On the evening of July 14, 1979, 24-year-old Mazie Mae Sigmon-Palmer was on a date with 18-year-old John Eric Jay Farley in Charleston, West Virginia. The two met friends at the Roarin’ 20s and later went to the King’s Inn; Mazie told her companions she was going upstairs to speak with someone and a few minutes later Farley followed. Neither was seen alive again.

Law enforcement did not connect their disappearances until January 1980. Both left personal belongings and money behind, and neither owned a car. In May 1984 Farley’s skeletal remains were found at a Fayette County surface mine about thirty miles from Charleston; he had been shot and his hands were taped behind his back, and he was wearing the clothes from the night he vanished. There was no sign of Mazie at that scene. Investigators do not believe Mazie was involved in Farley’s murder; foul play is strongly suspected in her disappearance. Mark Legg has been identified as a person of interest but has not been officially tied to the case.

The disappearances remain unsolved and both families have had to wait for answers. If anyone knew Mazie or Jay, knew where they spent time, or has information from that night, please come forward.