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Debra Landsdell Missing Person Case

Last seen in Belen, New Mexico on Sep 21, 1985

Victim Details

Jul 4, 2010

May 24, 2022

Debra

Landsdell

70

29

66 inches

120 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Sep 21, 1985

Belen

New Mexico

Valencia County

21145

Valencia County Sheriff's Office

Los Lunas

New Mexico

Valencia County

87031

Joseph Rowland

Sergeant

543 Luna Avenue, New Mexico

5058662400

County

Law Enforcement

20170905276

Sep 21, 1985

Valencia County Sheriff's Office

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

Oct 14, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7613) and 9 other sources
In the late summer of 1985, 29-year-old Debra Lee Landsdell was embracing a new chapter in her life in Belen, New Mexico. Recently divorced, she had started a fulfilling new job as a nurse at the Lovelace Urgent Care Center in nearby Albuquerque, a career she was passionate about and had been inspired to pursue after surviving cancer as a teenager. Debra, also known as Debbie, was enjoying her newfound independence, living in her own apartment on Jarales Road and driving her dream car, a 1978 rust-colored Porsche 924. On the night of September 21, 1985, she was at her new boyfriend's home in Belen. She departed from his residence at approximately 2:00 a.m., with the intention of driving back to her apartment. However, Debra was never seen or heard from again.

The initial days following Debra's disappearance were filled with uncertainty. When she failed to report for her shifts at work for two consecutive days, she was officially reported as a missing person. Investigators from the Valencia County Sheriff's Office went to her apartment and made a perplexing discovery. The front door was found ajar, yet the interior of her home showed no signs of a struggle or any disturbance; nothing appeared to be out of place or missing. Compounding the mystery, both Debra and her cherished Porsche were gone. For months, there were no significant leads in her case. The first major development came five months later, in February 1986, when her Porsche was located at an apartment complex in Albuquerque, in the 1500 block of Gold southeast. Residents of the complex reported that the car had been parked there for several months. The vehicle had some dents and scratches, and there were dark-colored stains in the backseat, but forensic analysis determined the stains were not blood, and there was no other evidence of foul play connected to the car.

The investigation into Debra's disappearance has spanned decades, marked by periods of inactivity and renewed efforts. Foul play is suspected in her case, which remains unsolved. Initially, law enforcement was hesitant to classify her as a victim of a crime, considering the possibility that she had left on her own. However, public pressure following other local cases prompted a more thorough investigation. Over the years, the discovery of unidentified human remains in the area brought moments of painful anticipation for Debra's family, but none were ever identified as being her. The case was reportedly reopened in 1988 with new leads being examined, but these did not lead to a resolution. The disappearance of Debra Landsdell is a case that has left a lasting impact on her community and family, a painful story of a young woman at the start of a promising new life who vanished without a trace. Her case is a poignant reminder of the enduring mystery and sorrow that surrounds unsolved missing person cases.
Last Seen: Sep 21, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Debra Lansdell disappeared from Belen
  • Missing: Debra Lansdell. Tara Calico's disappearance is a…
  • Debra Landsdell - The Charley Project
  • Still Missing: Debbie Lansdell - Las Desaparecidas
  • 2681DFNM - Debra Lee Landsdell - Doe Network
  • Debra Lansdell linked to other missing and murdered women
  • Debbie Landsdell | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • NM - Debra Landsdell, 29, Belen, 21 Sept 1985 | Websleuths
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP7613

    • 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 — New Mexico - unidentified case UP145854
    Jane Doe — New Mexico
    UP145854 • Found Nov 20, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%54 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 14 months after last seen
    Height 68%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'6"

    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 recently reading about Debra Landsdell's case, and I can't help but wonder about the location... ...Read More
    07/23/2023

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