MISSING: Leona Kinsey

Leona Kinsey told her friend, Nancy, that she was stopping to meet someone before heading over to her house. When Leona didn’t show up as planned, Nancy was worried. Her friend was reliable and dependable and wouldn’t just not show up without calling to say plans had changed.

Nancy looked for Leona, but she couldn’t find her or her car. Leona was officially reported missing.

October 25th will mark 25 years since Leona Kinsey disappeared. There is no sign of a resolution.

In this episode of the Murder Diaries, I had the honor of speaking with Leona’s daughter, Darolyn DeFord, in an exclusive interview. She gave us insights into who Leona was and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Photo of Leona

Leona with her beloved cat

Carolyn DeFord poses with her mother and daughter in La Grande, Oregon in their last photograph together before Leona disappeared in 1999.

Juan Peña-Llamas

Carolyn DeFord poses with her mother’s missing persons poster

Dupe Oyebolu/StoryCorps. Photo via NPR.com

If you would like more information, you can follow Finding Leona Kinsey on Facebook.

If you have any information that can help bring this case to a resolution, please contact Lt. Jason Hays at 541-963-1017. No tip is too small.

Resources

• Murder Diaries exclusive interview with Leona Kinsey’s daughter Carolyn

• https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/5500

• https://www.npr.org/2019/03/29/707555232/it-surfaces-with-the-same-rawness-a-daughter-remembers-her-mother-s-disappearanc

• https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/special-report-leona-kinsey-remains-another-stolen-sister-for-22-years-her-daughter-speaks-out/article_507491fc-c4c3-11eb-bfa9-dfb9006da498.html

• https://charleyproject.org/case/leona-sharon-kinsey

• https://elkhornmediagroup.com/the-search-continues-23-years-for-leona-kinsey/

• https://www.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/