Account
Jan 27, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
Connie
Patricia Mayo
64
64
5'4 - 5'5 inches
135 lbs
Black
Female
In the quiet town of Hawthorne, Nevada, a woman named Nita Mary Mayo, 64 years of age, prepared for a day trip on August 8, 2005. She informed a friend of her plans to drive over the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains for a day of shopping on the western side, promising to return by that evening to be ready for her job as a licensed practical nurse at the Mt. Grant General Hospital Clinic the following day. It is believed she left her home around 11:00 a.m., embarking on a journey from which she would never return. When she failed to show up for her shift at the hospital, her concerned colleagues reported her missing, setting in motion a search that would span years and leave her loved ones with more questions than answers. Two days after she was last seen, a significant break in the case came when her silver 1997 Mercury Sable station wagon was discovered at Donnell's Vista, a scenic overlook on State Route 108, just outside of Sonora, California. The vehicle was locked, and inside, authorities found her keys, wallet, cellular phone, and purse. Curiously, the only item that appeared to be missing was her camera. Investigators determined that the car had been parked at the vista point since the day of her disappearance, a detail corroborated by a CalTrans worker who had noticed the vehicle but assumed it belonged to a camper. The overlook, which offers breathtaking views of a river canyon a thousand feet below, became the focal point of an intensive search effort. Despite exhaustive searches of the rugged terrain surrounding Donnell's Vista involving search dogs, helicopters, and rappelling teams, no trace of Nita Mayo was ever found. Her family expressed their belief that she would not be found near the overlook, citing her fear of heights and cautious nature as reasons she would not have ventured close to the cliff's edge. In the initial stages of the investigation, authorities sought a woman named Jewel Jeanne Rice for questioning, as her vehicle had reportedly broken down in the area on the day Nita disappeared. However, she was later located and is no longer considered a person of interest. The case grew cold, and with no evidence of foul play at the scene and no sign of Nita, the circumstances of her disappearance remained a profound mystery. The overview of this case is one of a woman who seemingly vanished without a trace during a routine day trip, leaving behind a car full of personal belongings and a family desperate for closure. Despite the passage of time, the question of what happened to Nita Mary Mayo on that August day in 2005 endures.
Jun 15, 2023
St. Louis
Missouri
St. Louis
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 314‐231‐1212
06/06/2026
