Norma Maynard (Courtesy Iowa Dept. of Public Safety)

Norma Maynard (Courtesy Iowa Dept. of Public Safety)

Norma Mae Maynard

Missing Person

Name: Norma Mae (Schlicht) Maynard
Age at Report:
61
DOB:
September 2, 1917
Weight:
175 lbs.
Height:
5’03”
Hair:
Grey
Eyes:
Blue
Incident Type:
Involuntary disappearance
Missing From: Boone, IA
Boone County
Investigating Agencies: Boone Police Department
and
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Boone Police Department Case Number:
79936
Iowa DCI Case Number:
9002361
NCIC Number:
M-412296838
NamUs MP Number:
17124
Missing Since:
February 3, 1979

 
Norma Mae Maynard, 61, vanished under mysterious circumstances from Boone Iowa, on February 3, 1979, just two weeks after her husband’s death.

Boone County in Iowa
Boone County in Iowa
 
Boone in Boone CountyBoone in Boone County

Maynard’s son, Carl Edward Maynard, told police his mother took a bus and left the area, although Mrs. Maynard was not known to use buses as a form of transportation.

At the time she went missing, Mrs. Maynard was described as a 5-foot-3 white female weighing 175 pounds. She had grey hair and blue eyes.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety Missing Person Information Clearinghouse lists her incident type as “Involuntary Disappearance,” meaning a person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating that the disappearance was not voluntary — i.e. an abduction or kidnapping.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) states that dental information and charting for Mrs. Maynard is available and entered.

A DNA sample has been submitted and tests are complete.

norma-maynard-headstone-findagraveCourtesy photo grave walker, findagrave.com
Norma Maynard has a headstone in Boone Memorial Gardens Cemetery, though her grave is empty.
About Norma Maynard

Norma Mae Maynard was born Sept. 2, 1917.

She married Carl Emmet Maynard (DOB Aug. 20, 1914) on June 15, 1948 and they had one son, Carl Edward Maynard.

Norma’s husband Carl — a 64-year-old World War II veteran who served in the US Army — died at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on January 19, 1979.

carl-maynard-headstone-findagraveCourtesy photo grave walker, findagrave.com
Carl Maynard died just two weeks before his wife mysteriously vanished.

Two weeks later, Norma vanished under suspicious circumstances.

Mr. Maynard was laid to rest at Boone Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Boone, Iowa.

Relatives later erected a headstone for Norma, though her remains have never been recovered.

Information Needed

If you have any information regarding Norma Maynard’s mysterious disappearance or death, please contact Commander John Sloter at the Boone Police Department at 515-432-3456 or Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Michael Motsinger at (515) 725-0030.

Sources:

 

15 Responses to Norma Maynard

  1. Anon says:

    Could she be the Vernon County Jane Doe?

    • Deepdish EClaire says:

      I thought so at one time, but I spoke to the detective working Vernon County Doe and this woman from Iowa was ruled out due to dna. Yes, it’s a striking resemblance.

  2. Eyes On says:

    Has anyone ruled out if Norma could be the “Belle in the Well” Jane Doe found in WV?

    • Kate says:

      Hi,
      Idk, if you know this already but Belle in the Well was identified as Louise Flescher in July of ’19. That is a very good guess, though. Age, describrion, and time were close.

  3. Patrick Kerrigan says:

    In my research of missing persons, I came across an article about a missing woman from New Jersey. She had been rejected by a Muslim that she wanted to marry.

    She had a breakdown and was placed in a psychiatric facility. Her sister and M.D., had her released and brought to her home in N.J., and the sister fled within 15 minutes of her arrival.

    Her sister said that Renee had a case of ‘Dissociative Fugue’, which is psychological disorder. This disorder causes amnesia, where the person completely forgets their name, and flees the area of the severe emotional stress.

    The 1st documented case of this in the U.S. was in 1880’s. The person is identified as Ansel Bourne. There are more cases of this documented on-line over the years.

    It appears to be triggered by a death in the family, marital discord, and PTSD. One guy in Australia disappeared for about 23 years. He was found because he regained some of his memory and registered for their version of Medicare.

