Overview

Last known period: Early September 1972, based on contemporaneous reporting; some later missing-person records list July 1, 1973.

Last confirmed communication: A letter sent from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Linda’s family in early September 1972.

Home/location associated with disappearance: San Rafael, Marin County, California.

Circumstances: Linda, 18, and Cary Kristal, 19, reportedly left San Rafael by Greyhound bus on August 18, 1972, for Guadalajara. They planned to return by approximately September 9 so they could enroll for the fall semester at College of Marin. They never returned.

Case numbers: NamUs MP11802; Marin County Sheriff’s Office SO01-6009; Doe Network 3087DFCA.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Linda Ann Miller Disappearance: What Happened to the San Rafael Teen Who Traveled to Mexico?

Linda Ann Miller—also identified in some records as Linda Anne Miller—was a teenager from San Rafael, California, who disappeared after traveling to Mexico with 19-year-old Cary Kristal. More than five decades later, neither Linda nor Cary has been publicly located, and Linda remains listed in missing-person databases.

Brief Case Summary

Last known period: Early September 1972, based on contemporaneous reporting; some later missing-person records list July 1, 1973.

Last confirmed communication: A letter sent from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Linda’s family in early September 1972.

Home/location associated with disappearance: San Rafael, Marin County, California.

Circumstances: Linda, 18, and Cary Kristal, 19, reportedly left San Rafael by Greyhound bus on August 18, 1972, for Guadalajara. They planned to return by approximately September 9 so they could enroll for the fall semester at College of Marin. They never returned.

Case numbers: NamUs MP11802; Marin County Sheriff’s Office SO01-6009; Doe Network 3087DFCA.

Linda Ann Miller Leaves California for Mexico

Linda was born July 3, 1954 and was approximately 18 years old when she disappeared. Available records describe her as about 5 feet 4 inches tall and 112 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes. NamUs-derived records have classified her as American Indian/Alaska Native, although no specific tribal affiliation has been publicly identified.

On August 18, 1972, Linda reportedly left San Rafael with her friend Cary Kristal. The pair traveled by Greyhound bus toward Guadalajara, Mexico. Contemporary information later compiled from 1972 newspaper coverage indicates that the two intended to return to Marin County around September 9 in time to register for classes at College of Marin.

A Letter From Guadalajara Becomes the Last Known Contact

Linda’s family reportedly received a letter from her that was postmarked from Guadalajara in early September 1972. No later confirmed communication from Linda has been publicly documented.

When Linda and Cary failed to return as planned, their families and authorities began trying to determine what had happened to them. Newspaper reports published in 1972 demonstrate that authorities were aware of their disappearance at the time—an important detail because later database summaries say Linda was not formally reported missing until her sister contacted authorities in 2001.

That apparent contradiction may reflect the difference between an investigation or inquiry made in 1972 and the creation of the modern missing-person case file decades later.

Did Linda Die in a Mexico City Fire?

One of the most significant early possibilities involved a rooming-house fire in Mexico City.

According to information traced to a December 28, 1972 Daily Independent Journal report, Mexican authorities believed Linda might possibly have been among the victims of the fire and requested her dental information for comparison. San Rafael authorities reportedly forwarded the records, but investigators had not received a definitive response by late December.

Linda’s stepfather reportedly considered another possibility: that Linda and Cary had somehow been detained in Mexico and were unable to contact their families. Neither explanation has been publicly confirmed.

There is currently no verified evidence establishing that Linda died in the fire, was imprisoned, voluntarily remained in Mexico, or became the victim of a crime.

Why Do Some Records Say Linda Disappeared in 1973?

One of the most confusing parts of Linda Miller’s case is its date.

Several NamUs-derived websites list July 1, 1973, in San Rafael as Linda’s missing date and state that her sister reported in 2001 that Linda went to Guadalajara with a man possibly named Cary Kristal. Uncovered, for example, continues to display the July 1, 1973 date.

However, the Doe Network’s current chronological index places Linda’s case under September 9, 1972, and historical information reproduced from 1972 newspaper articles says Linda and Cary actually departed California on August 18, 1972 and were expected back by September 9.

Because contemporary newspaper coverage existed in October and December 1972, the 1972 chronology is strongly supported. The July 1973 date appears to come from the later missing-person report or database entry rather than the earliest known documentation.

The 2001 Missing-Person Report

Modern summaries of the case state that Linda’s sister reported her missing in 2001, telling authorities that Linda had gone to Guadalajara with a male companion whose name may have been Cary Kristal and never returned.

Linda’s case was subsequently incorporated into national missing-person systems. Her NamUs number is MP11802, and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office case number associated with her disappearance is SO01-6009. The Doe Network created case 3087DFCA for Linda in October 2011 and recorded another case-information update in October 2021.

What Happened to Cary Kristal?

Cary Kristal was reportedly 19 when he traveled with Linda.

Available historical accounts indicate that he also failed to return. An obituary for Cary’s father reportedly later stated that Cary had predeceased him, but publicly accessible sources do not establish when, where or under what circumstances Cary was determined to have died.

Cary should therefore not be described as a suspect based on the available evidence. The surviving public record portrays him as Linda’s traveling companion who also disappeared.

Latest Publicly Available Investigation Information

As of September 2026, no publicly announced identification, arrest, recovery of Linda, or definitive explanation for her disappearance could be located.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office continues to direct the public to NamUs for its publicly releasable missing-person cases and provides an investigations number for information concerning cases. Its current missing-person policy states that missing-person reports are not considered routine and describes the use of NamUs, NCIC, California’s Missing Person System and other investigative resources.

Linda also remains present in the Doe Network’s California missing-person index rather than its resolved-case listings.

There has been continued public interest. In August 2026, for example, Websleuths users discussed Linda while comparing possible missing-person candidates to an unidentified California woman. Such forum comparisons can generate tips, but there is no indication that this particular comparison represents an official law-enforcement identification or investigative development.

At present, the central unanswered questions remain the same: what happened after Linda’s last communication from Mexico, whether the Mexico City fire was ever conclusively ruled in or out, what became of Cary Kristal, and why the historical 1972 chronology differs from the date entered in later missing-person records.