Name: Ruth Purcell Murphree Dorsey
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: August 17, 1974
Location Last Seen: Opelika, Lee County, Alabama
Date of Birth: July 21, 1905
Age: 69 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 105 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown, light
Eye Color: Gray
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Not Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Not Available
Clothing: Flowered blouse, long brown skirt/pants or green jeans and a top
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Ruth Purcell Murphree Dorsey was last seen in Opelika. She visited the Spring Villa Grocery between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. and got gasoline for her car, a 1972 Ford Galaxy. Dorsey told the gas station attendant that a relative had called her and she was going to pick the person up.
One of Dorsey's neighbors reported seeing her turn into her driveway at 6:00 p.m. She has not been seen since. She was reported missing after she failed to arrive at church the next day.
When authorities went to Dorsey's home on Route 1 in Opelika, they found the front door open and a side door unlocked. Laundry was hanging on the outside clothesline, her Bible and Sunday school teaching materials were laid out on the table, and her bed did not appear to have been slept in. Her three dogs were found in the bathroom. There was no indication that Ruth had eaten an evening meal on Saturday or breakfast on Sunday. A neighbor reported seeing Ruth's outdoor lights on around 11 p.m. and her usually bedtime was around 8:30 or 9.
Ruth's nearest neighbor and friend disagrees with the report that her friend was wearing a brown skirt or pants and a flowered blouse because they were hanging up as though she had taken them off after getting home. She typically wore jeans and a shirt when at home and her neighbor believes she may have been wearing her green jeans.
Dorsey's car was found in downtown Opelika near the First Baptist Church after her disappearance. The keys were in the ignition and her eyeglasses and purse were on the front seat. Nothing appeared to be missing from the purse and it contained $11 in cash. There have been no withdrawals from Dorsey's account since she disappeared.
Agency Name: Lee County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Det. Kevin Durick
Agency Phone Number: 334-749-5651
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: 4796
NamUs
The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, AL) - September 1, 1974
Added: 6/15/06; Last Updated: 9/12/21 - By: Admin
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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