KS KS - Beverly Ward, 13, Junction City, 4 July 1978

[Laughing]

Late to this, but:



It appears in this article from the Junction City Daily Union.

hmmm, was that a staged distraction???

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[cenazoic]

Right?? It’s hard not to read it that way. Also weird that B’s sister woke up the friend, who didn’t wake up Beverly, and everyone just ran out of the house.

 

[Bbgiraffe]

Just a few days from the 45th anniversary of this terribly sad mystery. Bumping for Beverly. Let's hope the anniversary brings something out of the woodwork that helps find her.

 

[Aurora90]

Was Beverly missing any running shoes? Or was she barefoot.

I haven’t seen any mention of footsteps outside her bedroom, but surely there must have been. Even if someone were to lift her, there had to have at least been one set. If she was actually kidnapped that is.

The reason I got to thinking about this was because I found this Jane Doe in Fort Worth Texas. She was found in August of 1980.

She was a black female, 5’3, 120 pounds, late teens/early adult. She was found wearing a green terrycloth bodysuit, black underwear, and track shoes.

I know that Beverly was seen in a green nightgown, in fact I think it’s what she’s wearing in her NAMUS profile picture.

But could it have been something like…

l know it’s a long shot, but no harm no foul. Tip submitted.

 

[Bbgiraffe]

Was Beverly missing any running shoes? Or was she barefoot.

I haven’t seen any mention of footsteps outside her bedroom, but surely there must have been. Even if someone were to lift her, there had to have at least been one set. If she was actually kidnapped that is.

The reason I got to thinking about this was because I found this Jane Doe in Fort Worth Texas. She was found in August of 1980.

She was a black female, 5’3, 120 pounds, late teens/early adult. She was found wearing a green terrycloth bodysuit, black underwear, and track shoes.

I know that Beverly was seen in a green nightgown, in fact I think it’s what she’s wearing in her NAMUS profile picture.
View attachment 508480

But could it have been something like…

View attachment 508482


l know it’s a long shot, but no harm no foul. Tip submitted.

Beverly is reported as being a little shorter than this but you just never know until you try. There is not much available information about what the police found at the scene or via their investigation. I have thought about doing a KORA open record request for info but I feel like it is an open investigation so I doubt they would give anything.

Thank you for thinking of her.

 

[Caring1]

4 Unidentified Person Exclusions

 

[Diane Redfern]

I wonder what type of altercation was and if it may have been just a distraction.

 

[Alaric86]

Article from the Washington Times with a little info about potentential suspects. Nothing concrete.

1978 disappearance of 13-year-old still a mystery

Beverly Ward was 13 years old. She was born and raised in Junction City.

web.archive.org

TBH, I don't understand why the family was ruled out? It doesn't seem plausible that the entire family, except for Beverly, went outside to see about a brick being thrown into a neighbor's window. Also, it takes time to cut out a screen, enter a window, grab a 13 yo and either carry her out of the window, or quietly subdue her so that she leaves cooperatively. It seems to me that more than one person was involved in the abduction or the family was involved/complicit. Someone made a very good point about knowing the color of underwear she was wearing. It suggests personal knowledge. It could have been the sleepover friend who knew it, but that's unusual for a 9yo to pay attention to that kind of detail.

I read on Reddit that the family belonged to a church that may be sketchy with regard to the treatment of children.

If there are eight children and at least some are living, why is DNA listed as unknown? Has LE not requested a sample or have they requested and been denied?

 

[Alaric86]

Posting another article to keep Beverly on our minds.​

​

Police ask FBI to help investigate girl's 1978 kidnapping​

Posted: Jan 25, 2018 6:32 AM CUTUpdated: Jan 25, 2018 6:32 AM CUT
written by Associated Press

Beverly Ward
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) -
Police are asking the FBI to investigate the nearly 40-year-old disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from the bedroom of her Junction City home.

The Daily Union in Junction City reports that Beverly Ward was reported missing in the early morning hours of July 4, 1978. Police believe a suspect came in through the bedroom window, cutting the screen and throwing it aside. Ward was wearing a green night gown when she disappeared.

She was planning on attending a summer camp that day. Her bags were packed, and her money was where she left it. Nothing else was taken.

Junction City Police Capt. Trish Giordano recently asked the FBI to look into the case. The department is waiting for a response and urging anyone with information to call police.

 

[mlhenn]

MISSING - Beverly Ann Ward | Solve the Case

Beverly was last seen at her single-story home in the 200 block of west 11th Street in Junction City, Kansas on July 4, 1978. A young friend was staying over on the night she disappeared and was sleeping in another bed in the same room.

www.solvethecase.org