Before disappearing, they all seemed to be getting ready to leave: Menacher told her other daughter, Robin, she was going away. A few days later, Robin received letters and money from her mother and sister. Gibson’s car was later found abandoned at Miami International Airport, and his apartment was empty. Gibson had a criminal history, was on parole, and was suspected of working for drug gangs.

A neighbor reported seeing people clearing out Menacher’s apartment after the disappearances. The neighbor was told the residents had been killed in a car accident. All four missing people had long histories with drugs.

Police suspected Gibson and Menacher were involved in the murder of Harvey McElroy, a drug enforcer, whose body was found burned in January 1981. They had helped McElroy find a place to live. Warrants were out for their arrest. Police warned DeLawder that her mother might be in danger.

Investigators think the disappearances might be linked to McElroy’s murder – that Gibson and Menacher were killed for what they knew, and DeLawder and Gutierrez were caught up in it. Another theory is that the group went into hiding, possibly in Germany or Colombia. Robin denies knowing their whereabouts.

No one has heard from or seen DeLawder, Gutierrez, Menacher, or Gibson since March 1981.