Barbara Louise Cotton

1 AP
Left: Cotton, circa 1981;
Right: Age-progression at age 42 (circa 2007)

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Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

  • Missing Since: April 11, 1981 from Williston, North Dakota
  • Classification: Endangered Missing
  • Date Of Birth: November 10, 1965
  • Age: 15 years old
  • Height and Weight: 5'2, 100 pounds
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Cotton's ears are pierced, and her left ear is slightly lower than her right ear. She has a mole on the upper right side of her chest. Cotton has a pronounced "S" curve in her spine, which causes her to walk with a slight limp. She smoked cigarettes in 1981. Cotton wears eyeglasses, but left hers behind she disappeared. Her teeth were in excellent condition at the time of her disappearance.
  • Clothing/Jewelry Description: A blouse, jeans and loafers.

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    Details of Disappearance

    Cotton was last seen leaving a restaurant on Main Street in her hometown of Williston, North Dakota during the evening hours of April 11, 1981. She has never been heard from again. She did not take her clothes, eyeglasses, cigarettes, money, or any other personal belongings with her when she disappeared. She also left behind a paycheck from work. Her younger brother stated he was very close to Cotton and she never told him of any plans to leave home.

    Cotton's case was originally investigated as a runaway case and a missing persons report was not filed for several days as a result. Authorities now believe that Cotton may have been abducted, but the prime suspect in her disappearance, a former boyfriend of Cotton's, is now deceased. Her case is considered open and unsolved.

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    Investigating Agency
    If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
    Williston Police Department
    701-572-2197

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    Source Information
    The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
    The E-clipse Network
    APB News
    California Attorney General's Office
    The Grand Forks Herald
    The Doe Network

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    Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004.

    Last updated January 11, 2008; age-progression updated.

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