In the late summer of 1990, the quiet community of Morehead, in Rowan County, Kentucky, was unsettled by the sudden and mysterious disappearance of 71-year-old Gladys Stella Kidd. A widow since 1983, Gladys lived a seemingly tranquil life. On August 6, 1990, she left her home in the 3C trail area and vanished, leaving behind a puzzle that has perplexed her family and law enforcement for decades. The circumstances leading up to her disappearance were unusual.
Shortly before she was last seen, Gladys had sold her farm and insisted on receiving the payment of a substantial sum in cash, turning down the bank's suggestion of a more secure cashier's check. Reports on the exact amount vary, with some sources stating it was around $56,000 and others mentioning up to $80,000. When she left, she took her clothes and a filing cabinet, but curiously, all of her other personal belongings remained at her home. Her car was later found parked in town, with the keys left inside.
The mystery deepened approximately seventeen days after she was last seen, when her son received a letter. The letter, which was postmarked from Lexington, Kentucky, contained a short, disheartening message, instructing her loved ones not to look for her. A portion of the letter read, 'Don't try to find me, I would just leave.' However, there have always been doubts about whether Gladys wrote the letter of her own volition. Adding another layer of intrigue to the case was the revelation from her granddaughter that Gladys had a secret boyfriend in 1990. This man's identity was a closely guarded secret; he would not speak to any family members and did not want his relationship with Gladys known to her relatives or friends. Gladys had told her family that they already knew the man and would be surprised to learn his identity, but he was never identified.
In the years that followed Gladys Kidd's disappearance, there has been no evidence to suggest she started a new life. Her Social Security number has had no activity, her driver's license was never renewed, and her Social Security checks have gone uncollected. These facts have led her children and grandchildren to believe that she likely met with foul play. The case eventually went cold, but investigators have revisited it over the years, including a search of a septic tank on a piece of private property in 2007, which unfortunately yielded no clues. The disappearance of Gladys Kidd remains an open and unsolved case, a haunting story of a woman who vanished after leaving home with a large amount of cash. The vague letter and the existence of a secret boyfriend are the only clues left behind in a mystery that continues to endure.Last Seen: Aug 6, 1990
