Rita Mae Hughes was 29 when she was last seen on December 8, 1986, at the Trailways Bus Station in Houston, Texas. Her husband dropped her at the station so she could catch a bus to visit relatives in Louisiana; he reported she was upset, crying, and acting irrationally at the time. She never arrived in Louisiana and was last heard from then.

Hughes lived in Magnolia, Texas. Her mother reported her missing on December 19, 1986, after Rita failed to make contact with family. Investigators have suspected foul play but say no conclusive evidence has determined what happened. DNA from her family has been submitted to national databases as authorities continue to seek information.

Anyone who knew Rita, saw her at the Trailways station on December 8, 1986, or has information about her disappearance is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office or the Texas Department of Public Safety.