Account
Jan 27, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
Mary
Ann Hutchinson
20
20
5'0 inches
98 lbs
Black
Female
In the summer of 1979, Mary Ann Hutchinson was a young 20-year-old woman navigating life with a quiet strength and a deep love for her family. As one of six siblings growing up in Evanston, Illinois, she was known for her reserved nature, often preferring the company of a good book to the more social activities her brothers and sisters enjoyed. This quiet demeanor belied a determined spirit; through a high school jobs program, she secured a position at a Chase bank, where she continued to work after graduation. Mary Ann was a devoted mother to her five-year-old daughter, who was the center of her world. At the time, she was separated from her husband, James. Her sister, Cynthia Mayfield, remembers her having a "smile out of this world" that could bring happiness to anyone who saw it. Mary Ann Hutchinson was last seen in Evanston on July 19, 1979. Three days later, on July 22, her mother, Jane Hutchinson, grew concerned and reported her missing to the Evanston Police Department. From that point on, there was no communication from Mary Ann, and the vibrant young mother seemingly vanished without a trace. The days turned into weeks, then months, and eventually years, with no answers for her worried family. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as being 5'0" tall and weighing 98 pounds, with black hair. The lack of available details surrounding the circumstances of her disappearance has made the investigation incredibly challenging for law enforcement over the decades. For over four decades, the family of Mary Ann Hutchinson has lived with the uncertainty of her fate. Her body has never been found, and her case remains an unsolved missing persons investigation. Her daughter grew up without her mother, raised by loving family members. Mary Ann's sister, Cynthia, has expressed her personal belief that she knows who is responsible for her sister's disappearance, but without sufficient evidence, the case has not moved forward. In a poignant effort to find some measure of peace and to honor the woman they have missed for so long, family and friends gathered at the Evanston lakefront in July 2023. Forty-four years after she was last seen, they held a memorial service, giving Mary Ann the remembrance they were never able to provide through a funeral. The case itself is an overview of a beloved young mother who disappeared from her hometown, leaving behind a young child and a family who continue to seek answers and closure decades later.
Jul 19, 1979
Evanston
Illinois
Evanston
Evanston Police Departmen
847-866-5000
05/04/2026
