Georgia Nolan Missing Since 1976

[wheezer]

A cold case more than 30 years old is heating up in Southeastern Kentucky.

It's the oldest case we've profiled so far in our Mountain Cold Case series. Georgia Nolan hasn't been seen in more than 30 years. Her family believes she was murdered and after new information surfaced, crews began digging Thursday in Harlan County where some thought she might be.

Police say they had good information that led them to a mobile home in the Loyall community of Harlan County. They say the owner of the home is not a suspect, but with that home moved out of the way, police were hoping their dig would lead them to the remains of Georgia Nolan.

"You don't just disappear after 31 years," said Shelia Priceler.

But there's been no sign of Georgia Nolan since. Her daughter, Sheila, says she has a disturbing recollection from around the time her mother went missing. She says she remembers someone putting a bag into the ground.

"That's what I saw and they dumped it in a hole and I felt 99 percent sure it was there," Shelia said.

Police say they dug through an area that was under a concrete porch, but they found no signs of Georgia Nolan's remains.

"It's not a disappointment. It means we're gonna go forward and we're eventually gonna find her," Shelia said.

"It made us have more hope to go in and find her," said Gracie Harmon, Nolan's daughter.

And with their hopes still alive, Georgia Nolan's family went to their family cemetery to pick out a spot they hope they can finally put her to rest.

"She's in the middle around all her family like she's saying I'm home and that's all we want, justice," Shelia said.

"Justice will be brought because we will not let this stop until the person that killed her is brought forth. We won't stop," Harmon said.

Police say there are other leads and potentially other locations they might search. They say their investigation will continue.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/17484009.html

[wheezer]

Family members say police are making preparations to dig up a piece of land in Loyall where they believe Georgia Nolan could be buried.

Nolan disappeared in 1976 and family members think she was murdered.

Police say they're going to look for Nolan's remains in two locations.

The digging is expected to begin Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, police in Rockingham County, Virginia are still waiting on DNA results on remains found there in 1980.

Some believe there are similarities in the two cases.

http://www.wkyt.com/news/headlines/17407724.html

[wheezer]

The Enterprise published an article in February under the headline “What ever happened to Georgia Darlene Nolan?” It’s been a little over a month since Kentucky State Police Det. Tim Hensley began an extensive investigation after receiving new information in the case of a woman missing for 31 years. Hensley will begin making preparations today to dig up a piece of land in the county where family members believe Nolan could have been buried.

Family members of Nolan believe she was murdered because there is no record of her existence since November 1976. One family member had an interest in a woman’s remains found in 1980 in Rockingham County, Va., thinking it could be Nolan. DNA was collected from a family member, as well as from evidence remains for comparison. Hensley said he hasn’t received any new information on that theory.

Hensley said several factors through his investigation suggest Georgia is dead. Her Social Security number has not been used since 1976. He said he checked through KSP intelligence and there was no record of her filing an income tax return or using a credit card in 31 years.

After completing interviews and collecting statements from individuals surrounding the case, Hensley has obtained a search warrant for a piece of property in Loyall.

The owners or proprietors of the area where the digging will take place are not suspects in Nolan’s disappearance, according to Hensley. The detective said he is simply following a lead, and if Nolan’s remains are not found on that particular property, he will move on to his next lead and continue his investigation.

Hensley said there are two locations in the county where he intends to look for her body. If she’s not at the Loyall site, he will move onto the next site, and if she’s not there, he said he has another option to investigate. He said it may be Thursday before the digging actually begins.

Harlan County Coroner Philip Bianchi will be assisting Hensley on the dig. Bianchi was approached by Hensley regarding the matter, and Bianchi met with Harlan County Fiscal Court members for the county’s assistance in funding the dig. Funding has been approved.

Bianchi said Kentucky law stipulates that a coroner can order the search for a body.

“My decision was based on Det. Hensley’s investigation,” Bianchi said. “I will be assisting the state police in any way that I can.”

Bianchi said if a body is found, he will contact the medical examiner’s office to request the assistance of forensics anthropologist Dr. Emily Craig.

Nolan was 33 years old when she vanished. She had three daughters and a son. She was married to Pat Nolan. One of Georgia Nolan’s daughter’s said the last words her family heard Georgia say were that she and Pat were going to Jack’s Drive-In to get a Coke.

http://www.harlandaily.com/articles/2008/04/08/news/doc47fb08aaaedf2930820349.txt

[wheezer]

One week after crews in Kentucky ripped up concrete driveways in search of her mother’s body, a Keene woman said her family is being torn apart.

