In the summer of 1977, in the quiet community of Catawba, South Carolina, fifteen-year-old Eva Debruhl was looking forward to starting high school. Described by her family as a shy and deeply religious girl, she was an active member of her church choir and earned pocket money by babysitting. She was known to be a responsible and well-behaved teenager who always kept her parents informed of her whereabouts. The morning of June 29, 1977, began like any other for Eva.
She spent the morning completing one of her chores, mowing the lawn of her family's home in rural York County. Around 11:00 a.m., she went inside to make some iced tea. Shortly after, the phone rang with a call for her father, Willard, asking him to come into work for an extra shift. He left the house, leaving Eva inside while her mother, Opal, was asleep after working a night shift. When Opal woke up around noon, she discovered that her daughter was gone.
The scene left behind in the Debruhl home was unsettling and suggested a sudden departure. A full pot of iced tea was in the kitchen with an empty glass sitting next to it, as if Eva had been interrupted before she could have a drink. The television was on, tuned to a religious program Eva often watched. Outside, her flip-flops were found on the lawn near the front door. None of her personal belongings were missing from her room, except for the eyeglasses she wore. Her family was immediately concerned, as it was completely out of character for Eva to leave without telling anyone where she was going. Her family has always maintained their belief that she was abducted. The initial search involved hundreds of volunteers combing the area, but it yielded no clues.
An important, yet ultimately enigmatic, piece of information came from Eva's grandmother, who lived in a trailer on the same property. She recalled seeing a newer model Jeep-type vehicle, possibly blue and white or green and white, enter the driveway shortly after Eva's father left for work. A white man of medium build, wearing a light green shirt and dark green pants, got out and appeared to speak to someone through the front door. The vehicle drove away, only to return about ten to fifteen minutes later. The man and the vehicle were never identified, and it remains unknown if they were connected to Eva's disappearance. Over the years, the investigation has seen several leads that led to dead ends. The notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her abduction and murder, but his confession, like many of his others, was found to be inconsistent with the facts of the case and was ultimately dismissed. Despite the passage of decades, the case officially remains open and is considered one of South Carolina's most haunting cold cases. Eva's father passed away in 1997, having spent the last two decades of his life tirelessly searching for his daughter. Her remaining family continues to hold out hope for answers, and law enforcement has stated they have not given up on finding out what happened to Eva Debruhl.Last Seen: Jun 29, 1977
