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Diane Gilchrist Missing Person Case

Last seen in Vancouver, Washington on May 29, 1974

Victim Details

May 22, 2013

Jun 19, 2023

Diane

Gilchrist

66

14

58 inches

100 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

May 29, 1974

Vancouver

Washington

Clark County

98661

No

13579

Clark County Sheriff's Office

Vancouver

Washington

Clark County

98666

Dennis Hunter

Detective

707 West 13th Street, Washington

3603972211

County

Law Enforcement

S06-17112

Nov 15, 2006

Clark County Sheriff's Office

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP20347) and 7 other sources
In the late spring of 1974, a 14-year-old girl named Diane Sue Gilchrist vanished from her hometown of Vancouver, Washington. She was a young woman with blond, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. On May 29, 1974, Diane left her family's home and was never heard from again. Initial reports from law enforcement suggested that she had intended to run away. However, other accounts state she was last seen getting into a van with an unidentified man. Her mother reported her missing after two days had passed with no word from her daughter. At the time of her disappearance, Diane was 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed around 100 pounds.

Decades have passed since Diane Gilchrist was last seen, and her case has grown cold, leaving her family with unanswered questions. Over the years, a person of interest has emerged in connection with her disappearance: Warren Leslie Forrest, a suspected serial killer. Forrest was convicted in 1978 for the murder of one young woman and is believed to be responsible for the deaths and disappearances of at least six others in the Vancouver area during the early 1970s. Although Forrest has never been officially charged in Diane's case, authorities consider him a suspect in her disappearance as well as that of another teenager, Jamie Grisim, who went missing in 1971. The bodies of other women thought to be his victims have been discovered in rural parts of Clark County, further deepening the suspicion surrounding him.

The investigation into Diane's disappearance remains open, now handled by the Clark County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit. Her family has endured the pain of not knowing her fate, with her sister once expressing the fear she felt upon seeing Warren Forrest in court for another case. Law enforcement continues to seek information from the public and is focused on locating the remains of both Diane Gilchrist and Jamie Grissim. Despite the passage of time, the hope for answers and some measure of closure persists for Diane's loved ones. The case serves as a somber reminder of a young life cut short and the enduring mystery of her final moments.
Last Seen: May 29, 1974

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Diane Sue Gilchrist - The Charley Project
  • Diane Gilchrist | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Diane Gilchrist, 65 Missing from: Vancouver, Washington Last seen
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP20347
  • Missing People In America - Diane was last seen in Vancouver ...
  • Could Diane Gilchrist be Warren Forrest's 9th victim? - KOIN.com
  • Diane Sue Gilchrist was last seen on May 29th, 1974, when she got ...

    • 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.

    77%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 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%38 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'0" vs 4'10"
    Weight 90%115 lb vs 100 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)

    Hey everyone, I’ve been digging into Diane Sue Gilchrist’s case lately, and something that struck me... ...Read More
    10/06/2024
    I came across something interesting while diving into the disappearance of Diane Sue Gilchrist. Does... ...Read More
    03/03/2024
    I recently went down a rabbit hole looking into the case of Diane Sue Gilchrist. One thing that... ...Read More
    01/10/2023

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