On May 28, 1981, a 46-year-old mother named Ina M. Arnall departed from her home in Poteau, Oklahoma. She was embarking on a journey of over 100 miles to Tulsa to visit her daughter. Ina, a stay-at-home mother to three children, was described by those who knew her as warm, dependable, and deeply dedicated to her family. There was nothing to suggest she planned to do anything other than make the familiar drive and arrive safely at her daughter's home.
However, she never reached her destination and has not been seen or heard from since that day. At the time she went missing, Ina was described as a Caucasian female with brown hair and hazel eyes, standing between 4'11' and 5'2' and weighing between 90 and 110 pounds. She had stretch marks on her abdomen and wore full upper dentures.
The day after Ina vanished, her daughter made a discovery that deepened the mystery. Ina's car, a 1980 diesel-powered Oldsmobile, was found abandoned in a parking lot at the Tulsa International Airport. The vehicle was locked, and her purse and other personal belongings were still inside. Investigators found no signs of a struggle or any forensic evidence to suggest foul play. The perplexing discovery of her car at the airport, with her possessions left behind, raised more questions than it answered. In 1981, airport surveillance was not extensive, and no witnesses came forward to report seeing her at the terminal. She was last seen wearing a multicolored blouse, a purple skirt, a half-slip, pantyhose, and brown sandals. She was also adorned with a significant amount of diamond jewelry, including a wedding set, a dinner ring, a watch, and a bracelet. She may have also been wearing an off-white colored raincoat.
Decades have passed since Ina Arnall's disappearance, and her case has grown cold, leaving her family with an enduring sense of loss and a void of unanswered questions. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation keeps the case active, but tangible leads have been few and far between. Early in the investigation, some authorities believed Ina might have left on her own accord, possibly traveling to San Francisco, California, or to Nevada. However, her family has always strongly disputed this theory, pointing to her strong connections to her children and her community as reasons she would never voluntarily disappear. Others speculate she may have met with foul play, perhaps connected to someone she intended to meet in Tulsa. Without a clear motive or any substantial evidence, the case has remained a baffling mystery for investigators. The OSBI continues to encourage anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward, as her family holds onto hope for answers about what happened to her on that spring day.Last Seen: May 28, 1981
