Emma Frances Tresp

Tresp, circa 1998

  • Missing Since 08/31/1998
  • Missing From Pecos, New Mexico
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Female
  • Race White
  • Date of Birth 11/25/1926 (97)
  • Age 71 years old
  • Height and Weight 5'6 - 5'7, 120 - 135 pounds
  • Clothing/Jewelry Description A mother's ring.
  • Associated Vehicle(s) White four-door 1997 Honda Civic with the Arkansas license plates number 672-AOK (accounted for)
  • Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Graying brown hair, green eyes. Tresp has a mole on the right side of her nose. She has varicose veins and she wears eyeglasses. Some agencies refer to her as "Emma H. Tresp."

Details of Disappearance

Tresp departed from her daughter's residence in Stillwater, Oklahoma on August 31, 1998. She was planning to drive to a religious retreat at a Benedictine monastery near Pecos, New Mexico. It has been established that Tresp purchased gasoline at a station in Santa Rosa, New Mexico at approximately 3:00 p.m. that day. She was familiar with the route to the monastery.

Tresp's white four-door 1997 Honda Civic with the Arkansas license plates number 672-AOK was discovered locked and abandoned on forestry road 63A near the Glorieta/Pecos, New Mexico area later in the day. This location is approximately 10 to 15 miles from Route 63.

The car became lodged on a large rock in the road, which had cracked the oil pan. Authorities believe she walked away from the vehicle to get help, but it is unclear where she headed.

Extensive searches of the area produced no clues as to Tresp's whereabouts. She has never been heard from again. Her purse disappeared with her and has never been found, but all her other belongings were inside the car.

When Tresp's children found out she never arrived at the monastery, they all traveled to New Mexico and began searching for her. They called hospitals to see whether she had had an accident and suffered memory loss, passed out fliers, and searched the route looking for Tresp's car. They reported her missing on September 8 after their search proved unsuccessful.

Tresp was a resident of North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1998. She was a deeply religious Catholic and enjoyed traveling. Her family stated she was mentally sharp, but she got lost easily when she was driving. Her disappearance remains unsolved.

Updated 3 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 9, 2015; picture added.