AZ AZ - Dorothy Clitheroe, 14, Phoenix, 20 Sept 1973

[Richard]

50 years missing:

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe, age 14, Missing since 20 September 1973

LINK:

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe – The Charley Project

 

[Deleted member 300796]

I think you're right. I still wonder why Houston, Texas and Portland, Oregon specifically though. There's just not a lot to go on.

Dorothy and her family had recently moved from Oregon to Texas and she was not happy in Texas. She also had a boyfriend in Oregon who has been named as a person of interest in her disappearance. Her case was reopened as a possible foul play investigation and is currently active.

 

[Deleted member 300796]

I would be interested to know who she was with and who saw her last. Is there any information on her parents? I haven’t been able to find anything on them at all. Have any connections been made between her case and the Leslie sisters?

EDIT
It was determined that Dorothy's case is an isolated incident and therefore unrelated to any other missing persons in that area. Her parents have kept a low profile publically, but have never stopped looking for her. one family member has worked extensively in recent years to get LE to investigate her case and as a result they have done extensive interviews.

 

[Richard]

Dorothy Mildred “Dotty” Clitheroe​

BIRTH 6 Aug 1959
DEATH (presumed) 20 Sep 1973 (aged 14)
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Burial Details Unknown

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe was a fourteen year old girl who resided in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late summer of 1973. Nothing is truly known about her life leading up to her disappearance, nor much about the circumstances of her disappearance in general- she was there, and then suddenly, she was gone. Dorothy was last seen walking towards the restrooms at Cortez park on September 20, 1973, near Dunlap Road and 35th Avenue around 6:30 p.m. She was wearing blue bell bottom jeans, and a white tank top with a multi-colored, upside down tear drop pattern. She was described as standing 5'3" and weighing 130 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. Dorothy had thick glasses and had pierced ears...

LINK:

Dorothy Mildred “Dotty” Clitheroe (1959-1973) -...

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe was a fourteen year old girl who resided in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late summer of 1973. Nothing is truly known about her life leading up to her disappearance, nor much about the circumstances of her disappearance in general- she was there, and then suddenly, she was...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Diane Redfern]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Has this UID been ruled out?

 

[Fallon]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Has this UID been ruled out?

No rule outs. UID does have DNA available.

1128UFAZ

 

[Deleted member 300796]

Dorothy Mildred “Dotty” Clitheroe​

BIRTH 6 Aug 1959
DEATH (presumed) 20 Sep 1973 (aged 14)
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Burial Details Unknown

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe was a fourteen year old girl who resided in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late summer of 1973. Nothing is truly known about her life leading up to her disappearance, nor much about the circumstances of her disappearance in general- she was there, and then suddenly, she was gone. Dorothy was last seen walking towards the restrooms at Cortez park on September 20, 1973, near Dunlap Road and 35th Avenue around 6:30 p.m. She was wearing blue bell bottom jeans, and a white tank top with a multi-colored, upside down tear drop pattern. She was described as standing 5'3" and weighing 130 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. Dorothy had thick glasses and had pierced ears...

LINK:

Dorothy Mildred “Dotty” Clitheroe (1959-1973) -...

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe was a fourteen year old girl who resided in Phoenix, Arizona, in the late summer of 1973. Nothing is truly known about her life leading up to her disappearance, nor much about the circumstances of her disappearance in general- she was there, and then suddenly, she was...

www.findagrave.com

There is actually a very extensive police file with a lot of information. It is available if you send a FOIA request. Dorothy’s brother pushed very hard to get her case investigated a few years ago. They have a suspect.

They have ruled out any connections to serial killers as well as the Alcala Photo. They believe it is an isolated case and possibly someone she knew.

 

[theshadow45]

Today is Dorothy’s birthday.

 

[spartanx]

I really wish there was more information on this case... at first glance it doesn't seem like a runaway situation (walking to a bathroom in a park with no money, wallet, etc. while wearing only jeans and a tank top).. but then there's a strange note saying she could have been in Portland or Houston, for which there's no context... I just don't know...
I suspect she unfortunately crossed paths with another horrible human being that day but I would really like more information on who she was with that day... for example it would be very different if she was having a picnic with her family or if she was with a group of troublemakers smoking "weed" (as they said back then). I would also like to know how quickly she was reported missing... beautiful girl full of life...
either way
rest in peace

 

[Deleted member 300796]

I really wish there was more information on this case... at first glance it doesn't seem like a runaway situation (walking to a bathroom in a park with no money, wallet, etc. while wearing only jeans and a tank top).. but then there's a strange note saying she could have been in Portland or Houston, for which there's no context... I just don't know...
I suspect she unfortunately crossed paths with another horrible human being that day but I would really like more information on who she was with that day... for example it would be very different if she was having a picnic with her family or if she was with a group of troublemakers smoking "weed" (as they said back then). I would also like to know how quickly she was reported missing... beautiful girl full of life...
either way
rest in peace

There is a huge case file on her, if you send a FOIA to the PD handling her case they will send it to you

 

[theshadow45]

Dorothy has been missing for 51 years today.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Have you seen this child? Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe

Missing From: Phoenix, AZ. Missing Date: September 20, 1973. Dorothy's photo is shown age-progressed to 55 years. She was last seen on September 20, 1973 at Cortez Park in Phoenix, Arizona. She was wearing Levi bell bottom jeans and a white tank top with a pattern of upside down multi-colored...

www.missingkids.org

https://www.phoenix.gov/policesite/Documents/088029.pdf

Missing Person / NamUs #MP3855

View NamUs missing person case MP3855 for Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe missing from Phoenix, Arizona. Date of last contact: Sep 20, 1973. NCMEC case number: 942383.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe – The Charley Project

932DFAZ - Dorothy Mildred Clitheroe

Right 2: Age-Progressed by NCMEC to 49 years old; 55 years

 

[Pennysmom1]

@Caring1 would you mind posting any ruleouts?

 

[Caring1]

@Caring1 would you mind posting any ruleouts?

26 Unidentified Person Exclusions

 

[Grimm1123]

I did post this a long time ago but I can't find the post.
These are two photographs found in the storage locker of serial killer Rodney Alcala.
These pictures look like Dorothy and I recall years ago I emailed authorities about this.
The color distortion is the original color.

 

[Grimm1123]

Here is an AI enhanced picture of Rodney Alcala's photo and Dorothy. The resemblance is astonishing.
Rodney Alcala did take photographs of young women in parks. And this does look like the young woman he took photos of is in a park.
Dorothy was said to be wearing a white tank top and jeans. Rodney's photo is showing a girl in white with jean shorts.
I hope this helps.

 

[Tower]

Here is an AI enhanced picture of Rodney Alcala's photo and Dorothy. The resemblance is astonishing.
Rodney Alcala did take photographs of young women in parks. And this does look like the young woman he took photos of is in a park.
Dorothy was said to be wearing a white tank top and jeans. Rodney's photo is showing a girl in white with jean shorts.
I hope this helps.

According to post #47 above, the police have an extensive file and any association with Alcala has been ruled out, per their information. IMO, it sounds like the police suspect a known contact but likely don’t have enough evidence to pursue an arrest.

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Dorothy’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Dorothy has been missing for 52 years today.