In the late summer of 1977, a sense of disquiet settled over a family in Phoenix, Arizona, with the disappearance of 31-year-old Patsy Ann Ravens. On the evening of September 4th, Patsy was last seen at a relative's home around 10:30 p.m. in the area of 29th Avenue and Latham Street. By 5:00 a.m. the next morning, both Patsy and her white 1965 Rambler were gone.
The only clue left behind was a cryptic note that read, 'God calls me to do his work so I must leave.' A week later, with no word from Patsy, her concerned family officially reported her missing on September 11, 1977. At the time of her disappearance, Patsy was described as a quiet woman who had recently divorced and was living with her parents. Her ex-husband had custody of their young son. She was deeply involved in her local Mormon church and often spent her time reading the Bible.
A few days after she vanished, Patsy's car was discovered abandoned at the Sunset Pointe lookout on southbound Interstate 17, near Prescott, Arizona. Inside the vehicle, investigators found a map that seemed to outline a route from Phoenix northward to Utah, a destination Patsy had mentioned wanting to move to, specifically Kanab, to find work. There was also an undeveloped roll of film in the car, but when the pictures were developed, Patsy's mother did not recognize anyone or anything in the photos. Despite her apparent travel plans, Patsy had left behind all of her clothing and an unemployment check for $162. She had, however, taken about $35 in cash.
Further discoveries only deepened the mystery surrounding Patsy's disappearance. In December of 1977, her purse was found in the same vicinity as her abandoned car. Inside were her medication, car keys, and a temporary driver's license, but the cash she had taken was gone. The circumstances of her disappearance are puzzling; she had attended a church service on the evening she went missing and her family said she was behaving normally. The discovery of her vehicle and personal belongings near a scenic lookout, coupled with the strange note she left, has left her loved ones and investigators with more questions than answers. The case of Patsy Ann Ravens remains an unsolved and poignant mystery, a story of a woman who seemingly vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of perplexing clues.Last Seen: Sep 4, 1977
