CA CA - Norma Houghland, 27, & sons Thomas, 9, & Richard, 6, Sacramento, 15 July 1978

[Alleykins]

I sent a message to the person who wrote the article about Norma and her sons, and asked if he could contact ask her sister to submit a DNA sample with the police dept. Even if she doesn't match this uid, maybe she has already been found elsewhere.

Excellent idea! I hope they get what they need so they can match or rule out these UP's and give Norma's family some closure.

 

[luxISlight]

I agree it does look like it could be her and the sketches of the boys may be off. It doesn't hurt to suggest it.

 

[Alleykins]

The Charley Project Blog recently did a "Flashback Friday" blog about Norma and her boys.
https://charleyross.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/flashback-friday-the-houghland-family/

 

[GirlMarlowe]

Bump. Are there any updates?

 

[GirlMarlowe]

There's a recent news clip about this case on YouTube. It's quick, but if you pause and take a look at the paper note presented on the screen, you can make a few things out.

What stood out to me the most was that Norma was stated to have phoned her mother at work a few times (on July 14th) and was "quite upset" - but her mother was busy and couldn't take the call immediately. What could she have been so upset about?

 

[ADKGemini]

Norma and her children are now in NamUs
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[MadMcGoo]

Was going to post this on “The Lime Lady”’s thread but I think I’m starting to see that Doe’s face in everyone!

Nonetheless, I’ve not heard of this case and think surely Norma and her boys have to be out there somewhere. I’m afraid to think of what happened to those precious boys if Norma is in fact a JD found alone.

“The Lime Lady”’s description matches Norma’s pretty spot on. The freckles, the teeth, I noticed the screenshot from a news report posted upthread and it looks like Norma had a mole near her clavicle like JD. It could be debris on the lens though, it’s difficult to tell. It might be worth looking through UID children found near there, possibly??

OK - Jones, WhtFem 255UFOK, 18-25, by river, dime embedded in body, Apr'80
(italicized are those of Norma)
Estimated Age Group: Adult - Pre 30
Estimated Age Range (Years): 18-25 (27)
Estimated Year of Death: 1979-1980 (1979)
Estimated PMI: Months
Height: 5' 6”- 5’7” (5’5”)
Weight: 115-120 lbs (135 lbs)
Hair Color: blonde or light brown - shoulder length (blonde)
Eye Color: Unknown (Hazel)
Scar/marks: Horizontal (possible appendectomy) scar on lower abdomen above the level of the pubic hair measuring 4cm by 1cm. Mole-left subclavian region.
Tattoos: Above left breast is a red & blue heart (1cm) with scroll line running through it.
Distinctive Physical Features: Fair complexion with freckles on her face and upper torso.


This is such a sad case. I hope they’re found someday!
•MMcG•

 

[GirlMarlowe]

Bumping.

 

[JnRyan]

Her page on The Charley Project added.

Norma Louise Houghland – The Charley Project

 

[Blue Rose]

I lived in a duplex in 1978 until Dec 1978 next door to two boys, a Ricky and a Tommy James that could be them. I never knew their last name. They would visit me to see my baby James. Tommy more than Ricky as Ricky play with the older boys across the street. Tommy wasn't allowed to cross the street. Tommy talk a lot. He didn't know where he lived before but 'far away'. Their mother wasn't friendly and looked nothing like Norma. Tommy told me "that isn't my real mom" His dad was a truck driver. His dad brought them to live in Ohio. This is really freaking me out since a YouTube video came on my time line. I even drove to the old neighborhood and the house they lived in was gone.. house fire. There has to be school records as Tommy was excited about school. My address was 996 B Buckeye St Warren, Ohio

 

[Alleykins]

I lived in a duplex in 1978 until Dec 1978 next door to two boys, a Ricky and a Tommy James that could be them. I never knew their last name. They would visit me to see my baby James. Tommy more than Ricky as Ricky play with the older boys across the street. Tommy wasn't allowed to cross the street. Tommy talk a lot. He didn't know where he lived before but 'far away'. Their mother wasn't friendly and looked nothing like Norma. Tommy told me "that isn't my real mom" His dad was a truck driver. His dad brought them to live in Ohio. This is really freaking me out since a YouTube video came on my time line. I even drove to the old neighborhood and the house they lived in was gone.. house fire. There has to be school records as Tommy was excited about school. My address was 996 B Buckeye St Warren, Ohio

If you suspect your old neighbors might be the Houghland boys, perhaps reach out to the investigators on this case?

 

[Blue Rose]

If you suspect your old neighbors might be the Houghland boys, perhaps reach out to the investigators on this case?

I tried.

 

[GirlMarlowe]

This is astonishing! Did they not take you seriously?

 

[Vanessa Jors]

I live close to sutterville, I started hearing about this story when I was a kid, and I've talked to the boys half sister who has searched for them for years. I think their dad has passed.

She's contacted sac pd they are pretty sure Norma and her kids had an accident and are in the river since it's right near normas place and back then there wasn't any barriers to keep cars from going in the water..

