Theola Polk, 71, was last seen at her Oakland residence in the 1100 block of 64th Avenue on July 6, 2019. Family reported her missing on July 11 after she failed to respond for several days, which was out of character. Polk lived alone and had high blood pressure and other medical conditions, making her absence especially worrying.

Investigators found bloodstained items in Polk’s apartment, and bedding and pillows were missing. Her purse and keys were left on her bed, though she reportedly never left home without them. Searches of areas near her home, including railroad tracks and landfills, used cadaver dogs but did not locate her body.

In mid-July 2019 police arrested Polk’s 33-year-old grandson, Maurice C. Washington Jr., on a separate misdemeanor drug charge; investigators later charged him with Polk’s murder and alleged he stole and tried to use her credit cards after she vanished. Washington reportedly made statements to investigators indicating Polk was dead and admitted involvement in her death, but he has not cooperated in locating her body. One relative said family members feared Washington and saw him on July 9 with scratches and blood on his person.

In October 2019 Washington was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to a secure psychiatric hospital for treatment to restore competency. Polk’s body has not been recovered. Does anyone have information about Polk’s last days or about activity near the 1100 block of 64th Avenue in early July 2019?