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Frances Groves Missing Person Case

Last seen in Palm Springs, California on Jan 1, 1955

Victim Details

Sep 11, 2012

May 20, 2020

Frances

Groves

110

39

62 inches

67 inches

125 lbs

150 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jan 1, 1955

Palm Springs

California

Riverside County

92262

12307

Palm Springs PD

Palm Springs

California

,

1210 P 2808

Oct 16, 2012

Palm Springs PD

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 16, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP17377) and 7 other sources
Frances Blanche Groves, aged 39, was last seen on January 1, 1955, in Palm Springs, California. Originally from Nebraska, Frances had lived a tumultuous life. She married at the young age of 14 and had seven children. After the tragic accidental death of her only son in 1950, her marriage deteriorated, and she separated from her husband. Frances later met James Franklin Phye while working at the Pueblo Ordnance Depot, and the two began a relationship. They moved together to Palm Springs, where both found employment with a wealthy family.

On the day of her disappearance, Frances and Phye went on a picnic, but only Phye returned. No trace of Frances has been found since, and her case remains unsolved. Suspicion surrounds Phye, who later moved to Las Vegas and lived under an alias. In 1996, he died by suicide, leaving behind a note, though its contents were never publicly disclosed. Despite these developments, authorities were never able to gather enough evidence to connect anyone to Frances’ disappearance, and her case remains a mystery to this day.
Last Seen: Jan 1, 1955

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Frances Blanche Hayes Groves (1915-1955) - Find a Grave Memorial">Frances Blanche Hayes Groves (1915-1955) - Find a Grave Memorial
  • Frances Blanche Groves | State of California - Department of Justice
  • Frances Blanche Groves - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP17377
  • 3668DFCA - Frances Blanche Groves - Doe Network
  • Frances Hayes Groves: The Last Picnic - And They Were
  • Frances Blanche Hayes Groves (1915-1955) - Find a Grave ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    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.

    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Palm Desert, California - unidentified case UP7026
    Jane Doe — Palm Desert, California
    UP7026 • Found Feb 10, 1997
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 42 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Indio, California
    UP7218 • Found Feb 25, 1977
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%23 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Desert Shores, California
    UP13543 • Found Jul 28, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%44 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 47 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'0" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%125 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Corona, California - unidentified case UP6964
    Jane Doe — Corona, California
    UP6964 • Found Sep 20, 2009
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%55 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 55 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%117 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Colton, California - unidentified case UP5997
    Jane Doe — Colton, California
    UP5997 • Found Jun 19, 1987
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%45 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 32 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%132 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Carlsbad, California - unidentified case UP128322
    Jane Doe — Carlsbad, California
    UP128322 • Found Aug 12, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%66 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 70 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%111 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Aguanga, California
    UP109273 • Found Feb 2, 2020
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 78–92 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%33 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 65 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 65%88 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — California
    UP4209 • Found Jan 26, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 76%97 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 30 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%118 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4391 • Found Jan 25, 1980
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 76%97 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Highland, California - unidentified case UP2504
    Jane Doe — Highland, California
    UP2504 • Found Mar 27, 1977
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 30–55 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%41 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"–5'7"
    Weight 100%122 lb vs 125–150 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    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 (1)

    I've been digging into Frances Blanche Groves' disappearance, and I think there's an interesting... ...Read More
    03/18/2023

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