Alice Mae Van Alstine, 28 and a mother of four, was last seen the night of March 26, 1976, at her Des Moines apartment after she put her children to bed. Her children woke the next morning to find her gone; her purse, money, coat, and shoes were still in the apartment. Her car remained in the driveway with the keys in the ignition and a broken bottle was found on the apartment floor, details that prompted concern about foul play.

Alice had been involved with the Minutemen, a right-wing paramilitary group, but had recently distanced herself and reportedly feared for her life. Family members suspected her disappearance was linked to her leaving the group and possibly providing information to authorities, but no solid evidence has been reported to confirm that theory. At the time she disappeared she was engaged in a contentious custody battle with her ex-husband, Lee Andre, who admitted visiting her the day she vanished but denied involvement.

Much of the original investigative file was lost in a 1993 flood, which has complicated efforts to resolve the case. Does anyone have memories or information about Alice’s life in Des Moines in 1976 or about contacts she may have had around the time she disappeared?