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Linda Adams Missing Person Case

Last seen in Yakima, Washington on Jun 1, 1978

Victim Details

Sep 25, 2013

Jun 19, 2023

Linda

Adams

63

15

60 inches

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jun 1, 1978

Yakima

Washington

Yakima County

No

22791

Yakima County Sheriff's Office

Yakima

Washington

Yakima County

98903

Jerrold (Judd) Towell

Sgt.

1822 South 1st Street, Washington

5095742500

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.yakimacounty.us/220/Sheriffs-Office

04-20415

Yakima County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 17, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP21953) and 7 other sources
In the late spring of 1978, a 15-year-old girl named Linda M. Adams vanished from Yakima, Washington. She was last seen on June 1st of that year, a young woman with brown hair and blue eyes, standing at five feet tall and weighing around 125 pounds. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance were, for a long time, clouded by the fact that she was a chronic runaway. This history of leaving home led to a tragic delay in official action, a delay that would stretch for more than two and a half decades. In cases like Linda's, the line between a teenager acting out and a person in grave danger can become blurred, often with devastating consequences for those left behind, who are left to wonder and wait.

For 26 years, Linda's absence was not officially documented in police records as a missing person case. It was not until 2004 that her case was formally reported, and this was at the request of the Green River Task Force. This task force was deep into the investigation of Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, who preyed on vulnerable young women, many of whom were runaways, in Washington state during the 1980s and 1990s. The task force was meticulously reviewing cold cases of missing girls and women who fit the profile of Ridgway's victims. While a connection to the notorious serial killer was considered a possibility in Linda's case, no evidence has ever emerged to definitively link him to her disappearance. This lack of evidence, however, did little to ease the minds of those who now feared the worst.

The official classification of Linda's case is that of an endangered missing person. The investigation is in the hands of the Yakima County Sheriff's Office. Over the years, DNA samples have been collected from several of Linda's family members and entered into national databases, a modern tool that offers a glimmer of hope in a case that has grown cold with the passage of time. These samples provide a means of identification should Linda be found, a silent testament to a family's enduring hope for answers. The case of Linda Adams is a heartbreaking story of a young girl who disappeared, leaving behind a void filled with unanswered questions. It is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of youth and the enduring pain of not knowing. The lack of detailed information available about the specifics of her life and the circumstances of her disappearance only adds to the tragedy, leaving a narrative with a beginning but no end.
Last Seen: Jun 1, 1978

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Linda M. Adams - The Charley Project
  • Linda Adams is missing from Yakima, Washington since June 1978 ...
  • Linda Adams | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP21953
  • Linda Marie Adams
  • Linda M. Adams : r/NotForgotten - Reddit
  • LINDA ADAMS has been #missing from Yakima, ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    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.

    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Washington - unidentified case UP10449
    Jane Doe — Washington
    UP10449 • Found May 14, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 20–29 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 73%112 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"
    Weight 100%115 lb vs 125 lb

    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 (3)

    Has anyone else looked into the schools Linda might have attended? With her being a chronic runaway... ...Read More
    01/31/2024
    Has anyone come across interviews or more personal records about Linda's life before she went... ...Read More
    11/27/2023
    Has anyone else been following Linda Marie Adams’ case from back in '78? I find it so peculiar how... ...Read More
    04/15/2023

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