Phyllis Gilliam was 11 when she vanished from Columbia, South Carolina, on August 16, 1971. She had been at her grandmother’s apartment in the 2100 block of Saxon Plaza and walked to a dry cleaners in the 2300 block of Reed Street. Investigators confirmed she reached the dry cleaners and was last seen leaving the establishment walking toward Two Notch Road. Her mother came to pick her up but Phyllis was not there and has not been seen or heard from since.

At the time she disappeared she was described as 5 feet 4 inches, about 100 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Police said her background did not suggest she would run away, and family members believed she would not have gone with a stranger willingly. The Columbia Police Department investigated, the neighborhood searched, and a $450 reward was offered, but the case produced few leads and later went cold.

Anyone who knew Phyllis, remembers that area on August 16, 1971, or has information that might help should come forward.