Frances Shurtleff Sessions, a 26-year-old woman, went missing on May 20, 1946, while hiking in Ogden, Utah. On the day of her disappearance, she had been visiting her father’s farm with her 6-year-old son, Lee, and her nephew. During a hike towards Bear Cave, the group encountered loose shale on the steep mountainside, causing both boys to slip over a rocky ledge. Tragically, Lee died from the fall while Frances carried him back towards her father's farmhouse.
Her nephew survived the incident.
Frances, described as overwhelmed with grief after her son’s death, was last seen around 4:00 p.m. at her parents' home in Ogden, where she went to wash up. Soon after, she left the house unnoticed, still dressed in her blood-stained clothes. Witnesses reported seeing a woman matching her description walking south on Harrison Boulevard later that day, but Frances was never found.
Despite extensive searches and nationwide leads, her case remains unsolved. Various sightings were reported in the months following her disappearance, but none were confirmed. Frances’ disappearance remains one of Ogden’s long-standing cold cases, with authorities and her family still seeking closure.
If you have any information, you can contact the Ogden Police Department.Last Seen: May 20, 1946
