Overview

Allen was last seen at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 4, 2017, leaving the group home located in the 3600 block of Snapfinger Road in Lithonia, DeKalb County. She was reportedly wearing a maroon shirt, black pants, earrings, and possibly a red headscarf. She stood about 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighed approximately 120 pounds, and had black hair and brown eyes.

One of the most troubling aspects of the case is that Allen reportedly left behind her eyeglasses, medication, and other personal belongings despite depending on them daily. Her disappearance raised immediate questions about how someone requiring constant supervision was able to leave unnoticed.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Allen Disappearance:
Woman Vanished From Georgia Group Home in 2017 as Family Still Seeks Answers

Eva Gwendolyn “Gwen” Allen disappeared during the early morning hours of July 4, 2017, after walking away from a supervised group home on Snapfinger Road in Lithonia, Georgia. More than eight years later, the vulnerable missing person’s case remains unsolved, with no confirmed sightings and no public indication that investigators have identified what happened to her.

Allen, who was 67 years old at the time of her disappearance, suffered from bipolar disorder and required around-the-clock supervision. According to her family, she had previously wandered away during a mental health crisis and had been placed in the residential care facility because she could no longer safely live on her own.

The Night Gwen Allen Disappeared

Allen was last seen at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 4, 2017, leaving the group home located in the 3600 block of Snapfinger Road in Lithonia, DeKalb County. She was reportedly wearing a maroon shirt, black pants, earrings, and possibly a red headscarf. She stood about 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighed approximately 120 pounds, and had black hair and brown eyes.

One of the most troubling aspects of the case is that Allen reportedly left behind her eyeglasses, medication, and other personal belongings despite depending on them daily. Her disappearance raised immediate questions about how someone requiring constant supervision was able to leave unnoticed.

A Cell Phone That Stayed Active

Allen’s daughter, Debra, repeatedly called her mother’s cell phone after she vanished. For several days, the calls continued to ring without being answered.

Investigators later learned that the phone was used after Allen disappeared. Records reportedly showed repeated outgoing attempts to dial “1-2-3,” leading investigators and family members to believe Allen may have been confused or attempting to seek help while experiencing a mental health crisis. The phone stopped showing activity around July 9, 2017, and has never been traced to Allen’s whereabouts.

Investigation Remains Active

Despite years of investigation, authorities have not publicly announced any confirmed sightings, arrests, or evidence explaining Allen’s disappearance.

The case remains classified as an active missing person investigation. Public databases and missing persons organizations continue to list Allen as missing, and investigators continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.

Latest Investigation Information

As of July 2026, there have been no publicly announced major developments indicating that Allen has been located or that investigators have identified a suspect or determined what happened to her. Her case remains open with the DeKalb County Police Department, and missing persons organizations continue to feature her case in hopes that renewed public awareness may generate new leads.

Anyone with information about Eva Gwendolyn “Gwen” Allen’s disappearance is encouraged to contact investigators.

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Facebook Post:
Gwendolyn “Gwen” Allen was 67 years old when she disappeared from the 3600 block of Snapfinger Road in Lithonia, Georgia, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 4, 2017. She was living in a group home because she required around-the-clock care. Gwen is a Black female with black hair and brown eyes, 5’2” tall and approximately 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing a maroon shirt, black pants, earrings, and possibly a red scarf. She has pierced ears, a large burn scar on her arm from her elbow to her wrist, and normally wears prescription eyeglasses, which were left behind. She is also known by the nickname “Gwen.”

Gwen suffers from bipolar disorder, is classified as disabled, and may become confused or disoriented. Her daughter said she had been struggling with her mental illness before she disappeared. In the days after she went missing, her daughter repeatedly called Gwen’s cell phone until it died on July 9. Although no one answered, phone records showed it was still being used, and someone repeatedly dialed “1-2-3,” leading her family to believe Gwen may have been confused and trying to use the phone.

Nearly nine years have passed, and Gwen has never been found. Her family continues searching for answers and hopes someone remembers seeing her or knows what happened that morning. If you have any information about Gwendolyn Allen’s disappearance, please contact the DeKalb County Police Department at (770) 724-7715. Please continue sharing her story—one tip could finally bring Gwen home.