    I recommend the stories of Hannah Upp, who disappeared at least three times with this disorder. Also, the story of Jody Roberts from Washington. She was found by the investigators in Alaska. Her parents were surprised to find she was married and they were grandparents. She had been missing for 12 years and had not recovered her memories.

    So, this could explain her disappearance. Especially the death of her husband, would be a trigger as the medical community suggests.

    • Patrick Kerrigan says:

      I read excerpts online of a book by Norma brother Sydney Louis, who lived in Texas. He lists all his evidence that his nephew Carl Maynard, the chief of police in Boone, his nephews attorney’s, and the Iowa circuit court system for the disappearance of his sister.

      He believes that Carl Maynard was most likely involved in the murder of his mother. Sydney, mentions that in May 1980, Carl was starting the process to declare his mother dead. He also became the conservator and the executor of her estate.

      Also, he claims that the disappearance of his sister was not properly investigated or no mention of her disappearance was mentioned in the local media. Sydney, would have been mote involved in the case. But, he was taking care of his mother for almost 20 years, who was suffering with dementia.

      He found out in 1988, that his sister had been declared legally dead in 1986. He also brings problems with Carl’s reports about parent’s assets. He spent money on the family home that would not have raised the dollar value of the home in that part of Boone.

      Also, after his father is dead and his mother has disappeared he gets married to a woman, who it appears from a poor background, who she may have assumed that Carl Maynard had some money. Also, he suggests that Carl, who supposedly has an AA degree in welding never seemed to get a job in that field.

      Sydney, is the one who suggested that Carl and his wife move to Texas, as there was plenty of work in that field. Also, there was another brother of Norma, identified as Sam, who still lived in Iowa.

      Also he does not believe that Norma, would buy a bus ticket to California. There were other comments about stuff that Carl did that was not normal for him.

  4. LouAnn Larson (Ahrens) says:

    Can I ask if they believe she disappeared in Boone and where exactly is the house. I grew up in Boone and graduated in 1982.

  5. tina says:

    the bus ticket went as far as Colorado… any proof she actually boarded the bus? sad.. someone hurt her.

  6. Jody Ewing says:

    Jim, thanks so much for the information. We'd been told the house had been razed, but I've since deleted that information. I appreciate your having taken time to share your thoughts!

  7. Jim Crouse says:

    He died on the operating table. his wife had signed the permission papers for them to replace a blocked artery. She became depressed after his death thinking it was her fault he died. She and her husband were very close and always traveled together. She never had a diver's license since he was her main means of transportation. She did buy a bus ticket that took her as far as Colorado. After that, she disappeared. Social Security wouldn't give out any information as to whether she was receiving benefits in another state. She did have a brother living in Texas and that was where her son, Ed, thought she had gone. She never showed up there and she never surfaced again.
    The house she and her husband lived in has not been razed. It's still standing and as a matter of fact, the letter 'M' is still on the screen door.

  8. Nate Isolini says:

    Was Carl Maynard poisoned. That might be. Should exzom. The body for a forensic team.

    • Jim says:

      He died on the operating table. his wife had signed the permission papers for them to replace a blocked artery. She became depressed after his death thinking it was her fault he died. She and her husband were very close and always traveled together. She never had a diver’s license since he was her main means of transportation. She did buy a bus ticket that took her as far as Colorado. After that, she disappeared. Social Security wouldn’t give out any information as to whether she was receiving benefits in another state. She did have a brother living in Texas and that was where her son, Ed, thought she had gone. She never showed up there and she never surfaced again.
      The house she and her husband lived in has not been razed. It’s still standing and as a matter of fact, the letter ‘M’ is still on the screen door.

      • Bigfoothunter says:

        The house is said to be haunted

        • Tammy says:

          As current occupant I can say the house is haunted, but in a good way. My husband has seen her twice sitting on the edge of the bed looking at me. Although I’ve never seen Norma I credit her for keeping our children asleep at night when they were younger. A couple times I would walk into their bedroom and the rocking chair would be moving. I always said thank you Norma and went back to bed.

          And yes, we left the letter “M” on the screen door since her presence is still there. Both cats that we have owned seem to see Norma. Our first one used to run into walls chasing her. Our current cat seems to follow her around the house.

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