On December 2, 2014, 48-year-old Carie Melissa Zapletal vanished from her home in Memphis, Tennessee. She was last seen in the vicinity of the 6600 block of Santaolina, leaving her residence on foot and seemingly disappearing without a trace. Disturbingly, Carie left behind all of her personal belongings, including her purse, identification, cell phone, and car. Even the cigarettes she regularly smoked were left behind, and a sum of $2,000 remained untouched in her bank account.
At the time of her disappearance, Carie was described as a Caucasian female, standing at 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was possibly wearing a black sweater and dark blue jeans. Distinctive features included pierced ears, a butterfly tattoo on her right breast, and a faded, homemade tattoo of crisscrossing lines resembling barbed wire on her left shoulder.
The circumstances surrounding Carie's disappearance are clouded by conflicting accounts. Her husband, Edward Zapletal, who had suffered a stroke a few months prior, told authorities that Carie had become depressed and was abusing prescription drugs. He even claimed they had made a suicide pact the day before she went missing. However, Carie's children strongly contested this narrative, stating their mother had not been diagnosed with depression and was not on any anti-depressant medication. They expressed their belief that she would never have willingly abandoned her family and suspected foul play was involved in her disappearance. This divergence in perspectives has created a complex and troubling picture of Carie's state of mind and the events leading up to the day she was last seen.
Years have passed since Carie Zapletal was last seen, and her case remains cold and unsolved. The conflicting stories and lack of concrete evidence have left her family and investigators with more questions than answers. The differing opinions between her husband and children about her mental health and potential reasons for leaving have complicated the investigation from the start. Tragically, Carie's husband, Edward, passed away in 2018, taking with him his side of the story. The Memphis Police Department continues to list her as a missing person, and her loved ones hold onto the hope that one day they will find out what happened to Carie. The case serves as a heart-wrenching reminder of the enduring pain and uncertainty that families of the missing face, as they navigate a world without their loved one, left to wonder about their fate.Last Seen: Dec 2, 2014
