Judith Ehmke Missing Person Case

May 02, 2011

Jan 05, 2024

Judith

Ehmke

78

40

66 inches

70 inches

170 lbs

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

In the autumn of 1986, 40-year-old Judith Ann Ehmke, a dedicated nurse's aide and mother of three, vanished from her home in Ashland City, Tennessee. Her last confirmed sighting was on the morning of November 26, 1986, when her husband, Darrell "Tex" Ehmke, picked her up from her overnight shift at the Cheatham County Nursing Home. That afternoon, her children came home from school to an unusually locked house. Judith, who was typically home by that time, was nowhere to be found. When Darrell arrived, he let them inside and presented a strange explanation for their mother's absence. Darrell claimed that Judith had left him for another man. He showed the children a typewritten note which stated she was tired of his controlling behavior. Suspiciously, even the signature was typed, which was uncharacteristic for Judith who typically handwrote her notes. Darrell disposed of the letter, though not before one of their children had a chance to read it. Adding to the strangeness, items were missing from the home, including Judith's clothes from the closet, photos from albums, and jewelry. Friends and family found this scenario highly improbable, insisting that Judith was a devoted mother who would never abandon her children. In fact, Judith had been experiencing marital problems and had consulted with an attorney about a divorce just two days before she disappeared, with full intentions of taking her children with her. She also never returned to the nursing home to collect her last paycheck. The official investigation into Judith's disappearance did not begin until two weeks after she was last seen, when one of her daughters confided in a school counselor that her mother was missing. Darrell became the primary suspect in what authorities quickly presumed to be a case of foul play. Despite multiple searches of the Ehmke property, no evidence was ever recovered. The family home has since been destroyed by a fire. Over the years, Darrell has had several run-ins with the law, including arrests for assault and theft. While a neighbor was also considered a person of interest, particularly after a coworker of Judith's mentioned a possible affair and pregnancy, no charges have ever been filed in connection with her disappearance. The case of Judith Ehmke remains an unsolved and painful mystery, leaving her loved ones without answers for decades.

Nov 26, 1986

Ashland

Tennessee

Cheatham County

37015

No

2446

Cheatham County Sheriff's Office

Ashland City

Tennessee

Cheatham County

37015

200 Public Square, Tennessee

6157922021

County

Law Enforcement

http://cheathamcountytn.gov/government/sheriff/

8612090530

Cheatham County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

07/06/2026