In the autumn of 1994, a cloud of uncertainty descended upon Peoria, Illinois, with the disappearance of 31-year-old Loretta L. Tinkham. She was last seen in the area on November 3, 1994, and vanished without a trace, leaving her loved ones in a state of perpetual worry. At the time of her disappearance, Loretta was described as a white female with red, shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. She stood between 4'10' and 5'5' and weighed between 97 and 130 pounds.
She was also known to use the last names Skeeter and York. The exact circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear, as there is very little information available about her case. No details have been released regarding the clothing she was wearing or any personal items she may have had with her.
Loretta's case is particularly troubling as she is one of several women who went missing from the Peoria area during the same time frame. This string of disappearances has led to speculation about a possible connection between the cases. Authorities have considered the possibility that these women may have fallen victim to a suspected serial killer, Arlie Ray Davis. Davis was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Laurie Gwinn and was a suspect in the disappearance and death of several other women. DNA evidence linked him to the 1993 murder of Ginny Miles, and he was also a suspect in the death of Sheryl Murwin, who vanished in 1994 and whose skull was later found. Davis died of a heart attack on death row in October 2002, maintaining his innocence in the disappearances.
The investigation into Loretta Tinkham's disappearance remains open, and the Peoria Police Department and Illinois State Police continue to seek answers. Despite the passage of time, her case has not been forgotten, and she is still listed as an endangered missing person. The discovery of unidentified female bodies in the Peoria area over the years has brought moments of hope and fear, but none have been identified as Loretta. The lack of information in her case makes it a difficult puzzle to solve, but for the family and friends of Loretta, the hope for resolution, for answers to the questions that have haunted them for decades, endures. The overview of the case is one of mystery and lingering sorrow, a young woman who vanished, leaving behind a void and a community searching for closure.Last Seen: Nov 30, 1994
