Account
Jul 18, 2020
Apr 18, 2023
Kathryn
Griffin
56
43
65 inches
150 lbs
Black / African American
Female
On a seemingly ordinary day, January 7, 2012, 43-year-old Kathryn Bene Griffin was last seen in Portsmouth, Virginia. That afternoon, her mother and three children visited her at Perry's Cutz, the barbershop on Victory Boulevard where she was employed. The last reported sighting of Kathryn was by her ex-boyfriend, the owner of the barbershop, who stated that she borrowed his brown bicycle and rode away just before noon. She was reportedly wearing a plaid jacket, a black smock, and blue jeans at the time of her disappearance. Kathryn has not been seen or heard from since that day. Kathryn's family grew concerned when they were unable to reach her in the days following her last sighting. Her mother, Linda Archie, found her silence highly uncharacteristic, as they maintained a close relationship and spoke almost daily. It was unusual for Kathryn to go more than three days without contacting her family. After nine days with no word, her mother officially reported her missing on January 16, 2012. While Kathryn had faced personal struggles, including the loss of an infant son and a past incarceration for drug-related charges, her family insists she was a devoted mother who would not have willingly abandoned her children. Her mother was caring for Kathryn's two surviving children at the time of her disappearance. The detail about the bicycle has been a point of contention for Kathryn's mother, who stated she had never seen a bicycle at the barbershop during her many visits. Years have passed since Kathryn Griffin vanished, yet her case remains open and has seen recent developments. Despite initial searches and investigations yielding no significant leads, the Portsmouth Police Department continues to seek information from the public. In a surprising turn of events in 2025, authorities announced a belief that Kathryn may be alive and living in the Wayne area of metro Detroit, Michigan, possibly under a different name. This lead emerged after a tip from someone who saw photos of a woman known as "China Black" on social media and noted a resemblance to Kathryn. Investigators are working to obtain a new DNA sample from this individual to compare with Kathryn's mother's DNA, as a previous sample was inconclusive. A distinctive large scar on her abdomen is considered a key identifying feature. Though she has been legally declared dead, the possibility that she may be found alive has brought a renewed, albeit complex, sense of hope to her family, who have endured years of uncertainty. The investigation into what happened to Kathryn Griffin and her current whereabouts is ongoing.
Jan 07, 2012
Portsmouth
Virginia
Portsmouth City
No
88760
Portsmouth Police Department
Portsmouth
Virginia
Portsmouth City
23704
711 Crawford St, Virginia
7573935300
Local
Law Enforcement
Portsmouth Police Department
8463
Black
Black
Black
06/18/2026
