Maria Procopio, 34, was last seen on the evening of Friday, September 24, 1999, after finishing a shift as an accounts receivable specialist at QVC in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She told coworkers she planned to meet someone when her shift ended around 5:10 p.m.; the last known sighting was about 7:00 p.m. near the Newton Shopping Center at Route 3 and Route 252. Maria never returned to her South Philadelphia home and was reported missing by her sister on October 5, 1999.

On October 7, Maria’s red 1990 Pontiac Sunbird coupe was found legally parked behind Chick’s Tavern in Bridgeport. The car had an anti-theft device on the steering wheel, the driver’s seat was set for someone of her height, and the interior had been wiped clean with no fingerprints recovered.

Suspicion focused on her boyfriend, Andrew Charles Thomas; family reported he had been physically abusive and Maria had recently told police he was involved in criminal activity. A search of his apartment turned up counterfeit money, fake IDs, and night-vision equipment. Thomas was later convicted of welfare fraud and counterfeiting but was never charged in Maria’s disappearance. Foul play is strongly suspected and her family had her declared legally dead in 2006. Does anyone who knew Maria as Mistress Maria or who saw her near Newton Shopping Center on September 24, 1999, have information to share?