Nancy Austin, 31, was 2 months old when her mother, Georgia Darlene Nolan, disappeared after having a fight with her estranged husband, Austin’s father.

Since that day in November 1976, Austin has been caught in the middle of a family fault line, she said.

Crews of the Kentucky State Police Department and Harlan County Coroner’s Office were following a lead from Austin’s sister on April 10 when they dug up a portion of the family property in Loyall, Ky., to look for the mother’s body. The sister claimed she had seen the family bury her mother’s body under a trailer in the yard, Austin said.

Austin went to Kentucky to see the dig, but no bodies were found.

“I am glad and relieved that I saw with my own eyes that my mother’s body was not on that property,” she said. “There is no proof that my father killed my mother, but my mother’s family has claimed my father is a serial killer and said they would find other bodies under that concrete when they dug it up,” Austin said.

“I’m upset because I feel we’re being compared to the Manson family, and I don’t like it,” Austin said. “My mom’s family gets angry because I won’t say he’s guilty or pick sides. I don’t know that he’s innocent, but I love both sides of my family and I think it’s wrong to assume he’s a murderer when they don’t have any proof.”

The case was cold eight years ago when Austin resumed the search for her mother’s body. Since then, she has scanned through hundreds of pictures of unidentified bodies, looking for a match.

The FBI is testing the DNA of a body found in Harlan County, Ky., against Austin’s to see if it’s a possible match for her mother’s body.

As of Friday, results have not come back, FBI Laboratory Spokesperson Anne Todd said from Quantico, Va.

The process could take up to two years.

“I just want to find my mother,” Austin said.

http://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/local/local_story_112185638.html

[packy]

Thanks, Wheezer, for this update. I hope they can finally know what happened. It is so hard to wait, and sad that it could take up to two years. My heart goes out to this family.

[Nut44x4]

Georgia Darlene Nolan
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: November 28 1976 from Harlan, Kentucky
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: June 5, 1946
Age: 30
Height: 5'4"-5'5"
Weight: 120-130 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Race: White
Gender: Female
Medical Conditions: Possible slight arthritis in hands.
Had given birth to four children.
Clothing: Possibly wearing an Indian style shirt of
unknown design.
NCIC Number: M-125607520
Case Number: 10841172
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Details of Disappearance
Georgia Nolan was last seen in late November 1976, with her estranged husband. It was later said that Georgia had exited their vehicle on the Interstate near the Illinois/Kentucky border after an argument. Shortly thereafter, on November 28th, her brother reported her missing. She has never been seen again and foul play is suspected. DNA is available for collection.
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Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Kentucky Intelligence & Missing Persons
(502) 227-9708
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Source Information
The Doe Network
http://www.nampn.org/cases/nolan_georgia.html

[Nut44x4]

The Doe Network:
Case File 568UFVA

Unidentified White Female

The victim was discovered on November 14, 1980 in Rockingham County, Virginia
Estimated Date of Death: At least two years prior to discovery (1964-1979)
Skeletal Remains
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Vital Statistics

Estimated age: 20-28 years old (Dental age 22 +/-2)
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'0-5'5"
Distinguishing Characteristics: Probably at least one prior childbirth.
Personal Effects: A silk slip, a heart-shaped necklace.
Dentals: Available
DNA: Available
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Case History
The victim was located in a secluded wooded area, in the George Washington National Forest, off of Virginia Route 33 in Rockingham County, Virginia. The body was partially in a grave, and it was apparent that there was foul play involved.
This route is not a normal trucking route and runs through this county into West Virginia.
There was a 1964 coin located and the death appears to have occurred between 1964 and early 1979.
There was evidence with the dental work that suggests that the person could have possibly been a seamstress. She could have possibly been a hairdresser, or possibly had some type of habit where she kept a bobby pin or pins in between her teeth.
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Investigators
If you have any information about this case please contact:
Medical Examiner’s Office, Western District
540-561-6615
You may remain anonymous when submitting information.

NCIC Number:
N/A
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
WV State Police
Washington Times

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/568ufva.html
2 more likenesses at the site

[TigressPen]

Bless her heart. The stress of one family pitting her against another has to be hard to deal with for Ms Austin. I hope her mom's body is found and she can finally be properly laid to rest.