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Helen Tucker Missing Person Case

Last seen in Tacoma, Washington on Jan 20, 1994

Victim Details

Jan 15, 2010

May 30, 2023

Helen

Tucker

58

26

64 inches

66 inches

115 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jan 20, 1994

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

No

8121

Tacoma Police Department

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

98409

3701 South Pine Street, Washington

2535915950

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/police

05-1150302

Apr 25, 2005

Tacoma Police Department

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 10, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP4746) and 9 other sources
On a cold day in January 1994, a 26-year-old woman named Helen Irene Tucker vanished from the downtown area of Tacoma, Washington. She was last seen on January 20th in the vicinity of Puyallup Avenue. That evening, she had contact with law enforcement after reporting that she was the victim of an attempted assault. This interaction with the police would be her last known contact with anyone. At the time of her disappearance, Helen, who sometimes went by the last name Cook, was described as a white female with brown hair and blue eyes, standing at approximately five feet five inches tall and weighing around 115 pounds. She had distinctive tattoos: a rose on her right arm and a gnome on her left arm. She left behind a young son.

The initial investigation into Helen's disappearance was significantly delayed because she was not officially reported missing for several years. Her family believed a report had been filed, but it wasn't until April of 2000 that she was formally listed as a missing person. This substantial time lapse created significant challenges for the Tacoma Police Department, making it difficult to track down and interview people she was associated with at the time she went missing. Helen's mother, Freda Gable, described her as a happy child who became rebellious around the age of eight or nine, leading her to a difficult life on the streets. Despite her lifestyle, she always maintained contact with her mother, especially on holidays and special occasions, which made her sudden silence all the more alarming.

Over the years, the search for answers has continued, though the case has grown cold. Helen's case was at one point reviewed by the Green River Killer Task Force, but it was determined that Gary Ridgway was not a suspect, and the investigation returned to the Tacoma Police Department. There was a potential but unconfirmed sighting of her in Aurora, Colorado, at some point after she vanished. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear, and her case is one of many unsolved missing persons cases in the Tacoma area. Investigators believe it is likely she met with foul play. Her mother has never given up hope of finding out what happened to her daughter, keeping meticulous records and advocating for other families of the missing. The central mystery of the case revolves around what occurred after her last known contact with police and who might have been involved in her disappearance from the streets of Tacoma.
Last Seen: Jan 20, 1994

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • HELEN IRENE TUCKER - TACOMA, WASHINGTON - FBI
  • Helen Irene Tucker - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP4746
  • Missing: Helen Tucker's mother refuses to give up hope
  • 3563DFWA - Helen Irene Tucker - Doe Network
  • Helen Tucker Missing & Endangered - Facebook
  • [XML] HELEN IRENE TUCKER - TACOMA, WASHINGTON - FBI
  • Missing Helen - Facebook
  • Wa - Helen Tucker, 27, Tacoma, 20 Jan 1994

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Kent, Washington - unidentified case UP14083
    Jane Doe — Kent, Washington
    UP14083 • Found May 27, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 26 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%13 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"–5'6"
    Weight 100%106 lb vs 115 lb

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    I was just exploring Helen Irene Tucker's case again, and I can't get over the significance of her... ...Read More
    07/02/2023

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