In May of 1997, Rosa Maria Shipley, a 48-year-old mother, left her home and family in Seguin, Texas. Her family last saw her on Mother's Day of that year. While she had a history of being transient, she had always maintained contact with her children and family until that day. The circumstances surrounding her departure from Texas are not entirely clear, but it marked the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty for her loved ones, who were left to wonder what had become of
her. Her children began a search, holding onto hope for her return.
Sometime after leaving Texas, Rosa made her way to Salt Lake City, Utah. The last known contact with her was in 1998 in Salt Lake City. During this time, a significant and troubling event occurred; her identification card was taken from her. This act would have made it incredibly difficult for her to access services, find stable housing, or even travel, potentially leaving her in a very vulnerable position. Since that time in 1998, there have been no confirmed sightings or communications from Rosa. The lack of contact was out of character, deepening the concern and mystery surrounding her case.
The official report of her disappearance was not filed with the Seguin Police Department until May 17, 2017, many years after she was last seen. Over the years, detectives have followed up on potential leads, including the possibility that she was living in the Salt Lake City area, but these leads did not result in locating her. Rosa is described as a Hispanic female with brown eyes and black hair. She has several distinct physical features, including a dot tattoo on her finger and another on her knee, a crooked pinky finger with an unusual nail, a scar on her other pinky finger, and an eagle-shaped birthmark on her back. The investigation into her disappearance remains open, a cold case filled with unanswered questions and a family still searching for closure.Last Seen: Jan 1, 1998
