Sarah Burton
Sarah Elizabeth Burton was 29 years old when she vanished from Joplin, Missouri on July 16, 2018. She had been dropped off just after midnight near 10th Street and Rex Avenue, a short walk from her parents’ home.
She left behind her purse and one of her shoes in the car that brought her there, small details that suggested she planned to return quickly. But she never arrived, and no one has seen or heard from her since.
Five days earlier, Sarah had been involved in a car accident in Pittsburg, Kansas that totaled the used SUV her father had recently purchased for her. With no vehicle of her own, she relied on friends for rides. That night, she accepted a ride home from someone she knew, unaware it would be the last confirmed moment of her life.
Sarah had been working to rebuild her stability in the months leading up to her disappearance. She was living with her parents, attending court dates, and preparing for a residential treatment program her family hoped would help her regain momentum. Her two young sons remained her anchor. Despite relapses and the weight of addiction, she was trying to move toward a safer, more predictable future.
By July 20, after four days without a single call or message, Sarah’s mother reported her missing. Joplin Police launched a full investigation, interviewing those closest to her, retracing her steps, and checking locations she frequented. Flyers went up around town, and her photo circulated across social media and local news. Early efforts focused on the 10th and Rex area, the spot where she was dropped off.
In September 2018, a new detail shifted the timeline. Through follow‑up interviews, investigators learned that Sarah had actually been seen later that morning at a residence on North Pearl Avenue in northwest Joplin. It meant she had made it somewhere after the drop‑off — and that someone had seen her alive hours later.
The house on North Pearl Avenue became a central focus. In December 2018, nearly five months after she disappeared, police executed a search warrant. Cadaver dogs were brought in. Investigators examined the basement, yard, and nearby vacant lots. No human remains or physical evidence were found, but the location remained a point of interest.
Two days later, the investigation moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, where authorities quietly searched a rural property tied to someone Sarah may have known. They combed through the residence, outbuildings, and surrounding land. Again, no definitive evidence emerged, but the search underscored how far the investigation had already spread.
In April 2019, another lead brought investigators to a property in Newton County, Missouri. Search warrants were executed. Dogs were deployed. Divers searched a pond on the premises. Some items were removed for processing, but no publicly confirmed evidence linked the site to Sarah.
Over the years, the investigation has crossed state lines, stretching through Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. More than 170 leads have been followed and over 100 people interviewed. Despite the extensive work, Sarah’s whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities now suspect foul play.
At the time she disappeared, Sarah was 5’7″ and approximately 160–170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. She had a scar on her forehead or through her right eyebrow. She was last seen wearing a purple and white blouse, blue jeans, and black flats.
The FBI Kansas City Division and Joplin Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her location or the conviction of those responsible.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Joplin Police Department at (417) 623‑3131 or submit a tip through the FBI’s website.
