Barbara Lee Elms, 50, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was last seen on August 25, 1993. A neighbor reported seeing her that evening on 16th Street SE, dancing and wearing a Walkman with headphones while walking toward First Avenue East during heavy rain. She did not return home.

Barbara had a history of mental illness and substance abuse and had previously disappeared for short periods but always came back with her belongings. On this occasion she left behind all possessions, including her purse and identification, and even soup she had planned to eat, suggesting the departure was unplanned. She had been estranged from her husband and they were finalizing a divorce; he continued to provide financial support. A month earlier she had been assaulted and robbed in a park, an event family members say may have affected her state of mind.

Her whereabouts remain unknown and loved ones fear she either suffered harm or is living homeless somewhere else. If anyone has information about Barbara, please contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department.