18 People from the Past Who Disappeared Without a Trace
This article highlights the strange circumstances and enduring questions surrounding disappearance cases. It offers a short yet intriguing overview of each person’s unexplained disappearance.
- Tricia Quitales
- 4 min read
People have vanished throughout history under strange and baffling circumstances. Some left behind only questions, while others sparked legends, rumors, and decades of searching. In this article, we’ll look at 18 people from the past who disappeared without a trace and whose stories remain unsolved. Their disappearances still captivate the world and invite theories, but the truth remains unknown.
1. Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart on Wikimedia
The famous aviator vanished in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world. Her plane lost contact over the Pacific Ocean, and no confirmed wreckage has ever been found. Many theories exist, but her disappearance remains one of the greatest aviation mysteries.
2. Ambrose Bierce
Public domain on Wikimedia
An American writer and Civil War veteran, Ambrose Bierce disappeared in 1913 after traveling to Mexico. He was last heard from in a letter he wrote from Chihuahua. No one knows what happened to him after that.
3. Roanoke Colony Settlers
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia
In the late 1500s, over 100 settlers in the Roanoke Colony vanished. The only clue left behind was the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. Their fate remains unknown, and no trace of them was ever found.
4. Harold Holt
National Library of Australia on Wkimedia
Australia’s Prime Minister, Harold Holt, disappeared in 1967 while swimming near Melbourne. A massive search was conducted, but no body was ever recovered. Some say he drowned, others believe in wild conspiracy theories.
5. D. B. Cooper
Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wikimedia
In 1971, a man known as D. B. Cooper hijacked a plane and parachuted out with $200,000 in ransom. He was never seen again, and no one knows who he really was. The FBI closed the case without solving it.
6. Theodosia Burr Alston
Jacques Reich on Wikimedia
Daughter of U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr, Theodosia disappeared at sea in 1813. Her ship was lost during a storm off the Carolina coast. Many rumors surround her fate, but no evidence ever turned up.
7. Percy Fawcett
Unknown author on Wikimedia
British explorer Percy Fawcett vanished in 1925 while searching for a lost city in the Amazon. He and his group were never found. His disappearance inspired many other explorers and even books and films.
8. Barbara Newhall Follett
Hugo Sykes on Pexels
A child prodigy and published author, Barbara vanished at age 25 in 1939. She left her apartment after a fight with her husband and was never seen again. Her family suspected foul play, but police found no leads.
9. Richard Halliburton
Unknown author on Wikimedia
An adventurous travel writer, Halliburton disappeared in 1939 while sailing a Chinese junk boat across the Pacific. The boat vanished without a trace, and his remains were never recovered.
10. Jimmy Hoffa
Garam on Wikimedia
Labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa disappeared in 1975 from a parking lot in Michigan. Despite numerous searches and tips, his body was never found. Theories of mob involvement continue to swirl.
11. Etta Place
Soli.cc on Wikimedia
Known as the companion of the outlaw Sundance Kid, Etta Place vanished from history in the early 1900s. After fleeing to South America, she dropped out of sight. Her true identity and fate remain a mystery.
12. Dorothy Arnold
Edwin Bower Hesser on Wikimedia
A New York socialite and aspiring writer, Dorothy vanished in 1910 after going shopping. No one ever found out what happened to her. Her wealthy family tried to keep her case quiet, adding to the mystery.
13. Henry Hudson
Public domain on Wikimedia
The famous explorer vanished in 1611 after his crew mutinied in the icy north. They set him, his son, and loyal crew members adrift in a small boat and were never seen again.
14. Louis Le Prince
Unknown author on Wikimedia
Often called the “father of motion pictures,” Le Prince vanished in 1890 while traveling by train. No trace of him was ever found, and his disappearance remains unsolved and highly suspicious.
15. Agatha Christie (Temporary)
Agatha Christie plaque -Torre Abbey on Wikimedia
The famous mystery writer disappeared for 11 days in 1926. She was later found safe, but she never explained what happened. Some think she had a breakdown; others think it was a planned escape from stress.
16. Jim Thompson
Roysouza on Wikimedia
A former spy and silk businessman, Thompson vanished in Malaysia in 1967 while on a walk. Despite massive searches, nothing was ever found. His disappearance remains one of Southeast Asia’s great mysteries.
17. Benjamin Bathurst
Russell and Sons (no individual credited) on Wikimedia
A British diplomat, Bathurst disappeared in 1809 while traveling in Germany. He was last seen standing by his carriage, and then he was simply gone. The case shocked Europe and was never solved.
18. Glenn Miller
Unknown author on Wikimedia
Famous bandleader Glenn Miller vanished in 1944 during World War II while flying over the English Channel. His plane likely crashed in bad weather, but no wreckage was ever found. His music lives on, but his fate is unknown.