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Dorothy Carter Missing Person Case

Last seen in Lawrence, Massachusetts on Jun 3, 1981

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Victim Details

Nov 27, 2009

Oct 14, 2019

Dorothy

Carter

74

29

60 inches

65 inches

110 lbs

120 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jun 3, 1981

Lawrence

Massachusetts

Essex County

Unknown

2783

Lawrence Police Department

Lawrence

Massachusetts

Essex County

01840

90 Lowell Street, Massachusetts

9787945900

Local

Law Enforcement

19001295

Lawrence Police Department

7071

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP3251) and 9 other sources
Dorothy Suzanne Carter, age 29, disappeared on June 3, 1981, from Lawrence, Massachusetts. That day, she made a collect call to her daughter, asking if she wanted anything from McDonald’s, which her stepfather could bring home. This was the last time anyone heard from Dorothy. Her apartment showed no signs of a struggle, and the only items missing were a clock radio and the clothes she had been wearing. Her Social Security number had not been used since 1979, two years before her disappearance.

Dorothy had been scheduled to meet with her ex-husband to discuss living arrangements for their daughter but never arrived. She was reportedly last seen in the company of a man believed to be of Puerto Rican descent, though details surrounding this sighting remain unclear. Dorothy had a history of alcoholism and significant health issues, including large scars from a hysterectomy due to cancer at age 26 and a fractured femur from a 1978 accident.

No missing persons report was filed for years, and despite the ongoing investigation, her case remains unsolved to this day. Investigators have not been able to uncover any concrete leads, and Dorothy’s fate continues to be a mystery.
Last Seen: Jun 3, 1981

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Dorothy Suzanne Carter - The Charley Project
  • 831DFMA - Dorothy Suzanne Carter - Doe Network
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP3251 | NamUs
  • Dorothy Carter | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Searching for Dorothy Suzanne Adams Sylvester Carter - Facebook
  • Missing Persons** Dorothy Suzanne Carter, NamUs #MP3251 ...
  • MA-Dorothy Suzanne Carter, 29, Lawrence, 03 Jun 1981 | Websleuths
  • Tribute Wall | Dorothy B. Carter - Brown-McGehee Funeral Home
  • Dorothy Suzanne Carter | Missing Person - CrimeTea

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

    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.

    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Boston, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15800
    Jane Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
    UP15800 • Found Sep 13, 2006
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 46–48 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%25 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"–5'5"
    Weight 100%121 lb vs 110–120 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Boston, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14270
    Jane Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
    UP14270 • Found Jun 18, 2012
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 58–60 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%25 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 31 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"–5'5"
    Weight 65%79 lb vs 110–120 lb
    Hair 100%Blond vs Blond
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — New Bedford, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP7253
    Jane Doe — New Bedford, Massachusetts
    UP7253 • Found Oct 30, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 82%75 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"–5'5"
    Weight 100%127 lb vs 110–120 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — New Britain, Connecticut - unidentified case UP8821
    Jane Doe — New Britain, Connecticut
    UP8821 • Found Oct 11, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 73%109 mi away
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'0"–5'5"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 110–120 lb
    Hair 10%Black vs Blond
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
    UP145672 • Found Feb 28, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 70%Est. 45–55 vs 29 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%25 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'0"–5'5"
    Weight 94%135 lb vs 110–120 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond

    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)

    Dorothy Suzanne Carter, 29, vanished from Lawrence, Massachusetts, on June 3, 1981. The last... ...Read More
    05/02/2024

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