In the winter of 2007, a young mother's sudden disappearance from Memphis, Tennessee, began a long and sorrowful mystery for her loved ones. Ricarda Tillman-Locket, a 22-year-old female, was last seen on February 19, 2007. Known to her friends and family as 'Rica,' she was a vibrant and dependable person, making her unannounced absence deeply concerning.
On the day she vanished, Ricarda, a Native American woman with brown curly hair and brown eyes, was reportedly wearing her work uniform, which consisted of a black shirt, sweater, and pants. She was last seen leaving her job at Jillian's Restaurant in downtown Memphis with her estranged husband, Lou Locket. The plan was for her to pick up her infant child from the babysitter later that day, a commitment her family says she never would have broken.
The circumstances surrounding Ricarda's disappearance were immediately alarming to those who knew her. Her personal belongings, including her wallet and cell phone, were left behind, which was highly uncharacteristic. Her manager at the restaurant, Candy Upchurch, grew worried when Ricarda, an employee who would call if she was even five minutes late, failed to show up for her shifts without any communication. This out-of-character behavior prompted her boss to report her missing. The situation was further complicated by a troubled relationship with her estranged husband. Just a month prior to her disappearance, police had responded to a domestic disturbance at their home, which resulted in Lou Locket's arrest for domestic assault. Following this incident, Ricarda had sought refuge at a domestic abuse shelter.
Despite the passage of time, the investigation into Ricarda Tillman-Locket's disappearance has yielded few answers, and the case remains unsolved. Her estranged husband, Lou Locket, was questioned by police and has publicly denied any involvement in her disappearance. He claimed to have dropped her off at their home after picking her up from work, but his statements have been met with skepticism by Ricarda's family. Compounding their suspicions was the discovery of a fictional book he had written that detailed methods for making a body disappear. Law enforcement has acknowledged that while foul play is suspected, there has not been enough evidence to press charges. For Ricarda's family, the pain of not knowing her fate is a heavy burden. They remember her as a loving mother who would never have abandoned her child and continue to hope for answers in this heart-wrenching cold case.Last Seen: Feb 19, 2007
