{"id":6360,"date":"2026-03-07T16:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T16:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surftiva.com\/missing\/?p=6360"},"modified":"2026-05-18T01:45:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T01:45:02","slug":"nicole-baldwin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surftiva.com\/missing\/nicole-baldwin\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicole Baldwin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Case Information:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nicole Baldwin<\/strong>, 41, disappeared on November 2, 2023, from her home in the Lancaster subdivision of Mount Dora, Florida<\/a>. She was last seen by her 20\u2011year\u2011old daughter following a reported argument inside the residence.

At the time she vanished, Nicole was wearing only a pink nightgown and was barefoot, circumstances that immediately raised concern about her safety and state of mind. What began as a missing person investigation was formally reclassified as a homicide case by the Mount Dora Police Department<\/a> in April 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical Description:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Nicole is a Caucasian woman standing approximately 5\u20195\u201d tall and weighing around 135 pounds, with strawberry\u2011blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is easily identifiable by several distinctive tattoos, including a full floral sleeve on her left arm and a single rose on her right hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On her upper arm, she carries a meaningful tattoo of three hearts, each containing one of her children\u2019s initials. At the time of her disappearance, Nicole was not wearing her glasses, which she relied on for daily activities and navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n <\/svg>
Nicole Baldwin 15<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 10<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 18<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 2wide<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\"previous<\/div><\/div>
\"next<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/ss3-loader><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Circumstances of Disappearance:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On the morning she disappeared, Nicole left behind all of her essential personal belongings, including her purse, Apple Watch, cell phone, and debit cards. Her vehicle remained parked in the driveway, and she did not take the critical medication required for a chronic health condition.

Later that day, her husband, Brett Baldwin, sent a text to their daughter claiming that a man named \u201cMatt,\u201d or someone with a similar name, had picked her up. The complete absence of digital, financial, or medical activity since that morning has led investigators and family members to believe that Nicole did not leave the home voluntarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Search Efforts:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In February 2026, investigators deployed a specialized forensic resource to the search area near the Loch Leven subdivision: a trained detection otter named Splash<\/a>. Splash, a 2\u2011year\u2011old Asian small\u2011clawed otter, had been trained to identify chemical indicators associated with human decomposition by \u201ctasting\u201d trace elements in the water.

During a targeted sweep of a pond near the Baldwin residence, Splash alerted his handlers to a specific point on the pond floor. Following this alert, the Mount Dora Police Department<\/a> and specialized dive teams conducted a coordinated search of the indicated area. Authorities have not publicly disclosed whether any evidence was recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n <\/svg>
Nicole Baldwin 35<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 357<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 3579<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\"previous<\/div><\/div>
\"next<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/ss3-loader><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Marital Status:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the months leading up to her disappearance, there were ongoing discussions about a possible separation or divorce between Nicole and her husband. Nicole had reportedly confided in her oldest daughter that she intended to move out of the family home, a plan that added strain to an already tense household environment.

This domestic friction has become a central focus for investigators as they examine the \u201cstrange dynamic\u201d within the residence prior to November 2. As a result, Nicole\u2019s expressed desire to leave the marriage is being considered a potential factor in the broader homicide investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Person of Interest:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Police have formally identified Nicole\u2019s husband, Brett Baldwin, as the primary person of interest in her disappearance and presumed death. Although he has not been charged with homicide, he was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in 2025 for an unrelated offense involving illicit material found on his electronic devices.

Detectives initially seized his phones as part of the missing\u2011person investigation, a process that ultimately uncovered thousands of illegal files. Despite his separate conviction, Brett remains central to the case as investigators continue working to obtain the physical evidence necessary to pursue homicide charges.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"Nicole<\/picture><\/div>
\"Nicole<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n <\/svg>
Nicole Baldwin 3<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 44<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Nicole Baldwin 77<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\"previous<\/div><\/div>
\"next<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/ss3-loader><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Investigation Challenges:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The investigation into Nicole\u2019s disappearance has involved more than 200 search warrants and subpoenas, yet her remains have still not been recovered. Throughout the process, detectives have faced numerous challenges, including weather\u2011related setbacks and the naturally high water tables common to Central Florida\u2019s pond systems.

In an effort to ensure full transparency, police have even executed search warrants at the homes of community volunteers to secure all potential information and digital evidence. Against this backdrop, the recent dive at the local pond stands as the most significant investigative development the case has seen in more than two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Outreach:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Mount Dora community continues to hold vigils and organize searches under the \u201cHelp Find Nicole Baldwin\u201d banner. A reward of up to $10,000<\/strong> remains available for information leading to Nicole\u2019s recovery or a conviction in her case.

Her daughter, Alisha, has been a steadfast advocate, appearing on local news to describe Nicole as a devoted mother whose life centered around her children. As a result, ongoing public awareness and community vigilance are viewed as essential to uncovering the truth about her final hours<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Information:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you have any information regarding the disappearance or death of Nicole Baldwin, please contact the Mount Dora Police Department<\/a> at (352) 735-7130.

Alternatively, you can provide an anonymous tip to Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS<\/a> to remain eligible for the $10,000 reward<\/strong>. Every piece of information, regardless of how small it may seem, is critical to bringing Nicole home and achieving justice for her children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
More Missing:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n