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Donna Obanion Missing Person Case

Last seen in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Oct 23, 1985

Victim Details

Dec 12, 2008

Jan 23, 2020

Donna

Obanion

66

25

66 inches

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Oct 23, 1985

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish

3166

Baton Rouge Police Department

Baton Rouge

Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish

70815

9000 Airline Highway, Louisiana

2252397832

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.brla.gov/203/Police-Department

81997-85

Baton Rouge Police Department

4106

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP901) and 6 other sources
In the early morning hours of October 23, 1985, 25-year-old Donna Christine O'Banion completed her shift as a waitress at the Southern Comfort lounge on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At approximately 2:00 a.m., she left her workplace, expecting to return to her residence in the 5900 block of Stumberg Lane where she was reportedly living with her mother. However, Donna never arrived home. When she failed to appear, her mother grew concerned and reported her missing to the Baton Rouge Police Department. At the time of her disappearance, Donna was described as a white female with brown hair and blue eyes, standing at 5'6' and weighing around 125 pounds. She had two distinctive tattoos: one of an eagle on her shoulder blade, and another depicting a sun, a cloud, and a lightning bolt on her upper right arm. The last time she was seen, she was wearing a cut-off tank top, jeans, and sandals.

Donna's personal life at the time adds a complex layer to her story. Although she was living with her mother, she was married to a man named Kenneth O'Banion and they had a daughter together. Interestingly, just two weeks after Donna vanished, her husband filed for legal separation. Friends of Donna later recalled that Kenneth didn't seem overly worried in the days and weeks that followed her disappearance, allegedly telling one friend that Donna had left with another man for Florida. It is believed that Donna and her husband may have been estranged at the time she went missing. Tragically, Kenneth O'Banion was killed in 1993 during an altercation in the parking lot of another local lounge.

The investigation into Donna O'Banion's disappearance has stretched on for decades with very few leads to follow, leaving her family and community with unanswered questions. Her case is being handled by the Baton Rouge Police Department, and her information has been entered into national databases for missing persons in the hope that a new lead might emerge. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain vague, with no witnesses coming forward to detail what happened after she left her job that October morning. Over the years, her mother tirelessly sought answers, even filing a lawsuit related to her son-in-law's death, though she has since passed away without knowing what became of her daughter. The case of Donna O'Banion is a haunting example of a person who vanished without a trace, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew her and a mystery that endures to this day.
Last Seen: Oct 23, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • 1366DFLA - Donna Christine O'Banion - Doe Network
  • Donna Christine O'Banion - The Charley Project
  • Donna O'Banion | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Donna O'Banion - Whereabouts Still Unknown
  • Louisiana | Whereabouts Still Unknown - WordPress.com
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP901 - Office of Justice Programs

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    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.

    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Milton, Florida - unidentified case UP1231
    Jane Doe — Milton, Florida
    UP1231 • Found Mar 12, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 25
    Race 100%White
    Location 51%244 mi away
    TimingFound 5 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%120 lb vs 125 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

    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)

    I’ve been going through the details of Donna Christine O'Banion's disappearance, and I can't help... ...Read More
    06/13/2024

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