Mary Dussich was 63 when she vanished from Lighthouse Point, Florida, in early 1982. She lived on the 3100 block of Northeast 31st Avenue and spent the day before her disappearance with her daughter and grandchildren. That evening she went out with friends and was said to be in a good mood; at about 1:45 a.m. she left to head home and was never heard from again.

Her yellow four-door 1978 Lincoln Continental was later found in the long-term parking lot at Miami International Airport. Mary’s purse was in the trunk with old clothing; the purse contained her checkbook and family photographs but reportedly no cash or wallet. Her estranged husband, Joseph A. Dussich, told authorities they had a fight that night and that he struck her, after which she left in the car. Police reported no bloodstains or signs of a struggle at the home, and no blood was found in the vehicle.

Mary and Joseph were separated and in the midst of a bitter divorce; the separation left them living under the same roof and police described the household tension as like an armed camp. Mary had previously accused Joseph of assault and had obtained a restraining order.

What small detail might help explain how her car ended up at the airport while Mary was never located — can anyone provide information about that night?