Esther Valdez, 17 and from Chama, New Mexico, was last seen September 7, 1984. That afternoon she and her best friend, Cindy Redwine, picked up paychecks from the restaurant where they worked, drank alcohol, and visited the grave of Esther’s deceased baby sister. Esther told Redwine she felt guilty about causing pain to her parents.

Later that night Esther arrived at Redwine’s home with an older man and invited Redwine to go camping; Redwine declined and Esther left with the man in his vehicle and was never seen again. The man told others he dropped Esther off at her friend’s house, a story Redwine later confronted him about. A few days after the disappearance Esther’s wallet was found but yielded no significant clues. Unconfirmed rumors circulated that she had been murdered at a party the night she vanished, and there was speculation her planned testimony against a bar owner for serving her while underage might be connected, though no evidence has confirmed that.

Tips over the years included reported sightings in Colorado and other New Mexico cities, but none produced Esther. She was the eldest of five siblings, dreamed of becoming a beautician, and was described as occasionally rebellious but not likely to run away for long. Does anyone who knew Esther, Cindy Redwine, or the man she left with have information that could help bring clarity to what happened that night?