Account
Aug 03, 2020
Sep 30, 2022
Regina
Rowell
63
20
65 inches
120 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On a Tuesday morning, March 10, 1981, 20-year-old Regina Marie Rowell left her residence in Metairie, Louisiana, ostensibly for her job at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in New Orleans. She was last seen in the 6900 block of Veterans Boulevard. Regina, however, never arrived at work, and her family and friends never heard from her again. The initial days following her failure to show up for her job were filled with uncertainty and growing concern for her welfare. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a white female with strawberry blonde, shoulder-length hair that curled in the front, and blue eyes. She stood at 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed approximately 120 pounds. A notable physical characteristic was a four- to five-inch scar on one of her calves from a birthmark removal. She was believed to be wearing a blue sweater or blouse with a grey and green plaid skirt. The investigation into Regina's disappearance took a significant turn six days later, on March 16, 1981, when her car was discovered abandoned on the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish. The vehicle's engine was reportedly still running, and inside, authorities found her purse, wallet, and identification. This discovery led to the immediate theory that she may have taken her own life by jumping from the bridge, a conclusion that her siblings found difficult to accept, as it seemed contrary to her character. A witness reported seeing a woman near the railing of the bridge, but it could not be confirmed if this individual was Regina, nor what her subsequent actions were. For years, the case saw little progress, and with no body ever recovered, the prevailing assumption remained that she had died by suicide. This lack of concrete evidence or new leads left her family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. Decades after she vanished, the case remains unsolved, though not entirely dormant. In 2012, an anonymous tip was made to CrimeStoppers suggesting that Regina had been the victim of a crime on the morning she disappeared. While this information challenged the long-held suicide theory, a lack of official police reports from the time of her disappearance hampered any further investigation into this new lead. Without corroborating evidence, investigators were unable to move forward, and the suggestion of involving the FBI was made. Due to the absence of any definitive proof of her whereabouts or what became of her, Regina Marie Rowell was legally declared dead in 1987. The case of Regina's disappearance is a perplexing one, marked by a scarcity of information from the outset. The discovery of her running car with her personal effects inside on a major bridge initially pointed towards a possible suicide, yet the lack of a body and a family who doubted this conclusion leaves room for other possibilities. The later tip suggesting foul play introduced a new, albeit unverified, dimension to the mystery. The absence of early investigative reports has proven to be a significant obstacle, leaving a cold case that continues to be a source of pain and uncertainty for her loved ones.
Mar 10, 1981
Metairie
Louisiana
Jefferson Parish
No
90096
Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office
Harvey
Louisiana
Jefferson Parish
70058
Timothy Genevay
Investigator
2018 8th Street, Louisiana
5043659100
County
Coroner
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
8943
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
05/22/2026
