Maria Theresa Ruthling, 51, disappeared from Scottsdale, Arizona, on the evening of Thursday, September 23, 1965. She was last seen at her place of business, the Aztec Studio Shop, and about 10:00 p.m. placed a routine call to her adult daughter saying she was closing up and would be home shortly. She never arrived at the family home on east Elm Street.

The next day Maria’s car was found abandoned in a shopping center parking lot in the 20 block of south Old Scottsdale Road with her purse and keys inside. The shop showed no sign of forced entry or struggle; it had been locked and the cash register still contained money, making robbery appear unlikely. Her family and investigators describe her disappearance as out of character and foul play is suspected.

Her daughters remain without answers and the Scottsdale Police Department lists the case as active. If anyone knew Maria, her routines that evening, or saw her car in Old Scottsdale on September 24, 1965, please share what you know.