On a summer day in Arabi, Louisiana, Denise Dawn Young was seen walking away from her home in the 600 block of Community Street. It was August 4, 2017, and neighbors watched as the 59-year-old carried only her purse. She was wearing a shirt of an unknown color, jeans with distinctive embroidery stitching up the right pant leg, and red Converse shoes. Notably, she left behind all her other personal belongings, including her cherished cat and her necessary medications.
This detail was particularly concerning as she had a history of mental illness and relied on her medication to manage her condition.
Denise was a woman with distinct features. She stood at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed around 150 pounds, with brown hair that was showing signs of gray, and brown eyes. Although she sometimes wore contact lenses, she did not have them with her when she disappeared; however, she always kept her prescription eyeglasses with her. Her appearance was further distinguished by two tattoos: one of a fleur de lis on her right shoulder blade and another of two sea turtles on her right calf. Her ears were also pierced. The fact that she left without essential items like her medication and without her contact lenses raised immediate concerns for her well-being.
Days turned into weeks, and with no word from Denise, she was officially reported missing on August 15, 2017. While it was known that she had left home without notifying anyone in the past, this time felt different to those who knew her. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office took on the case, but the trail seemed to go cold almost as soon as it began. As time passed, her case was shared by various missing persons organizations in the hope of generating new leads. Despite these efforts, her disappearance remains unsolved, leaving her family and community with unanswered questions about what happened to her after she walked away from her home with just her purse in hand.Last Seen: Aug 4, 2017
