Julia Madsen was 72 when she disappeared from the family beach house in the South Seaside Park section of Berkeley Township, New Jersey, on a summer evening in June 2009. She and her husband Ed were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary when, at about 7:00 p.m., Julia told him she was going for a brief walk on the beach a short distance from their home. She left without keys, money, or identification and was wearing a pink shirt, white capri pants, and white sneakers.

An extensive search was launched that night involving local and state police, volunteers, tracking dogs, helicopters, and boats; the beach, nearby Island Beach State Park, and surrounding waters were searched but no trace of Julia was found. Investigators considered the possibility she entered the water, but the family said she was not a swimmer and would have been unlikely to go into the water fully clothed.

Over the years there have been several discoveries of human remains in the region that raised hope for the family, but none matched Julia. Law enforcement has kept the case open and the family has continued to seek answers. If anyone remembers seeing Julia that evening or has information about the area around South Seaside Park in June 2009, please share what is known.