Member-only story
Investigators Believe Missing Mother Was Lured From Her Home While Cleaning Kitchen
Barbara Blount’s car was parked suspiciously behind some trees a quarter of a mile from her home in Holden, Louisiana.
Barbara Ann Blount was a 58-year-old widow living off Highway 1036 in Holden, Louisiana. She was close with her family, and because both of her adult children lived on the same street as her, she cooked them dinner every day. Barbara was a woman of faith and a member of the Magnolia Baptist Church, where she had also been a Sunday School teacher.
The morning of May 2, 2008, began as usual for Barbara, with her daughter Kristie popping in for a quick visit while on her way to work. At 11:30 AM, she spoke to a neighbor on the phone and told them she was going to spend the day cleaning and organizing her kitchen. Barbara was never heard from again.
Kristie had grown concerned that afternoon after several calls went unanswered so she asked her mother’s nephew to check on her. Suzanne Honeycutt, Barbara’s niece, recounted what he found,
“The door was left open six to 10 inches, and her cordless home phone was out on the carport. Nothing was gone but her.”
The nephew was particularly concerned when he realized that his aunt had left behind the .38 revolver that she kept on the dresser in her bedroom. By all accounts, Barbara was a very cautious person. She kept the doors locked, didn’t open them for strangers, and carried a gun when outside feeding the cows.
By the time Barbara’s family reported her missing, local police had already received a call about her 2006 silver Toyota Camry. One of her former Sunday School students had spotted the car parked behind some trees 25 yards off Road 7, a road that led to a hunting camp a quarter of a mile from Barbara’s house. The teenager thought it was odd, especially after finding the keys half-buried in gravel 20 yards from the car.
Unfortunately, heavy rains that afternoon compromised potential evidence. An inch of water had gathered in the floorboard while officials waited for the vehicle to be towed.
