Left and Center: Donna, circa 1981;
Right: Age-progression at age 37 (circa 2004)
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: March 18, 1981 from Lexington, North Carolina Classification: Endangered Missing Date Of Birth: April 19, 1967 Age: 13 years old Height and Weight: 5'7, 125 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Donna has a mole or a birthmark on her right arm. She is of Native American descent. Clothing/Jewelry Description: A dark blue jacket, an orange sweatshirt and jeans.
Details of Disappearance
Donna left her family's residence in Lexington, North Carolina on March 18, 1981 at approximately 8:30 p.m. She was planning to walk to a friend's home nearby. She was last seen walking on on Hemstead Street Donna contacted her friend shortly thereafter, but she never arrived at the house and has not been heard from again.Donna's two-year-old sister, Anita Barnhill, died in February 1966. Her family said she had fallen out of a high chair and hit her head, and her death was ruled an accident. In 1999, a reporter looking into Donna's disappearance became suspicious about Anita's death and urged police to reopen the investigation. Authorities reclassified Anita's death as a homicide by child abuse. No one has been charged in connection with the child's murder, however. Police stated the investigation into Anita's death does not change Donna's missing persons case.
Foul play is possible in Donna's case. It remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
Source Information
Updated 3 times since October 12, 2004.
Last updated November 24, 2007; picture added, details of disappearance updated.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Lexington Police Department
336-249-8947
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
Child Protection Education Of America
North Carolina Missing Persons
The Doe Network
The Winston-Salem Journal