystery that warrants continued attention from anyone with information about 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 suggests she expected to return home—could someone have intercepted her between work and home?
👁️
witness
Lead #5Were there any witnesses at Black Hawk Park or along her usual route who saw anything unusual on March 21-22, 1978?
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 reported missing
45-year-old teacher's aide at River Hills School disappeared from Cedar Falls. She had left a frozen chicken thawing in the kitchen sink for dinner and took no clothing or assets.
🔍
1978-03-22
Vehicle discovered at Black Hawk Park
Her locked car was found at Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls with her purse inside.
🕵️
1978-03-21
Extensive search launched
Black Hawk County Sheriff's Deputies, search dogs, divers, and a National Guard helicopter conducted extensive search operations with no results.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 21, 1978
Last Updated:June 3, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3192738612
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Case Information
Incident:March 21, 1978
Last Updated:June 3, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3192738612
You can remain anonymous