Nancy Zoe Dennis
- Missing Since 07/04/2004
- Missing From Franklin, Arizona
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Sex Female
- Race Native American
- Date of Birth 04/13/1959 (63)
- Age 45 years old
- Height and Weight 5'4, 145 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description A shirt with a floral design.
- Medical Conditions Dennis has an unspecified medical condition.
- Associated Vehicle(s) Red 1998 Ford pickup truck (accounted for)
- Distinguishing Characteristics Native American female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Dennis's hair was dyed blonde at the time of her disappearance. Her front teeth are either blackened or missing. She as two tattoos: a butterfly on her left shoulder and a cross with a rose in the center on her right ankle.
Details of Disappearance
Dennis was last seen at approximately 7:00 p.m. on July 4, 2004, leaving Safford, Arizona on her way to Duncan, Arizona.Later that evening, her red 1998 Ford pickup truck was involved in a high-speed chase in Duncan four miles south of U.S. 70 in a very hilly desert area. A possible suspect, not Dennis, was driving the vehicle. It was later found abandoned in Franklin, Arizona. There was no sign of Dennis at the scene. Her case remains unsolved.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.
www.namus.gov
Alabama cops capture man wanted in Greenlee case
- By Walter Mares, news editor
- Jul 28, 2004
Greenlee County Sheriff Richard McCluskey said Terry Dale Wright, 36, has been apprehended by Cullman County Sheriff's officers and is being held in custody there. Wright was arrested Thursday, July 22. McCluskey received word of the arrest early the following morning.
Wright is wanted on an Arizona Department of Corrections warrant for violating parole.
McCluskey said Wright faces possible felony flight, endangerment and reckless driving charges in Greenlee County. Foremost, authorities want to question Wright about the disappearance of Nancy Dennis, who has not been seen since July 4.
The sheriff said Wright is the last person Dennis, 45, was seen with before her disappearance.
"Right now we are treating this as a missing persons case," McCluskey said. "We and her family are very concerned that she has not been seen or heard from since July 4. The family is distraught. They are totally lost. We're going on the premise she is still alive. I have no information to say she's not."
Events leading to Dennis' disappearance seem somewhat unclear other than Dennis may have been in a pickup truck driven by Wright. The vehicle was found abandoned in rugged terrain in Deer Canyon, about five miles west of Franklin near the Arizona-New Mexico state line.
McCluskey said an intensive but unsuccessful search has been conducted in the area in which the truck was found.
The sheriff said on July 23, "For 18 days we've been searching, looking for her. We've had our search and rescue, horse patrol, trucks, aircraft and dogs searching. We're still tracking down all leads. Some of our officers have made multiple trips of Greenlee County to examine all leads."
Greenlee Sheriff's deputy Bill Tuey, who is heading the investigation, emphasized that authorities consider Dennis' disappearance a missing persons case. "She is not in any trouble. She's done nothing wrong. She's not wanted for anything other than to verify her safety and well-being. Her family is deeply concerned about her," Tuey said.
Dennis' family has begun circulating flyers with her photograph and other information. McCluskey said the flyers are being circulated in Greenlee, Graham and Cochise counties.
Wright was released from Arizona state prison on April 12. He did time for crimes ranging from misconduct with weapons, theft and burglary. Tuey said Cullman County authorities will turn Wright over to Arizona prison officials for the parole violation charge.
Agencies cooperate
McCluskey said his department has received solid cooperation from the Graham County Sheriff's office, the Graham Drug Task Force, Safford Police, Bureau of Land Management and Pima County K-9 teams.
Wright was thought to be hiding in Graham County, which borders Greenlee, and Greenlee officers have been examining leads in Graham relating to Dennis.
"They have helped us tremendously," Tuey said of the Graham and Safford agencies. "They have provided us with interview rooms and videotaping. They have even gone out and actually brought someone in that we need to interview. Their cooperation has been just absolutely outstanding."
McCluskey said anyone with information on Dennis' whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at 865-4149. He said callers may remain anonymous if they wish.
Alabama cops capture man wanted in Greenlee case
A former convict wanted for questioning in the disappearance of a Duncan woman has been arrested in Alabama.
www.eacourier.com
