Gertrude Menacher, aged 37, was last seen on March 7, 1981, in Hallandale, Florida, along with her daughter Angela DeLawder, her boyfriend Charles Gibson, and DeLawder's boyfriend Ivan Gutierrez. The group vanished after meeting for a dinner engagement, and none of them have been seen or heard from since.
Prior to their disappearance, Menacher had spoken to her other daughter, Robin Patton, on the phone on March 4, 1981, indicating that she would be leaving and promised to send plane tickets and directions. Letters and $100 were mailed to Patton, arriving on March 6, the day before Menacher and the others went missing. Shortly after their disappearance, Gibson’s car was found abandoned at Miami International Airport. Gibson, who had a criminal past and was on lifetime parole, was suspected of involvement with drug gangs and may have been an enforcer.
Authorities believe the disappearances may be linked to the murder of Harvey Michael McElroy, a drug enforcer whose body was found burned in January 1981. Menacher and Gibson had been associated with McElroy and were wanted for questioning in connection with his murder. There are theories that Menacher and Gibson may have been killed due to their knowledge of McElroy’s death, with DeLawder and Gutierrez possibly caught in the crossfire. Another possibility is that the group went into hiding, possibly fleeing to Germany or Colombia. Despite extensive investigation, their whereabouts remain unknown.
The case remains unsolved, and authorities continue to search for any leads that might provide answers about what happened to Gertrude Menacher and the others.
Last Seen: Mar 07, 1981
