In the small community of Palmer, Alaska, a 39-year-old woman named Rachel Lynn Mallard vanished on November 1, 2017. She was last seen in the afternoon, at approximately 1:56 p.m., walking along South Alaska Street. At the time of her disappearance, Rachel, a White female with brown hair and brown eyes, was approximately 5'5' tall and weighed around 130 pounds. She was wearing glasses, a jacket, and pants. Originally from South Carolina, Rachel had moved to Alaska only a few weeks prior to her disappearance after a relationship with a man she met online had ended. Despite the relationship ending, she made the decision to remain in Alaska.
Two days after she was last seen, some of Rachel's personal belongings were discovered along the Matanuska River. Her hat, gloves, scarf, and tote bag were found about half a mile north of the Old Glenn Highway bridge. This discovery prompted a search of the river, but no further trace of Rachel was found. The investigation into her disappearance uncovered that she had been dealing with mood swings and depression, and at times, had issues with prescription drug use. Authorities also found a note among her possessions that her sister described as a suicide note.
The circumstances surrounding Rachel Mallard's disappearance have left her family and friends with unanswered questions. While the discovery of a potential suicide note suggests one possibility, a longtime friend expressed doubt that she would take her own life, proposing that she might have chosen to simply walk away from her life. Rachel was estranged from her husband, whom she had married in 2007 after meeting him in Chicago in 2004. The Palmer Police Department continues to investigate her case, which remains unsolved. Her case is a somber reminder of the many individuals who go missing, leaving behind a void of uncertainty and a lingering hope for resolution.
Last Seen: Nov 1, 2017
