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Henrietta Avila Missing Person Case

Last seen in Long Beach, California on Aug 10, 1960

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Victim Details

Jun 9, 2016

Mar 11, 2024

Henrietta

Avila

83

17

60 inches

100 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Female

Aug 10, 1960

Long Beach

California

Los Angeles County

18424

Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

92701

Victoria Jurado

Investigator

60 Civic Center Plaza, California

7142458665

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.santa-ana.org/departments/police/

93-07468

Santa Ana Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

View Videos (1)

Cold Case - Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila 1960

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP34024) and 8 other sources
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

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Henrietta Avila | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom">Henrietta Avila | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila - The Charley Project
  • Henrietta Avila - Whereabouts Still Unknown - WordPress.com
  • Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila
  • The Suspicious Disappearance of Henrietta Cruz Avila | UNSOLVED
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP34024
  • Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila - California Department of Justice - CA.gov
  • [Disappearance] Family hopes bones found at Orange County

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP91724
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP91724 • Found Apr 20, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 100%3 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 62 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'0"
    Weight 70%125–140 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Pacoima, California - unidentified case UP89562
    Jane Doe — Pacoima, California
    UP89562 • Found Dec 3, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 93%36 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 61 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1"–5'3" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%90–110 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — La Puente, California
    UP3590 • Found Sep 25, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 35 years after last seen
    Height 100%4'9"–5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 82%119 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3386
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3386 • Found Oct 3, 1999
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 39 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'2" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%93 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Pomona, California - unidentified case UP4218
    Jane Doe — Pomona, California
    UP4218 • Found Aug 27, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 15–27 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 24 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'0"
    Weight 34%138 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP158123
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP158123 • Found Apr 10, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 97%23 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 66 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1"–5'7" vs 5'0"
    Weight 80%120 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — California - unidentified case UP54236
    Jane Doe — California
    UP54236 • Found Aug 9, 2018
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 12–20 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 77%94 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 58 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 98%111 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Bakersfield, California
    UP61191 • Found Nov 13, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 71%120 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 35 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%110–120 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — San Ysidro, California
    UP59983 • Found Dec 24, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 17 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 74%107 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 100%4'11" vs 5'0"
    Weight 88%116 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP4459
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4459 • Found Aug 2, 1975
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 17–21 vs 17 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 97%21 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%103 lb vs 100 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Henrietta Geck Cruz Avila was 17 when she disappeared from Long Beach, California. She had married... ...Read More
    07/19/2024

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