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Case Description
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Evelyn Joyce McDowell, 21, was last heard from on November 14, 1983, in a distressing phone call to a friend. In the call, McDowell stated that she was at a bar in the Napa, California area and that someone was "trying to get her" before the line went dead. The call was later traced to the Chatter Box Bar in Clear Lake, California. McDowell's friend reported her missing on December 12, 1983, to the Winters Police Department. Prior to the phone call, McDowell had reportedly been with friends in t ...Read More
Last Seen: Nov 14, 1983
Victim Details

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Evelyn

Joyce Mcdowell

21

21

5'5 inches

115 lbs

White

Female

McDowell was last heard from on November 14, 1983. She called her sister and said she was at a bar in Napa, California and someone was "trying to get" her. The line went dead. The call was later traced to the Chatter Box Bar in Clear Lake, California. McDowell never contacted her family again, but her mother got her address book in the mail a few days later. There was a note enclosed, reading, "Joyce, you don’t know me but I found this on the beach in Lucerne and thought you might want it. – Dave". After receiving the address book, McDowell's family tried to find her. They learned she was been out with friends in Napa when she got out of the car after an argument. She has never been heard from again. Investigators were later able to track down the man who mailed the address book and he was ruled out as a suspect in McDowell's case. They went to the area where he'd found it, and found a woman's sock, tied at both ends and filled with rocks and sand. There has been no indication of McDowell's whereabouts since 1983. Her case remains unsolved. Winters, California police are investigating.

Nov 14, 1983

Napa

California

Napa

9

Winters Police Departmen

530-795-4561

01/25/2026