Account
Apr 15, 2010
Apr 04, 2019
Royce
Henson
46
1
33 inches
35 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the spring of 1979, a young mother and her infant son vanished from Tulsa, Oklahoma, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades. On March 23rd, one-year-old Royce Henson and his 30-year-old mother, Kathleen Henson, were last seen. Kathleen, who managed a local record store, had made plans to deliver concert tickets to a friend that evening. She was driving a brown 1969 Chrysler sedan that belonged to her father, with little Royce accompanying her. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Kathleen called her friends to let them know she was on her way and expected to arrive within the hour. However, Kathleen and Royce never reached their destination and were never heard from again. The day after their disappearance, concern grew when Kathleen's older son from a previous relationship found himself alone at their home. His father had dropped him off, and when he couldn't get in, he climbed through a window. Realizing his mother hadn't returned, he contacted her best friend, who then alerted Kathleen's parents. Two days after they were last seen, on March 25, the Chrysler sedan Kathleen had been driving was discovered abandoned at the intersection of Ute Street and Peoria Avenue in Tulsa. The car was found locked and parked at an odd angle, which was uncharacteristic of Kathleen's careful driving. Inside the vehicle were Kathleen's coin purse, driver's license, Social Security card, and a single baby bottle. There were no signs of a struggle, and no extra clothing, diapers, or money were found in the car. Foul play is strongly suspected in the disappearances of both Royce and his mother. Friends of Kathleen later revealed that she had expressed fear of a male acquaintance with a criminal history prior to her disappearance. In the years following, family members, including Kathleen's father and older son, have voiced their belief that Royce's father, who they said had been abusive towards Kathleen, may have been involved. Despite these suspicions, no one has ever been charged in connection with the case. The initial police investigation yielded little evidence, and the case grew cold until Kathleen's mother prompted its reopening in 1984. The case of Royce Henson and his mother Kathleen remains an active and unsolved missing persons investigation, a painful and lingering question for a family still hoping for answers after more than four decades of uncertainty.
Mar 23, 1979
Tulsa
Oklahoma
Tulsa County
74120
26622
Tulsa Police Department
Tulsa
Oklahoma
Tulsa County
74103
Joe Campbell
Detective Sergeant
600 Civic Center, Oklahoma
9185969143
Local
Law Enforcement
248341
1985-12-08
Tulsa Police Department
Black
Brown
Brown
No
06/14/2026
