Barbara was last seen on May 17, 2002, after meeting with her husband of 27 years, David Charles Waldron, at their home on Northwest Lambert Road in Portland, Oregon to discuss their finances. A photograph of David is posted below this case summary. Barbara and David were estranged at the time of her disappearance; she had reportedly been contemplating divorcing him for years. She had moved out of their home a month before she vanished and was living with a friend in Beaverton, Oregon. She was supposed to have met her business partner that afternoon but never showed up. Barbara's friend whom she was living with reported her missing on May 21, four days after she was last seen. She was employed as a social worker at the time of her disappearance.

David was almost immediately identified as a suspect in Barbara's disappearance. Police have taken a sample of his DNA, and have searched his home and two cars. The only thing they found were animal remains and some trace amounts of blood on a pillow in the bedroom. David says Barbara left their house with a friend of hers that he did not know. Her 1998 Chrysler Sebring convertible was found parked at the residence and her purse with her car keys, wallet, identification, and credit cards was found hidden behind some books on a bookcase in the home. David told police he did not have the key's to Barbara's car, but one of his sons saw him driving it the day after her disappearance.

Police say David has been uncooperative in the investigation. For three days after Barbara's disappearance he could not be located; he was eventually found in a motel in Washington County. He had cuts on his legs and stomach. David was indicted and charged with her murder in May 2004. He has no criminal record or any prior history of violent behavior.

In May 2005, a year after his indictment, David pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter in connection with Barbara's case. A no contest plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that there is enough evidence to convict if the case should go to trial. David was sentenced to more than six years in prison. He stated that he was innocent and took the plea to spare his and Barbara's adult children the ordeal of watching a trial.

Barbara has not been located. Foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.

Above: David Waldron