Left and Center: Martha circa, 1987
Right: Age Progressed to age 40
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: April 15, 1987
Missing From: White Bluff, Dickson County, Tennessee
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: February 24, 1970
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’6″ and 120 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Green eyes, Martha has a birthmark on her chest and has had her 4 wisdom teeth removed, her ears are also pierced and she wore brown tinted contact lenses which is why various missing children agencies list her eyes as being brown, Martha may use her middle name “Leanne”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white sweatshirt, mid-calf length faded jeans, Martha was wearing white high top Reebok Sneakers when she disappeared
NCMEC Number: 601576
Details of Disappearance
Martha Green was last seen in White Bluff, Tennessee on April 15th 1987. She was picked up by her twin brother, Lawson Green, from Holiday Inn a long Highway 46 where she worked as a greeter after school. At some point while the two were driving, the car ran out of gas near Fabric Road.
Lawson and Martha were assisted by a family who were returning home from church. They took Lawson to purchase gas for the car, Martha said she wanted to stay behind in the car alone. Martha has vanished from the vehicle when the family and Lawson returned to the vehicle less then 10 minutes later. Martha’s handbag was still in the car as well as the keys to drive it. Martha has never been seen or heard from since.
While there were no visible signs of a struggle, it only took days until authorities believed that Green was the victim of an abduction. One unidentified vehicle was spotted in the area when Martha disappeared. It was described as a rust or wine colored Ford. It’s unknown of the vehicle was involved in her disappearance.
Authorities have pursued various leads and suspects but none ever panned out. Robert McKinley Richards is considered the prime suspect in Martha’s disappearance. He was imprisoned on rape charges in Florida after her disappearance. He led investigators to several places that he said was the place he buried Martha. Her body was never found. He was murdered in prison and was never charged in Martha’s case.
Martha’s disappearance remains unsolved and is one of Dickson County’s longest unsolved mysteries.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Dickson County Sheriffs Office 615-789-4130
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 615-952-4989
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The SUNDAY Tennessean 04/19/1987