Nelida De Jesus Del Valle was 9 when she vanished on December 20, 1976, while walking to William Blackstone Elementary, about a block and a half from her Boston home. Described as shy and distrustful of strangers, she never arrived at school and has not been seen since.

Early in the investigation a woman reported that Anthony Rudy Flores had given her Nelida’s hat and gloves. Flores resembled a police-style sketch and was found with a fake police badge and a gun; investigators considered that he might have posed as an officer to gain her trust but lacked enough evidence to charge him. Flores was later convicted of unrelated crimes and has denied involvement in Nelida’s disappearance. In 1985 Nelida’s mother thought she saw her daughter in a photograph recovered from the home of David R. Collins, a man linked to other crimes, but that identification was ruled out.

Nelida’s case remains unsolved with no confirmed sightings or breakthroughs since 1976. If anyone knew Nelida, saw her that morning, or has information about Flores or Collins that could help, please come forward.