On May 12, 1977, 36-year-old Joan Kitson, a resident of Tonawanda, New York, completed her workday in the auditing department at Sister's Hospital in Buffalo. She was seen on this Thursday afternoon, punching her timecard at approximately 4:40 p.m. before she left the building. Joan, a wife and mother to teenage children, was expected back at her home, but she never arrived.
Her family grew worried when she failed to return, and their concern deepened when they discovered she had not taken any extra money or personal belongings with her, signaling that her absence was not planned. The following day, a paycheck waited for her, but it would go unclaimed.
The initial investigation into Joan's disappearance began with a troubling discovery in the hospital's parking garage. Her 1972 sedan was found, but it offered no clues as to her whereabouts; the car was locked and undisturbed. This perplexing detail left investigators and her loved ones with more questions than answers. Authorities explored various theories in their search for Joan. One line of speculation was that she may have been abducted as she was getting ready to leave her job. Another grim theory suggested the possibility that her remains could have been disposed of in the hospital's incinerator, but a thorough search of the incinerator yielded no evidence to support this.
For decades, the disappearance of Joan Kitson has remained an open and unsolved case, leaving a void in the lives of her family and community. The Tonawanda Town Police Department has kept the investigation active, hoping for new information or a break in the case that might finally bring answers. Despite the passage of time, the search for Joan continues, with law enforcement open to DNA comparisons and any new leads that may emerge. The case serves as a somber reminder of a day that began like any other but ended in mystery, leaving a family to wonder what happened to their loved one after she left work.Last Seen: May 12, 1977
