Independent Detective Case File
Lori Dea Julian
Missing Suspected HomicideScottsdale, Maricopa, Arizona, USA
Overview
Lori Julian was last seen alive at the 7/11 gas station at McDowell and Granite Reef roads on July 16, 1991, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 31-year-old mother of 2 was battling an alcohol addiction at the time of her disappearance and was reported missing when she missed her daughter’s birthday on July 30th.
Detailed Case Breakdown
Lori Dea Julian Case: Timeline, Investigation, and What We Know Today
Lori Dea Julian vanished from Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 16, 1991, and more than three decades later, her disappearance remains one of Arizona’s enduring unsolved missing person cases. Despite renewed investigative efforts over the years, no arrests have been made, Lori has never been found, and investigators continue to seek information from the public.
Lori was 31 years old when she disappeared. A divorced mother of two daughters, she had recently experienced devastating personal loss after the death of her newborn son. Family members have said she was determined to change her life, reportedly planning to move in with a friend and seek treatment for alcohol and substance abuse before she vanished.
The Day Lori Disappeared
Investigators have encountered conflicting accounts regarding Lori’s last confirmed movements on July 16, 1991.
Various reports state she was last seen:
- Leaving a Scottsdale bar.
- At a 7-Eleven near Granite Reef and McDowell Roads.
- Near her attorney’s office while discussing an accident settlement.
Regardless of which account is accurate, Lori disappeared that day and has never contacted family again.
Although Lori occasionally traveled around the country and sometimes went weeks without contacting relatives, those closest to her said she always stayed in touch for important family occasions.
When she failed to contact her oldest daughter on her birthday on July 30, 1991, loved ones immediately realized something was seriously wrong and reported her missing.
Investigation
The Scottsdale Police Department initially classified Lori as a missing person.
Her disappearance received renewed attention when investigators reopened the case in 2003. Although no definitive evidence of a homicide has been publicly released, authorities and the FBI now state that foul play is suspected.
The FBI later added Lori to its ViCAP Missing Persons program, helping increase national awareness of the case.
Latest Investigation Information
As of 2026:
- Lori remains an active missing person case.
- The FBI continues to feature her case in its ViCAP Missing Persons database.
- Scottsdale Police have not announced any arrests or named suspects.
- No human remains have been publicly identified as Lori.
- Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
There have been no publicly announced investigative breakthroughs, forensic identifications, or criminal charges related to Lori’s disappearance. The investigation remains open.
Why Investigators Believe Foul Play Is Possible
Several circumstances have caused investigators and Lori’s family to suspect foul play:
- She abruptly stopped contacting her daughters.
- She missed her daughter’s birthday, something family says she would never intentionally do.
- She left behind family and future plans.
- No verified sightings have been confirmed since July 1991.
Despite these concerns, investigators have not publicly disclosed evidence identifying a suspect.
Public Assistance Requested
Investigators continue asking anyone who knew Lori in 1991—or who remembers seeing her around Scottsdale on July 16, 1991—to contact law enforcement.
Even information that seemed insignificant decades ago may now help investigators reconstruct Lori’s final movements.

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Facebook Post:
Lori Julian was last seen alive at the 7/11 gas station at McDowell and Granite Reef roads on July 16, 1991, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 31-year-old mother of 2 was battling an alcohol addiction at the time of her disappearance and was reported missing when she missed her daughter’s birthday on July 30th.
Lori was divorced from the father of her children, and she worked as a waitress and bartender and had been known to hitchhike. Lori had stopped by her lawyer’s office to discuss a pending accident settlement on the date she was last seen alive.
Lori has suffered a miscarriage months before she went missing. She also was planning to move in with a friend and go into rehab.
Her family feels she met with foul play, and they insist she would have never left her daughters behind. No suspects in the case have been publicly named by Scottsdale PD.
Social Media, News and Case Links:
Facebook Page: Lori’s Post
NamUs: Lori’s Page
Doe Network: Lori’s Page
FBI Page: Lori’s Page
Charley Project: Lori’s Page
Scottsdale Arizona PD: Person of Interest
Contact Information:
| Agency | Role | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale Police Department | Primary investigating agency | Main Phone: (480) 312-5000 |
| Scottsdale Police Department Investigations | Case information | Investigations: (480) 312-5155 |
| FBI ViCAP Program | National missing persons assistance | FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) |
| FBI Online Tips | Submit information electronically | https://tips.fbi.gov |
| NamUs | Missing persons database | https://namus.nij.ojp.gov |
Event Timeline Graph
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Lori Dea Julian is born. |
| Spring 1991 | Lori’s newborn son dies shortly after birth. Family says she planned to rebuild her life afterward. |
| July 16, 1991 | Lori is last seen in Scottsdale, Arizona. Accounts differ on her exact location. |
| July 30, 1991 | Lori misses her daughter’s birthday, prompting serious concern. |
| 1991 | Scottsdale Police begin a missing person investigation. |
| 2003 | Scottsdale Police reopen the investigation. |
| 2000s | FBI adds Lori’s case to the ViCAP Missing Persons program. |
| Present (2026) | Lori remains missing. The investigation is active, and authorities continue seeking public information. |
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Map Location
Scottsdale, Arizona
On July 16, 1991
Location disclaimer: This map may identify only the general city or surrounding area. It should not be interpreted as the exact location where the homicide occurred, where a person went missing, or where any other case event took place unless an exact location has been independently confirmed and entered.
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