Mary Elizabeth Dietz, a 78-year-old white woman from Selbyville, Delaware, was last seen in the early morning hours of October 14, 1997. She was reportedly at her Lantern Lane residence waiting for the morning newspaper at about 3:30 a.m. and was later reported missing by her son.

Mary was described as 4 feet 9 inches to 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 90 to 110 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and had been observed in a disoriented state on occasion. Reports note she was sometimes seen digging through a dumpster behind her home; a trash collector later said that dumpster was empty and one of its side doors was open, so investigators searched the landfill but did not find her. Police did not suspect foul play.

The Delaware State Police Headquarters is listed as the investigating agency (NamUs MP5661). Her last contact is recorded as October 14, 1997. Does anyone have information about Mary’s movements in Selbyville on that morning or about the area around Lantern Lane?