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Case Description

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Margaret Diaz, a 32-year-old mother of three, was last seen by her family on her birthday, July 4, 1988, in Tacoma, Washington. She disappeared after attending a birthday party held in her honor. At the time of her disappearance, Margaret was involved in what authorities described as a "high-risk lifestyle" and had connections to individuals in Tacoma's Hilltop area, a neighborhood known for criminal activity during that period. Despite her circumstances, it was highly unusual for ...Read More
Last Seen: Jul 04, 1988

Victim Details

May 05, 2011

May 31, 2023

Margaret

Diaz

68

32

65 inches

125 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Margaret Elaine Diaz was celebrating her 32nd birthday with her family in Tacoma, Washington, on July 4, 1988, the last day she was ever seen. A mother of three children, Margaret, who was biracial with Black and White heritage, had dark brown hair and green eyes. At approximately 5'5" and 125 pounds, she was a familiar presence in her community. Details about the birthday celebration, such as what she was wearing or her state of mind, remain unclear. It is not publicly known if she left the event by herself or with someone else. The family gathering marks the last confirmed sighting of Margaret, and despite the passage of time, the circumstances of her disappearance are still not fully understood. Also known by her maiden name, Margaret Cohen, and a former married name, Margaret Riley, her absence created a void in the lives of her loved ones. Despite her connection to what has been described as a "high-risk lifestyle" and associations with individuals in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, a neighborhood known for drug-related crime at the time, it was considered uncharacteristic for Margaret to cease all communication with her children. She maintained regular contact with them, making her sudden silence all the more alarming. The lack of information following her disappearance has been a significant challenge in the investigation. For years, her family has been left without answers, grappling with the uncertainty of her fate. The investigation into Margaret Diaz's disappearance has remained open, with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office handling the case. Her case is listed in national databases for missing persons, including NamUs, under the number MP10584. The few available details of her case have been shared publicly in the hopes of generating new leads. Over the years, the lack of progress has been a source of ongoing pain for her family. The overview of this case is one of a loving mother who vanished after what should have been a joyous occasion. The limited information and the passage of decades have made finding answers incredibly difficult, yet the hope that someone will come forward with information that could resolve the case persists.

Jul 04, 1988

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

No

10118

Pierce County Sheriff's Office

Tacoma

Washington

Pierce County

98402

Lynelle Anderson

Detective Sergeant

930 Tacoma Avenue South, Washington

2537987530

County

Law Enforcement

2212500940

Pierce County Sheriff's Office

Black

Green

Green

06/17/2026


Area Last Seen: