Denese Laird, known as Dee Dee, was 51 when she was last heard from on September 25, 2010. Family members say she was dropped off near St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey, but hospital staff reported she was never registered in triage, never assessed by nurses and did not appear in their system. It is unclear why she had been taken to the hospital, who dropped her off, or whether any surveillance captured her arrival or movements afterward.

Denese was described as petite, between 4 feet 10 inches and 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 90 to 100 pounds, with very short black hair that had been bleached blonde and wearing bifocal glasses. At last sighting she wore a headband, pink shirt, blue jeans and pink sneakers. Family members note she liked bus trips to Atlantic City, so her absence could have other explanations, including disorientation or travel.

Very few leads and little news coverage have left major questions unanswered. If anyone knew Denese, saw her around Paterson on September 25, 2010, or has information about who dropped her off at the hospital, please come forward.