On September 5, 2015, 55-year-old Maria Brabazon, a wife and mother of three, disappeared from her neighborhood in Whitestone, Queens, New York. The last known image of her was captured by a neighbor's surveillance camera, showing her walking on 14th Avenue towards the intersection of 152nd Street at approximately 3:00 PM. She was seen wearing dark grey or black leggings, a white shirt, and rectangular glasses, and was carrying a white canvas bag. Earlier that day, she had received a parking summons, taken her minivan for a state inspection, and made a purchase at a local BJ's Wholesale Club. The family had been under significant stress after their home in Massapequa was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy, forcing them to relocate to their property in Whitestone. This stress reportedly led to arguments between Maria and her husband, Peter, regarding the rebuilding of their home.
Maria's family described her as a loving mother who was excited about the upcoming births of two grandchildren. However, they also revealed that she had been struggling with 'severe, psychotic depression' and had previously attempted suicide in 2009. A disagreement with her husband over house plans in late August 2015 reportedly triggered one of what her family referred to as her 'episodes.' In the days leading up to her disappearance, she had been sleeping in her minivan instead of the house. On the day she vanished, she contacted her three children to tell them she loved them. She left behind her wallet, identification, and cell phone. Her purchase at BJ's that morning was a large bottle of sleeping pills.
Despite extensive search efforts by the New York City Police Department, which included the use of helicopters and cadaver dogs in areas Maria was known to frequent, no trace of her has ever been found. The family hired a private investigator and offered a $10,000 reward for any information that could lead to her whereabouts. Theories about her disappearance vary. A private investigator suggested she may have gotten into a car, as it is unusual for a body to not be found if a suicide had occurred in the area. Her daughters have held onto hope that she may have started a new life somewhere, recalling that she had previously expressed a desire to disappear and start over. The case remains a baffling mystery for law enforcement and a source of unending pain and uncertainty for her loved ones, who are left to wonder what happened to the beloved mother and wife who seemingly vanished into thin air.Last Seen: Sep 5, 2015
