In late August of 2026, a 42-year-old woman named Bettina Johnson traveled from her home in Meridian, Mississippi, to visit Martinsburg, West Virginia. Her family last had contact with her on Sunday, August 23, 2026. After this date, concern for her well-being grew as she did not return home to her children and work as expected. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department is the investigating agency for her disappearance. Ms. Johnson is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She has a distinctive tattoo on her right arm near her wrist.
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact date and location she was last seen. Her family's last contact with her was on August 23rd. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office has stated that she was last seen on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the vicinity of Edwin W. Miller Memorial Boulevard in Martinsburg, near a Long John Silver's and an Exxon gas station. At the time, she was reportedly wearing all black clothing, specifically a black top and black shorts. Another reported sighting on August 23rd places her in the area of Grapevine Road in Martinsburg. Family members have also mentioned that she was seen on surveillance footage at a Royal Farms convenience store on Grapevine Street after being released from jail.
The circumstances surrounding Bettina Johnson's disappearance are complex. Reports indicate that the day before she was last in contact with her family, on August 22, she was arraigned in Berkeley County Magistrate Court on several felony charges. She was released on bond on August 23rd, the same day her family last heard from her. Her family has expressed deep concern, stating that she was visiting West Virginia for a short period and was expected to return to Mississippi promptly. They have been active in sharing information and have offered a reward for information that leads to her being found. The case is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as case #MP162126. The investigation into her disappearance remains active as her family and law enforcement continue to seek answers.
Last Seen: Aug 23, 2026
