In the spring of 2018, a 26-year-old woman named Courtney Corrinna Holden vanished from Spokane, Washington, though the exact date remains uncertain. She was living in a distressing situation with her adoptive mother, Judy Holden, her adoptive brother, Joshua Holden, and her young son. Neighbors and friends were concerned about Courtney, who seemed to be isolated and controlled by her adoptive family.
They noted that she rarely left the house without permission and had visible bruises, which she attributed to her brother's abuse. The family dynamic was unusual, with Courtney's son reportedly calling his grandmother 'Mom' and his uncle 'Daddy.' The last time anyone outside of the immediate family reported seeing Courtney was in the summer of 2018. A neighbor witnessed her attempting to leave the house with a duffel bag, saying she wasn't staying there anymore, only to be forcibly carried back inside by Joshua.
It wasn't until October 2019, well over a year after she was last seen, that a welfare check was requested by the father of her son and his girlfriend, who had not seen or heard from Courtney in a very long time. When police arrived at the Holden residence, they were met with resistance and a lack of cooperation from Judy and Joshua. The family offered various conflicting stories to explain her absence, claiming she had run off with a new boyfriend, was traveling with a truck driver, or was simply unavailable. The investigation into her disappearance quickly uncovered suspicious behavior. Judy and Joshua were found to have been using Courtney's bank account and food stamps after she was last seen. Shortly after the police began investigating, the Holdens abruptly moved out of their Spokane home, taking their pets and the DVR from their home surveillance system with them.
In December 2019, authorities located Judy and Joshua Holden in Texas, where they were living with another of Judy's daughters and had Courtney's son with them. The boy was safely returned to the care of his biological father. His adoptive mother and brother were arrested on charges of identity theft and custodial interference. Despite the arrests and the disturbing circumstances surrounding Courtney's life and disappearance, no charges have ever been filed directly related to her vanishing. In 2021, Joshua Holden pleaded guilty to custodial interference and criminal mischief, while Judy Holden pleaded guilty to second-degree custodial interference. The search of their former home in Spokane did not yield any conclusive evidence, although police collected numerous items, including computers and cellphones. Investigators and those close to Courtney believe she was the victim of a homicide and would not have willingly abandoned her beloved son. Her case remains an unresolved and deeply troubling mystery, leaving her loved ones without answers about what happened to the young mother who seemingly disappeared without a trace.Last Seen: Apr 1, 2018
