NC - Elizabeth Turvey Brown, 57, Kitty Hawk, 21 Feb 1977

[anthrobones]

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1450dfnc.html

Elizabeth Turvey Brown
Missing since February 21, 1977 from Kitty Hawk, Dare County, North Carolina.
Classification: Endangered Missing



Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: April 4, 1923
Age at Time of Disappearance: 57 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'8"; 165 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Auburn hair; hazel eyes.
Medical Information: Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Under treatment at time of disappearance. She was fully functioning and her illness was not obvious.
Dentals/fingerprints: Not available



Circumstances of Disappearance
Mrs. Brown was last seen February 21, 1977. Her red/white/blue 1976 Ltd. Edition Vega was found near Kitty Hawk Fishing Pier, NC in a parking lot near (then) Southern Shores Hotel. The keys were in the ignition, her purse, glasses and coat were still inside the vehicle which was found unlocked. Her place of residence was Rocky Mt. NC.”
Neither Rocky Mt. nor Manteo Police departments can locate previous reports. A New Jersey (daughter's then residence) Missing Persons Detective advised she was entered in NCIC as endangered in 1989, but the entry can't be located.

[mcherie]

The Lucas and Toole task force also investigated on this case about 1989. They could not "recall" killing her, but from what I've read--I don't put a lot of faith in their confessions or lack of them. They did kill two females in Hurtford and Edgcombe at about the same time. My research indicated they killed young, old, male, female, etc.

I did locate the original Rocky Mt. PD report in 2006 in old family papers and sent it to Rocky Mt. They did note foul play was suspected. The Manteo report was an abandoned vehicle report. The authorities there told my sister, she asked for directions to Va.Beach and got gas. She had a girl friend of many years living in Virginia Beach.
Doesn't seem unusual to have a tiff with the husband and go see a girlfriend. She used to leave. She just always came back. It is referenced in the RMPD report that she "did not buy a bus ticket." At that time, there was only one place in 8 miles open. That was the last place she was seen.

[KarlK]

Was the husband ever suspected? Dealing with a schizophrenic must be very taxing, God knows what long-term effect this situation can have on a spouse.

[mcherie]

The husband was suspected by the family, but he was never investigated by police nor the car examined! He was an alcoholic and recovering from cancer treatment of 1976 (throat cancer), but he eventually succumbed to the disease a few years later. He continued to deny any involvement. He thinks she just got fed up with him initially; he didn't understand why she contact family. She used to get mad and leave, but always came back or called family.

Although husbands are usually investigated first, he could not have known he would be that lucky. I question now if he would have been physically and/or mentally capable at that time. Before he died, he became a born-again Christian, quit drinking and remarried. I don't rule him out; but I don't necessarily pin her disappearance on him, either. I think he was certainly indirectly responsible.

Ironically, the neighbor was a police sargeant of the RMPD. He supposedly poked around unofficially and found nothing. He was also the person contacted by the husband to make the initial report in Rocky Mount and thereafter his contact for DUI's (until the officer got tired of calls).

"Betty" Brown was a fully functioning adult and had worked at the Edgecome Mental Health Center to 1974 as an executive secretary. Her prior employers included NASA in FL. Her symptoms were mild and her paranoia was exclusive to family issues (re: VA guardianship act to protect her children and husbands fidelity/infidelity). You had to know her very well to realize there was a problem. She quit working in 1974 because she became a grandmother for the first time. She appeared articulate, intelligent and stylish. But when upset, she might be too focused (like being angry) and not as aware of her surroundings as she maybe should be...

[Irish_Eyes]

Did she know anyone in Kitty Hawk?

From Rocky Mt. to Kitty Hawk is not the fastest way to VA Beach!