In the late evening of June 30, 1994, 56-year-old Hazel Rose Hess was seen for the last time by her two daughters at her apartment in Moberly, Missouri. A mother to six adult children, Hess was a hardworking woman, holding down multiple jobs, including as a waitress at the Tracks End restaurant and as a babysitter. That night, one of her daughters, Angela, had met with her around 10:30 p.m. to switch off childcare duties.
The following morning, Angela returned to her mother's apartment with plans for breakfast together, only to find the front door ajar and her mother gone.
A sense of unease quickly settled over the family as they took in the scene inside the apartment. All of Hazel's personal belongings, including her purse, car, and car keys, had been left behind. Disturbingly, her bedsheet and comforter were missing from her bed. The discovery of blood at the scene solidified the family's and investigators' fears that foul play was involved in her sudden disappearance. The scene suggested a struggle and a departure that was anything but voluntary, leaving her loved ones in a state of shock and confusion.
The investigation into Hazel's disappearance has spanned decades, with law enforcement questioning numerous individuals and following up on over a hundred leads. One person of interest mentioned in connection with the case was Larry Adams, who was Hess's upstairs neighbor at the time. Hess had reportedly expressed concerns to her family about Adams, believing he was involved in illegal activities. While police questioned him, he was never charged in relation to her disappearance. Years have passed, yet the case remains unsolved, leaving a void in the lives of her children who continue to hope for answers and the chance to bring their mother to rest. The overview of the case points to a likely abduction from her home, with the missing bedding and presence of blood being the most telling pieces of evidence. Despite the passage of time, her family and law enforcement have not given up hope of one day finding out what happened to Hazel Hess.Last Seen: Jun 30, 1994
