Ruth Severance, a 24-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, was last seen on December 11, 1982. On that day, she left work with her ex-husband, Pete Severance, to go Christmas shopping for their son. The two visited the Swiss Colony store at Memorial City Mall and left around 7:00 p.m. According to Pete, during the drive to another store, they had an argument, prompting him to let Ruth out of the car near a Target store.
She was never seen or heard from again, and her roommate reported her missing the next morning.
Ruth's ex-husband, Pete, was questioned by police soon after her disappearance. When he returned from the shopping trip, he had visible injuries, including a black eye and scratches on his face, which he claimed were inflicted by Ruth during their argument. While he initially agreed to take a polygraph test, Pete later declined the day before it was scheduled. The couple had a tumultuous relationship dating back to Ruth's teenage years, and they divorced in 1981 after several years of marital struggles. At the time of her disappearance, Ruth had custody of their son and was engaged to be remarried.
Ruth's family and friends were adamant that it was uncharacteristic of her to leave without any notice, especially considering her close relationship with her son, whose birthday was just days away. She was financially struggling, having recently been evicted from her apartment, and had moved in with a friend. Investigators suspect foul play in her disappearance, but the case remains unsolved. Despite years passing without new leads, Ruth's case is still listed as open, with the hope that new information might emerge.Last Seen: Dec 11, 1982
