jan 5, 1975 - Joyce Elizabeth Harper DISAPPEARANCE

Description:

According to both the Doe Network and Charley Project, as well as CA DOJ, Joyce Elizabeth Harper was born on December 9, 1945; based off of this birth date, she would have been about 29-30 years old when she disappeared. However, her age at time of disappearance across both of those sources, plus NamUs is inconsistent: she is described as having been 29 (CharPro), 31 (DN), or 32 (NamUs). Her date of disappearance, January 1, 1975, is approximated; she was last seen sometime in 1975. She lived in Potrero, San Diego County, CA at the time.

Few details are available in Joyce's case. She is considered missing under suspicious circumstances, and is listed as Endangered Missing according to Doe Network and Charley Project.

Joyce was a white female, 5'3 and 120 lbs at the time of her disappearance. She has brown eyes as well as brown hair that was shorter than collar length at the time. Joyce may use the last name Gann, and/or the alias Vivian Ann Maddux.

Joyce had at least two daughters, one of which, Kimberly Cozart, was reportedly born on July 7, 1962; however, there are some discrepancies regarding her age, as she is variously listed as 14 or 15yo in February 1977. Either way, Joyce would have been 16 to 20 years old when Kimberly was born; specifically, using the birth dates given for each, Joyce may have been about 16yrs 7mo old when she gave birth to Kimberly.

Both Joyce and Kimberly were reported missing by Joyce's other daughter on December 15, 1995. Kimberly went missing sometime in February 1977, and it is unknown whether her disappearance is related to her mother's.

Joyce has ten rule-outs on NamUs, two of which are from CA (in 2006 and 2013), while the other eight were found in VA. Joyce's DNA is available for comparison, while her dentals — including dental x-rays — and fingerprints are not. Anyone with information regarding Joyce can contact the SD County SD at (858) 974-2143; Joyce's case number is 95-087100.

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CONFIRMATION OF COMPLETION DATE: May 31, 2025
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