Account
Oct 06, 2017
Dec 27, 2021
Flora
Helmick
104
53
60 inches
61 inches
190 lbs
200 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On August 3, 1973, 53-year-old Flora Vesta Smith Helmick left Bridgewater, Virginia, with her sister Martha Helmick and her employer, John Keyton. The trio was headed to a family reunion in Dabolt, Kentucky, which was scheduled for the next day, traveling in Keyton's light green 1967 Ford Fairlane. Flora, who was mentally disabled and had difficulty speaking, was also recovering from a back injury sustained in a car accident the previous year. She was a gentle-natured woman and one of the few people who seemed to understand the reportedly eccentric Keyton. They made a short stop in Monterey, Virginia, before continuing their journey, after which they were never seen or heard from again. For decades, the fate of Flora, Martha, and John remained a mystery, leaving their families with unanswered questions. Various theories were considered over the years, including the possibility that they had driven off a mountain, into a lake, or had been met with foul play, but no evidence emerged to support any of these scenarios. John Keyton was known to be a poor driver with a history of traffic citations and accidents; his driver's license had been revoked, but he continued to drive. The sisters, Flora and Martha, had grown up in an orphanage in West Virginia, married a pair of brothers, and were both widowed by the time of their disappearance. The trip to Kentucky was to attend a reunion for Keyton's family, and it remains unclear why the sisters accompanied him. A significant breakthrough in the case came in 2016 when the Lexington, Kentucky Fire Department was conducting a training exercise in the Kentucky River near the Valley View Ferry. They discovered the rusted remains of a 1967 Ford Fairlane submerged in the water. Inside the vehicle, human remains were found. After a lengthy investigation and with the help of advanced DNA technology, the remains were identified in 2021 as those of Martha Helmick. Investigators believe that the trio accidentally drove into the river, a tragic accident that claimed all three of their lives. The remains of Flora Helmick and John Keyton have not been recovered, but the discovery of the car and Martha's remains brought a long-awaited resolution to the 48-year-old mystery, providing a degree of closure to the families who had waited so long for answers.
Aug 03, 1973
Bridgewater
Virginia
Rockingham County
22812
47236
Bridgewater Police Department
Bridgewater
Virginia
Rockingham County
22812
Joseph Simmons
Chief of Police
210 Green Street, Virginia
5408282611
Local
Law Enforcement
2017-001688
1973-08-03
Bridgewater Police Department
Gray or Partially Gray
Brown
Brown
06/25/2026
