Left and Center: Carla circa, 1980
Right: Age Progressed to age 48
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 12, 1980
Missing From: Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: December 31, 1965
Age: 14 years old
Height and Weight: 5’3″ and 120 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Hazel eyes, Carla has epilepsy and as a result she suffers from seizures, she is required to take medication to control her condition, it is required that this medicine is refrigerated, Carla has a scar on her right knee
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A navy blue blouse with a Peter Pan collar and three white buttons, blue corduroy pants, Carla was wearing a silver turquoise ring and was carrying a brown knit purse
NCMEC Number: 765111
Details of Disappearance
Carla was last seen in Birmingham, Alabama during the night of August 12th 1980. She was last seen at her family’s house at the Eastwood public housing project on Airport Highway. She was with her mother and watching television until her mother went to bed. She never saw her daughter again.
Her mother woke up at approximately 4:30 am and discovered that the doors to their apartment were open, chairs in the living room had been pushed back, and a soft drink bottle had been overturned. There was no sign of Carla in the residence and all of her personal belongings including her money and medication had been left behind.
Carla’s new sandals were in the last place that she left them which was near her couch and her belt was found outside her front door. Investigators suspect that Carla was abducted by a non family member.
About a month before Carla’s disappearance, she was kidnapped and raped by a group of men. She was held and assaulted by them for 3 hours near Lake Purdy in Alabama. These men who abducted her went to her residence the week prior to her disappearance and attempted to get into her home but were unable to.
Investigators believe it’s possible that the incident might be related to Carla’s disappearance but they have little evidence to prove this. Apparently, no official report of the abduction and rape was made and it took investigators 18 years to uncover it. Apparently, Carla has information that could have gotten these men convicted.
Various individuals called Carla’s mother in the years after she disappeared and claimed they knew her fate and her whereabouts. She was the victim of various persons who attempted to compensate from her daughters disappearance. Carla’s sister has also received threats that she would be killed if she continues to search for her sister.
Carla’s family believes that the group of men were responsible for Carla’s disappearance and that they murdered her after they abducted her. Her mother believes she was sexually assaulted and killed not too long afterwards. Investigators have also received reports that Carla had been seen alive and well after her disappearance and was doing what she wanted to do.
At the time of Carla’s disappearance, she was about to start the 7th grade and was in good spirits. She was very close to her sister who had moved out of the family home by then. She and Carla spoke on the phone regularly and had a specific time when they would do so. Her sister does not believe that Carla ran off because she would have contacted someone by now.
Several years after Carla disappeared, her mother had her legally declared deceased and apparently a suspect in her case revealed that he knew her fate but later recanted his statements.
Carla’s disappearance remains unsolved and is classified as a non family abduction. Foul play is suspected.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Birmingham Police Department 205-933-4189
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children