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Iva Foss Missing Person Case

Last seen in Johnstown, New York on Nov 20, 1960

Victim Details

Created

Aug 19, 2009

Case Added

Dec 31, 2020

Firstname

Iva

Lastname

Foss

Current Age

124

Age At Disappearance

Height

62 inches

Weight

130 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Female

CaseIsResolved

In the autumn of 1960, 59-year-old Iva Mildred Foss, a resident of Rumney, New Hampshire, embarked on a journey that would become her last. On November 20th, she was seen in Johnstown, New York, behind the wheel of her green Ford sedan. She was reportedly traveling from her home in New Hampshire. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a Caucasian female with brown, shoulder-length hair and it is believed she may have been wearing her prescription eyeglasses. She was reportedly wearing a long gray coat and carrying a blue train case. Iva was a mother and grandmother, and her sudden silence was entirely out of character, deeply alarming her loved ones and prompting her husband to be the first to report her missing. The initial stages of the investigation into Iva's disappearance quickly uncovered a troubling lead. Her green Ford sedan was discovered abandoned on a side street in Johnstown, New York, suggesting her journey had come to an abrupt and unexpected end. A tip provided to law enforcement painted a grim picture of her possible fate. According to this information, Iva had been involved in an altercation with the wife of her former boyfriend at a leather goods or wool manufacturing shop in the Johnstown or Gloversville area. The informant claimed this confrontation turned violent and that Iva had been shot and killed. This account remains a prominent theory in her case, though it has never been officially substantiated and investigators have expressed doubts about its credibility. The mystery of Iva Foss's whereabouts has endured for decades, leaving a void in the lives of her descendants. The unverified tip suggested that after the fatal altercation, her body was transported back to New Hampshire and disposed of in the inactive Palermo mica mines in Groton. However, extensive searches of the mines and surrounding areas have yielded no evidence to support this claim, and her remains have never been found. Despite the passage of time and the challenges of a cold case, law enforcement agencies, including the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department, have kept the investigation open. The disappearance of Iva Foss is a poignant reminder of the enduring pain of unresolved loss, a story without a final chapter that continues to echo through generations of her family.

Last Seen

Nov 20, 1960

City

Johnstown

State

New York

County

Fulton County

Agency ID

7518

Agency Name

Gloversville Police Department

Agency City

Gloversville

Agency State

New York

Agency County

Fulton County

Agency Zip Code

12078

Agency Contact

Michael Jory

Contact Job Title

Captain

Agency Address

3 Frontage Road, New York

Agency Phone

5187734514

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Case #

34-09-011352

Primary Agency

Gloversville Police Department

CaseContributors

6412

Hair Color

Brown

Left Eye Color

Unknown

Right Eye Color

Unknown

Last Updated

10/07/2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Iva Foss, a 59-year-old woman from Johnstown, New York, was last seen on November 20, 1960. Foss lived a quiet life in the small town, where she was known as a kind and reliable member of the community. On the day of her disappearance, she was last seen leaving her home, but when she failed to return, her family became worried and reported her missing. Her sudden disappearance shocked the local community, as there were no immediate signs of trouble or reasons for her to have left voluntarily.

Authorities launched an investigation, conducting searches around the area and interviewing neighbors, friends, and family members in an effort to piece together her last movements. Despite extensive efforts, there were no signs of Foss or any clues that could explain her disappearance. Investigators found no evidence of foul play, but the lack of leads made the case difficult to solve. Over time, rumors and speculation spread within the community, but none led to any concrete information.

As the weeks turned into months, the search for Iva Foss grew colder. Despite the passage of time, her case remained open, with authorities continuing to seek out any new information that could bring resolution. The mystery of her disappearance left a lasting mark on the town of Johnstown, as her family and friends were left without answers. Decades later, Foss’s disappearance remains unsolved, with no major developments in the case. Her vanishing remains one of the region’s most enduring unsolved mysteries, leaving her loved ones to grapple with the uncertainty surrounding what happened to her.
Last Seen: Nov 20, 1960