Account
May 03, 2011
Jan 04, 2024
Maebell
Dawson
95
68
64 inches
66 inches
180 lbs
Black / African American
Female
In the quiet community of Jefferson Township, Ohio, the disappearance of 68-year-old Maebell Dawson in January 1998 has left a void that time has not filled. Mrs. Dawson, a recent retiree from her housekeeping job at Miami Valley Hospital, was last seen on the evening of January 3, 1998, entering her second-floor apartment at the Martin Luther Manor Living Center on Liscum Drive around 9:30 p.m. She was reportedly wearing a tan jogging suit at the time. Concern mounted when family members were unable to reach her by January 5th. Upon checking her residence, they found her apartment door unlocked. Inside, her winter coat was draped over a chair and her purse, containing her wallet, money, and credit cards, sat on a table, yet Maebell was gone. The initial investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office uncovered no signs of forced entry or a struggle within Mrs. Dawson's apartment, suggesting she had not been attacked there. The presence of her personal belongings, including a post-dated rent check, indicated she likely intended to return. Authorities explored various avenues, including the possibility that she may have left voluntarily, but her close-knit family and friends insisted it was entirely out of character for her to leave without informing anyone. Despite extensive searches of the surrounding areas, including the use of police dogs and helicopters, no trace of Mrs. Dawson was found. Investigators also checked her financial records, which showed no activity after her disappearance. The perplexing lack of evidence left both law enforcement and her loved ones with more questions than answers. Over the years, the case of Maebell Dawson has remained an active investigation with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, a haunting cold case that continues to trouble the community. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance, though the exact circumstances remain a mystery. In June 2003, five and a half years after she was last seen, Maebell Dawson was declared legally dead by her children, a painful step taken in the absence of any resolution. Tragically, both of her daughters have since passed away without ever learning what happened to their mother. The overview of this case is one of a beloved mother and grandmother who vanished from the seeming safety of her own home, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and a family still hoping for closure. The investigation into her disappearance is ongoing.
Jan 03, 1998
Dayton
Ohio
Montgomery County
30994
Mongomery County Sheriff's Office
Dayton
Ohio
,
OCA# 98005300
1998-01-05
Mongomery County Sheriff's Office
Gray or Partially Gray
Brown
Brown
06/02/2026
