CA – Elaine Faye Lehtinen, W/F, 31, Napa (Springwood), Napa Co, 14 Jun 1976
Elaine Faye Lehtinen
Last Seen: Monday, June 14th, 1976
Missing From: Napa (Springwood), Napa County, California
Physical/Clothing/Medical
Race: White
Sex: Female
Age: 31 Years Old
DOB: 04/05/1945
Height: 5’0” (60”)
Weight: 110 lbs.
Hair: Brown, Short
Eye Color: Blue
Clothing:
Jewelry:
Characteristics/
Medical/Scars: Wire rimmed prescription eye glasses, moles on side of neck and under left breast, petite frame barely 5.0 in height
Transportation: Volkswagen Bug (In Garage)
Fingerprint Status: Not Available
Dental Status: Available
DNA Status: Available
Circumstances:
Elaine was last seen by two girls riding bicycles past her house Monday, June 14th, 1976 she was watering plants in her yard @ 8:00-8:30 pm in the 1575 Parkwood Street in Napa (Springwood), California.
On the morning of Tuesday, June 15th, 1976 Elaine’s Naval supervisor became concerned when Elaine did not report to work. A call was made to a neighbor of Elaine’s, the neighbor went to check on Elaine and found the house locked. LE was contacted and dispatched to Elaine’s residence an unlocked window was found to enter the home. Everything appeared in order Elaine’s car and bicycle were in the garage and her uniform (2) reports one it was hanging in the closet the other it was laid out. Elaine’s purse and keys were found on the kitchen counter along with a bag of groceries that had not yet been put up. A packed brown bag lunch and milk were found in the refrigerator along with dirty dishes in the sink indicating that one person had a light dinner. A single side garage door was unlocked, but the door entry to inside the house was locked. Elaine’s bed was unmade indicating she had slept in the bed at some point during the night. A Navy regulation manual was found opened to the section on court martial the reason for reading has never been figured out. A blue car was seen @ 9:30 pm turning into Elaine’s driveway someone got out and went to her door a few moments later the car drove off.
LE found nothing suspicious no signs of a struggle nor note as to her whereabouts.
A bloodhound was used but was unable to pick up a scent in Elaine’s neighborhood. LE did lift a fingerprint from the kitchen counter, however did not have a print to compare it to rule it as Elaine’s or someone’s else. The Navy at the time was not able to locate or provide a fingerprint for Elaine.
There was no apparent reason for Elaine to have disappeared she had excelled in her career with the Navy and currently was a Navy Warrant Officer at Mare Island in Vallejo, California. Elaine had transferred from Norfolk, Virginia in June 1975 a year prior, she was in the program to become a lieutenant commander an exclusive rank for a woman at the time. All thou petite in size Elaine was a well-known marks-woman and had been the Captain of the US Navy Wave team. Over the years Elaine and her team won many awards for their sharp shooting skills. Elaine was also one of (2) women ever selected to compete in the President’s 100 rifle match.
From all indications her mental health and career was good, no; criminal history, financial troubles, personal issues in which are the typical reasons one may want to disappear. Prior to her disappearance she had asked her aunt to knit her a sweater, ordered magazines and bought paint for her house.
Her mother had committed suicide the month prior, however she was doing quite well according to co-workers and friends giving the circumstances. The day of Elaine’s disappearance she had initiated the process to update her will as that her mother was beneficiary and had recently passed.
All thou Elaine did not have any close family both parents were deceased, and she did not have any siblings. Elaine did have a lot of Navy friends and many of them were interviewed including a former boyfriend however no credible evidence turned up. The persons interviewed stated she was reliable, a career woman whom drank moderately and dated men occasionally.
After 90 days into the investigation the Public Guardian’s office took control of Elaine’s assets, including her home and a sizable bank account. Eventually an attorney was appointed trustee of her estate and kept Elaine’s house rented and made her mortgage payments.
Seven years after Elaine’s disappearance, a small life insurance policy was paid out and Elaine’s assets were sold. By all indications given the length of time and the amount of money involved after disposition of assets financial gain would have not been a motive for her disappearance.
In 1984 a former Navy captain turned private investigator worked the case immensely interviewing persons and tracking all possible leads. The PI stated that he had a suspect however did not have the evidence for a formal charge. He suspected that Elaine is somewhere buried within a 50 mile are of Napa, California.
Over the years there has been much speculation in the mysterious disappearance of Elaine; protective witness program, agent for a foreign government, kidnapped due to her military clearance in which her work was on unclassified test materials and leaving to join a convent.
To this day the disappearance and whereabouts of Elaine Faye Lehtinen remains unsolved.
Investigating Agencies:
Napa Police Department
1539 1st Street
Napa, CA. 94559
MP Case # 76-12448
Tele: 707.299.1521 / 800.450.9543
Contact: Detective, Todd Shulman
Web:
Police Department | Napa, CA
Information Sources:
NAMUS
MP Case # 12755:
Missing Person Case
Case Manager: Allison O’Neal
Tele: 817.372.4169
E-Mail:
Allison.ONeal@unthsc.edu
The Doe Network 1078DFCA -
1078DFCA - Elaine Faye Lehtinen
The Charley Project -
Elaine Faye Lehtinen – The Charley Project
Missing Veterans -
http://www.missingveterans.com/1976/elaine-faye-lehtinen/
The California Department of Justice -
Elaine Lehtinen
News
06/19/76 – Napa Valley Register, No Clues in Officer’s Disappearance
06/24/76 – Napa Valley Register, Mare Island Officer Still Missing
07/24/76 – Napa Valley Register, No Clues in Disappearance
08/31/76 – Napa Valley Register, Kidnap-Murder Top Theory on Missing Napa Woman
10/06/76 – Napa Valley Register, Naval Officer Missing More Than 90 Days
02/08/79 – Napa Valley Register, Mysterious Disappearance Unsolved After 3 Years
01/10/84 – Napa Valley Register, Case of Missing Woman Still Mystery 7 Years Later
08/01/01 – Napa Valley Register, Mystery shrouds pair of missing persons cases
08/12/01 – Napa Valley Register, Mystery shrouds pair of missing persons cases
Mystery shrouds pair of missing persons cases
01/09/12 – The Patch, Cold Cases Could Still Be Solved
Nine Cold Cases Could Still Be Solved
03/28/12 – The Patch, Cold Case 1975: Missing or Murdered ?
Cold Case, 1976: Missing or Murdered?
04/22/12 – Napa Valley Register, Cold Case Unit looks to wrap up mysteries
Cold-case unit looks to wrap up mysteries
