On November 20, 2014, 47-year-old DeVona Rothrock vanished from her home in Monrovia, Indiana, under perplexing circumstances. The day began as any other, with her 18-year-old son borrowing her truck to go to school because his was inoperable. Later that day, at approximately 12:15 p.m., DeVona had a normal conversation with her niece over the phone. However, when her son returned home from school at 3:25 p.m., he was met with an unsettling scene.
The back door of the house was open, and inside, hamburgers were laid out on the stove, seemingly in preparation for a meal. Crucially, all of DeVona's personal belongings, including her coat, cell phone, and credit cards, were left behind. There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry, adding to the mystery of her sudden disappearance. At the time, DeVona's husband was away on a business trip in Cincinnati, a fact that was later verified by police.
The investigation into DeVona's disappearance was launched promptly after her son, unable to locate her, contacted other family members who also had not heard from her. Her niece officially reported her missing less than 24 hours after she was last heard from. Authorities, including the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, conducted extensive searches of the area surrounding the Rothrock home, including nearby woods, a creek, and a lake, utilizing helicopters in their efforts, but found no trace of the missing woman. The case was described as bizarre by the sheriff, who acknowledged that while foul play couldn't be confirmed, it also could not be ruled out. A significant but unverified piece of information came from DeVona's father-in-law, who lived next door. He claimed to have seen her get into a two-door black car around 2:45 p.m. that day, though he could not determine if she entered the vehicle willingly or was forced.
As the investigation progressed, personal details about DeVona's life emerged that provided potential, albeit unconfirmed, avenues for inquiry. It was discovered that she had been using several dating apps, although it remains unknown if she had arranged to meet anyone from these platforms. It was also revealed that DeVona and her husband were going through a difficult divorce at the time of her disappearance. Despite the suspicious timing, her husband's alibi of being out of town on business was confirmed by law enforcement. DeVona’s family has expressed their belief that she would not have willingly abandoned her son, with whom she was very close. The lack of any concrete evidence or significant leads has left her case unsolved for years. The overview of this case is one of profound mystery and lingering questions. A woman in the midst of preparing a family meal vanishes from her home without a trace, leaving behind all her essential possessions. The few clues that exist, such as the sighting of a black car, have not led to any breakthroughs, and the investigation has been marked by dead ends. For her family and community, the absence of answers is a source of ongoing pain and concern as they continue to hope for a resolution to her troubling disappearance.Last Seen: Nov 20, 2014
