Bertha Lee Sistrunk, a 78-year-old resident of Fairmont, West Virginia, was a fiercely independent woman known for cooking Southern cuisine for her family. On September 28, 2020, after being discharged from the hospital, she was dropped off at her home on Bridge Street around 6:00 PM. Later that evening, for reasons unknown, she left her residence and walked across the High Level Bridge into the downtown area. She was seen by a witness around 8:00 PM that night.
Concern for her well-being grew when a 911 call was made shortly before 9:00 PM, reporting an older woman, Ms. Sistrunk, walking near Windmill Park on Ogden Avenue. Police responded and found her walking back toward downtown, approximately a mile from her home. Despite the fact she was wearing a blue and pink robe, a blue nightcap, and socks without shoes, she assured the officers she was fine and was walking home, declining their offer of assistance. After this encounter, Bertha Sistrunk was not seen again.
Immediate and extensive searches were conducted by the Fairmont Police Department. These efforts included ground, water, and aerial drone searches, as well as the use of a canine unit. Despite these thorough searches of the areas where she was last seen, no trace of Ms. Sistrunk was found at the time. Her family, particularly her nephew, expressed concern, noting that while she was independent, she had been experiencing some memory issues. He found it highly out of character for her to have walked downtown, especially in the manner she was dressed.
Tragically, on January 4, 2022, skeletal remains were discovered in a densely vegetated area near Washington Street in Fairmont. The remains were found with items that matched the description of what Ms. Sistrunk was wearing on the night of her disappearance. An autopsy and further investigation were conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to confirm the identity. An obituary later confirmed that Bertha Lee Sistrunk had passed away on January 3, 2022.Last Seen: Sep 28, 2020
