Overview

Date last seen: September 1, 1979
Last seen location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Main Circumstances at a Glance

• Barbara Sue Jackson disappeared from Fairbanks, Alaska, on September 1, 1979.
• She was 30 years old at the time of her disappearance.
• Investigators believe she was the victim of a homicide, although her body has never been recovered.
• Her case remains an active unsolved investigation with the Alaska State Troopers and is listed among Alaska’s unresolved homicide cases.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Barbara Sue Jackson (1979): The Unsolved Alaska Cold Case

Brief Summary

Date last seen: September 1, 1979
Last seen location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Main Circumstances at a Glance

• Barbara Sue Jackson disappeared from Fairbanks, Alaska, on September 1, 1979.
• She was 30 years old at the time of her disappearance.
• Investigators believe she was the victim of a homicide, although her body has never been recovered.
• Her case remains an active unsolved investigation with the Alaska State Troopers and is listed among Alaska’s unresolved homicide cases.

Barbara Sue Jackson’s 1979 Disappearance Remains One of Alaska’s Longest-Running Unsolved Homicide Investigations

Barbara Sue Jackson vanished from Fairbanks, Alaska, on September 1, 1979, under circumstances investigators now believe were the result of foul play. More than four decades later, no arrests have been made, her remains have never been located, and the case continues to be investigated as a suspected homicide.

Jackson was 30 years old when she disappeared. She was described as a white female standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing around 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Publicly available information about the events immediately preceding her disappearance is limited, a common challenge in older cold cases where original investigative records may be incomplete or unavailable.

Although Barbara Jackson was initially classified as a missing person, investigators have long suspected she was murdered despite the absence of a recovered body. Her disappearance is now included on the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s official list of unresolved homicides, reflecting law enforcement’s belief that criminal activity was involved.

Investigation

The Alaska State Troopers continue to maintain Barbara Jackson’s case within the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s cold case program. In recent years, Alaska has expanded its resources dedicated to unresolved homicide investigations through its Cold Case Investigative Unit and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Unit. While Jackson’s case predates these specialized units by decades, it remains listed as an active unresolved homicide eligible for continued investigative review.

As with many historical cases, investigators may periodically review physical evidence, witness statements, and available records using modern forensic methods when new technology or investigative leads become available.

Latest Investigation Information

As of the most recent update from the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Barbara Sue Jackson’s homicide remains unsolved and active.

The Alaska Bureau of Investigation continues to publicly list her among the state’s unresolved homicide victims and encourages anyone with information—even information previously believed to be insignificant—to contact investigators. The case has not been closed, and there have been no publicly announced arrests or identified suspects.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Alaska Bureau of Investigation or Alaska State Troopers.