The person at the center of this case
Nan Cecile Dixon
Missing Person · Open
47 years waiting · since 1978
Missing Person: Nan Cecile Dixon
Justice for Nan Cecile Dixon — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1Why was the Datsun found in a ravine with evidence of deliberate off-road driving, and what caused the driver to leave the main road?
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evidence
Lead #2The vehicle had a half tank of gasoline and tires in reasonably good condition—what does this suggest about the circumstances of the crash?
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location
Lead #3The ravine location had been previously searched from the air and by ground; how was it missed until coyote hunters found it?
Nan Cecile Dixon, a 73-year-old woman, disappeared on September 21, 1978, while traveling from Grass Valley, California to Seven Troughs, Nevada to visit family—a journey that should have taken nearly three hours. Her Datsun was discovered in November 1982 in a ravine near the Seven Troughs turnoff, showing evidence of being deliberately driven off a rocky road, yet her remains have never been found. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the condition of her vehicle suggest foul play, making this a significant cold case that warrants continued investigation.
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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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timeline
Lead #4Why was there a four-year gap between Nan's disappearance in 1978 and the discovery of her vehicle in November 1982?
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clue
Lead #5Were there any signs of Nan Dixon's remains or personal effects in or near the vehicle when it was discovered?
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 MP17992. Missing person: Nan Cecile Dixon.
Last known contact: 1978-09-22 in Lovelock, Pershing, NV. Circumstances: Nan Dixon was last seen in Grass Valley, California on September 21, 1978.
She was leaving for a nearly three-hour trip to visit family in Seven Troughs, Nevada, near Lovelock. She never arrived at her destination and her family reported her missing a short time later.
In November 1982, Nan Dixon's Datsun was found by coyote hunters in a ravine below the main road of the Seven Troughs turnoff. It had been discovered in an area that had been previously searched from the air and by ground.
The car appeared to have been deliberately driven over a rocky road and into the ravine. Tire tracks could be seen where it left the road and traversed down into the gulch.
The tires were badly scuffed from having been driven over the rocky road, but otherwise held air and were considered to be in reasonably good condition. The car also contained a half tank of gasoline.
Demographics: 73 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 4 ft 10 in, 110 lbs, hair: Red/Auburn, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Pershing County Sheriff's Office | PC-017933.
Timeline of Events
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1978-09-21
Last seen leaving Grass Valley
Nan Dixon was last seen in Grass Valley, California on September 21, 1978, departing for a nearly three-hour trip to Seven Troughs, Nevada.
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1978-09-22
Reported missing
Nan Dixon failed to arrive at her family's home in Seven Troughs, Nevada. Her family reported her missing shortly after she did not arrive.
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1982-11-01
Vehicle discovered
Nan Dixon's Datsun was found by coyote hunters in a ravine below the main road at the Seven Troughs turnoff, approximately four years after her disappearance.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 21, 1978
Last Updated:July 8, 2026
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Phone: 7752732641
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Case Information
Incident:September 21, 1978
Last Updated:July 8, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7752732641
You can remain anonymous