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Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP23627) and 6 other sources
Yolanda Jean Maull was a 30-year-old woman whose life took a troubling turn on the morning of May 26, 1982, in Birmingham, Alabama. That day, she was scheduled to appear in court for a hearing concerning her divorce. At approximately 9:00 a.m., she had a conversation with her attorney, which is believed to be the last time anyone in her circle heard from her. Yolanda never made it to her court appointment, and from that moment on, she seemingly vanished without a trace. The hours and days that followed her failure to appear in court turned into a long and painful period of uncertainty for her loved ones. The lack of communication was completely out of character for the responsible young woman.

Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Yolanda was a graduate of Knoxville College, class of 1975. After her marriage, she relocated to Birmingham, Alabama. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a Black female, standing between 5'5' and 5'6' tall, and weighing around 120 pounds. She had brown eyes and shoulder-length, straight brown hair. Her ears were pierced, and she had distinctive birthmarks on her right arm. Accounts of what she was wearing on the day she went missing vary slightly; one report describes her in a red short-sleeved shirt and a white skirt, while another, from her daughter, recalls her wearing a red blouse and beige pants. The discovery of her car, abandoned near a Captain D's restaurant in the 1100 block of 3rd Avenue west, added a chilling layer to the mystery of her disappearance, but provided no immediate answers as to her whereabouts.

The investigation into Yolanda Maull's disappearance has spanned decades, leaving a void in the lives of her family and friends. With the majority of her relatives living in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, the Knox County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation into her case. Despite the passage of time, her case remains an open and haunting mystery, categorized as an endangered missing person case. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance on the very day of a significant legal proceeding related to the end of her marriage have fueled speculation, yet no definitive explanation for her vanishing has ever been brought to light. The case is a somber reminder of a life interrupted, a story without a final chapter, and the enduring pain of not knowing what happened to a loved one.

Last Seen: May 26, 1982

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

75%Possible
Jane Doe — Decatur, Georgia - unidentified case UP99132
Jane Doe — Decatur, Georgia
UP99132 • Found Apr 5, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–31 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 66%146 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'8" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%135–145 lb vs 115–125 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Atlanta, Georgia - unidentified case UP653
Jane Doe — Atlanta, Georgia
UP653 • Found Apr 21, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 67%140 mi away
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 115–125 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Alabama
UP13161 • Found Nov 3, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 29–32 vs 30
Race 100%Black
Location 74%104 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 52%5'10" vs 5'5"–5'6"
Weight 95%140 lb vs 115–125 lb
Hair 60%Black 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.