Left: Debra circa, 1981
Right: Age Progressed to age 38
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 29, 1981
Missing From: Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: March 29, 1969
Age: 12 years old
Height and Weight: 5’3″ and 115 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Blonde hair, Hazel eyes, Debra has a birthmark on her ankle, it’s reportedly sized like a half-dollar, Debra was rumored to be pregnant at the time of her disappearance but this has not been confirmed
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A pair of blue jeans and blue sneakers
NCMEC Number: 600785
Details of Disappearance
Debra Cole was last seen on August 29th of 1981 in Lebanon, Indiana at approximately 11:00 am. She was last known to be at her family’s residence with her mother’s live in boyfriend, Omer R. Beebout. She vanished during the day and was never seen again.
Debras mother reported her missing on August 31st 1981, 2 days after her disappearance. Debra left all of her personal items behind.
Authorities initially classified the case as that of a runaway. In 1983, her case was reclassified as a missing person with probable foul play after her sister, Frances, disappeared and was later found murdered. Frances went missing on October 4th of 1983. She was found dead 3 days afterwards along US 52. She was raped and killed by a gun shot to the back. She apparently died on October 7th even though she vanished on October 4th.
Omer was named as a possible suspect in Frances’s murder. In addition to that, he became a top suspect in Debras abduction in 1981. A semen specimen was recovered from Frances’s body in 1983. In 1999, Beebout’s DNA was compared to semen and it matched, proving he murdered Frances. He was not charged as he died in April of 1989 at age 49 from a heart attack.
Authorities suspect that Omer was responsible for Debras presumed murder. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Lebanon Police Department 317-482-2280
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children