Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila, 17, went missing on August 10, 1960, from Long Beach, California. Her disappearance remains a mystery with few leads. Prior to going missing, Henrietta had dropped out of high school and married 24-year-old Merle Avila after a brief courtship in early 1960. The couple lived in Santa Ana, but just three months into the marriage, Merle claimed Henrietta packed her belongings and left him without any further contact.
Her family reported her missing on August 1, after receiving no communication from her.
On August 20, 1960, Merle reported seeing Henrietta in a park in Long Beach, but this was the last confirmed sighting of her. A week later, her parents received a strange collect call from someone claiming to be Henrietta, but the call disconnected before any conversation could occur. Later that day, a telegram from San Francisco, signed "Henrietta," stated she had found a job and would not be returning to her husband. Investigators discovered the telegram was sent from a payphone, and the address given by the caller was false.
Adding to the mystery, in December 1961, some of Henrietta's clothing, including a belt, was found on the trunk of her father's car, but no other clues emerged. Despite extensive efforts to locate her, Henrietta has never been found, and her case remains unsolved. Authorities have not ruled out foul play in her disappearance. Henrietta’s husband, Merle, passed away in 2012, and her family continues to seek answers about her fate.Last Seen: Aug 10, 1960