The sac pd said they don't have the resources to search the river for them and they are most likely not the only bodies in there, they basically told the sister that her brothers will never be laid to rest.

The sac pd never searched the river when they first went missing because they thought she ran away with her kids or left them with a stranger and fled. I contacted AWP diving team they can't help.

 

[Alleykins]

I live close to sutterville, I started hearing about this story when I was a kid, and I've talked to the boys half sister who has searched for them for years. I think their dad has passed.

She's contacted sac pd they are pretty sure Norma and her kids had an accident and are in the river since it's right near normas place and back then there wasn't any barriers to keep cars from going in the water..

The sac pd said they don't have the resources to search the river for them and they are most likely not the only bodies in there, they basically told the sister that her brothers will never be laid to rest.

The sac pd never searched the river when they first went missing because they thought she ran away with her kids or left them with a stranger and fled. I contacted AWP diving team they can't help.

Welcome aboard.
I think we all suspect she & her sons ended up in a body of water.
Did AWP say why they can't help?
I'm disappointed investigators won't even make an effort to find them, considering they misclassified their case in the beginning. I get it's expensive to do a water search. It was back then, too, but we have better tools to do water searches now, and FWIW, I think we can all agree someone owes Norma and her kids a look.

 

[Pennysmom1]

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/houghland-family---sacramento-california

Details:​

Norma Louise Houghland, age 27, and her two sons, 8-year-old Richard and 6-year-old Thomas, were last seen on the evening of July 11, 1978, at a relative’s house in Sacramento, California. They left the residence around 8:00 p.m. and were believed to be headed to their residence (also located in Sacramento). Norma drove a 1965 light blue Pontiac Lemans (CA Plate 254SBI, VIN: 237375K134785), which is also missing and has never been recovered. Family members, unable to contact Norma in the days following, responded to the family’s residence and found all of their belongings inside, including unopened mail and a welfare check. The Houghland family has not been seen or heard from since. Norma worked as a typist. She had cesarean scars on her abdomen and had a history of suicide attempts

 

[Pennysmom1]

Norma Louise Houghland – The Charley Project

• 
• 
• 

Norma, circa 1978

• Missing Since 07/15/1978
• Missing From Sacramento, California
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 02/04/1951 (72)
• Age 27 years old
• Height and Weight 5'5, 135 pounds
• 
  
• Clothing/Jewelry Description Unknown, but she often wears turquoise rings and bracelets.
• 
  
• Medical Conditions Norma may suffer from depression. She has a history of suicide attempts.
• 
  
• Associated Vehicle(s) Gold or light blue 1965 Pontiac LeMans with the California license plate number 254SBI and the vehicle identification number (VIN) 237375K134785
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Blonde hair, hazel eyes. Norma may use the last name Briggs. She has Caesarean section scars on her abdomen.

Details of Disappearance​

Norma and her sons, Thomas and Richard, disappeared from Sacramento, California on July 15, 1978. They didn't have air conditioning at home and during hot weather Norma would often take the children for rides in the car to stay cool. They may have done that on they day they disappeared.


Norma's ex-husband lived in Washington state and no one realized the family was missing for a week. Relatives went to the Houghlands' apartment on Sutterville Road and found it intact, with all their clothing and belongings inside and some dishes in the sink.


The children's bicycles were inside and there was an uncashed welfare check. The only thing that was missing was Norma's car, a gold or light blue 1965 Pontiac LeMans with the California license plate number 254SBI and the vehicle identification number (VIN) 237375K134785. It has never been found.


Norma's parents and one of her two sisters have since died, as have Thomas and Richard's father. The case remains unsolved and little information is available.

Investigating Agency​

• Sacramento Police Department 916-808-0560

Source Information​

• KCRA 3
• News 10
• Fox 40
• California Attorney General's Office
• NamUs
• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Federal Bureau of Investigation

Updated 9 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 19, 2022; distinguishing characteristics updated.

 

[renaebri]

I live close to sutterville, I started hearing about this story when I was a kid, and I've talked to the boys half sister who has searched for them for years. I think their dad has passed.

She's contacted sac pd they are pretty sure Norma and her kids had an accident and are in the river since it's right near normas place and back then there wasn't any barriers to keep cars from going in the water..

The sac pd said they don't have the resources to search the river for them and they are most likely not the only bodies in there, they basically told the sister that her brothers will never be laid to rest.

The sac pd never searched the river when they first went missing because they thought she ran away with her kids or left them with a stranger and fled. I contacted AWP diving team they can't help.

Did AWP give a reason they can't help? I know they have avoided foul play cases in the past but there doesn't seem to be an indication of that here. I believe they've done a lot of work in California recently.

 

[Vanessa Jors]

Did AWP give a reason they can't help? I know they have avoided foul play cases in the past but there doesn't seem to be an indication of that here. I believe they've done a lot of work in California recently.

No I guess they just don't want to get involved eventho the SPD most likely knows where they are in the water.