On January 20, 2004, 62-year-old Joan Vance was fatally attacked during a robbery at the Sundowner Gallery, a gift shop in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Vance, born in Tucumcari in 1941 and active in her church and local historical societies, had been finishing her shift and planned to meet her daughter that evening but never arrived.

Investigators tied the motive to robbery after cash was taken from the gallery; no merchandise was reported stolen. Law enforcement considered that the perpetrators might have been travelers passing through on the town’s major highways, but no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests were made. The New Mexico State Police Cold Case Unit continues to seek information that could break the case.

If anyone knew Joan, saw suspicious activity near the Sundowner Gallery on January 20, 2004, or has information about travelers in town that night, please come forward.