Cathleen Martin Missing Person Case

In the late winter of 1987, a young mother's life took a turn into bewildering silence, leaving a void that has been felt for decades. Cathleen Marie Martin, a 28-year-old female from the Kirklyn area of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was last seen on March 29, 1987. At the time, she was described as being 5'8' and 110 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. A distinctive coffee-colored mark on her right arm served as a unique physical characteristic. She had embarked on a trip that began with her boarding a plane to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a popular destination for those seeking sunshine and a break from the routine. For Cathleen, this trip was also a departure from her life in Pennsylvania, one that, for reasons unknown, she decided to extend.

The initial plan for her Florida visit remains somewhat unclear, but upon her arrival, she made the decision to stay for an extra week. This extension would prove to be a pivotal point, as it was during this time that all communication with her family ceased. She never made her way back home to Pennsylvania, and the vibrant young woman who had left her two small children in the care of her sister was never heard from again. The days turned into weeks, and then years, with no word, no sightings, and no clues to explain her sudden and complete disappearance. The investigation that followed was fraught with challenges, spanning jurisdictions and grappling with the limited information available from that time.

The case of Cathleen Martin is a story with no final chapter, a painful narrative of ambiguous loss for her loved ones. Over the years, law enforcement agencies, including the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, have kept the case open, hoping for a new lead or a piece of information that might finally illuminate the events of that spring in 1987. The lack of available details has been a consistent hurdle in the investigation. The overview of this case is one of profound and unsettling mystery; a young mother travels for a vacation, extends her stay, and then vanishes without a trace. Her disappearance left behind unanswered questions and a family left to wonder what became of her after that fateful trip to Florida.
Last Seen: Mar 29, 1987

Missing Person / NamUs #MP10795 | NamUs

Cathleen Marie Martin | State of California - Department of Justice

Cathleen Marie Martin - The Charley Project