Abby Lynn Patterson, 20, vanished from Lumberton, North Carolina on September 5, 2017 while visiting her mother. That morning around 11:30 a.m. she told her mother she was running errands and would be back in about an hour. She was last seen wearing a white blouse and brown shorts, walking down East 9th Street and getting into a brown Buick. Her mother reported her missing at 6:00 p.m. after calls to Abby’s phone went straight to voicemail and there was no further contact.

The driver of the brown Buick was identified as an acquaintance of Abby’s and told police she had been dropped off at another location, though authorities have not disclosed where. Abby’s phone remained inactive afterward. She is described as 5 feet 7 inches, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and a tattoo of three birds on her right shoulder. The FBI joined the Lumberton Police Department and a reward was offered for information. The disappearance drew attention because three other women’s bodies had been found in the same area in the months before, though law enforcement said they did not believe the cases were connected.

Anyone who knew Abby, saw her that day, or has information about the brown Buick or the location where she was reportedly dropped off is asked to come forward.