Joanna Kay Otto

• Missing Since 11/20/1992
• Missing From Pensacola, Florida
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 08/03/1973 (50)
• Age 19 years old
• Height and Weight 5'7, 140 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description A white sweater, blue shorts with lace trim, a silver necklace and gold earrings.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Otto's nickname is Jo.

Details of Disappearance

Otto was last seen on November 20, 1992. She and her roommate went to a party, but her roommate became ill and had to go home.

Otto got a ride home later with a friend, 27-year-old James Earl Gibson. He later told police that he took two other people home and then dropped Otto off at her apartment at Maison de Ville Apartments in the 800 block of Royce Street. She never arrived home and has never been heard from again.

Otto had a history of dropping out of sight for days at a time, but she'd never been gone for longer than three days without calling home, and her family became worried after she failed to contact them over Thanksgiving. She was not reported missing until December 8. She was unemployed at the time of her disappearance, but looking for a job, and had gotten an interview for a position at the mall.

A photo of Gibson is posted with this case summary. He was later sentenced to 35 years in prison for a 1994 kidnapping and rape. He had abducted an eighteen-year-old girl, an acquaintance of Otto's, sexually assaulted her and held her for nearly nine hours before releasing her. Authorities believe he could be a serial killer. He has not been charged in Otto's case, however, and in July 2019 he was paroled from prison.

Otto was born in Dotham, Alabama and attended Woodham High School in Pensacola. She dropped out of high school in her junior year. Her mother described her as a trusting individual who loved going to parties. Foul play is suspected in her case.