Overview

• Full name: Mary Catherine Green
• Age at disappearance: 62
• Date last seen: June 18, 2026
• Approximate time: 3:30 p.m.
• Last known location: Greenbrier Road area, near Richwood
• City: Richwood area
• County: Nicholas County
• State: West Virginia
• Case classification: Missing person; Silver Alert issued
• Current publicly documented status: Missing; no verified recovery or resolution located
• Investigating agency: West Virginia State Police
• Medical vulnerability: Dementia
• Main circumstances: Mary disappeared from her yard while her husband prepared dinner. Authorities investigated the possibility that she entered nearby woods, but her subsequent movements have not been established.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Mary Catherine Green Missing in Richwood, West Virginia: The Unsolved June 2026 Disappearance and Search for Answers

On June 18, 2026, 62-year-old Mary Catherine Green disappeared from the yard of her home near Richwood, West Virginia. Her husband was preparing supper when she vanished. What began as an urgent search of the surrounding countryside became a prolonged effort involving West Virginia State Police, firefighters, search-and-rescue personnel, trained dogs, aircraft, and community volunteers.

Mary was living with dementia, making her disappearance particularly concerning. Despite extensive searches of wooded terrain and nearby roads, authorities reported finding no trace of her during the initial investigation.

As of October 25, 2026, no publicly confirmed resolution to Mary’s disappearance has been located in the sources reviewed.

Case Summary

• Full name: Mary Catherine Green
• Age at disappearance: 62
• Date last seen: June 18, 2026
• Approximate time: 3:30 p.m.
• Last known location: Greenbrier Road area, near Richwood
• City: Richwood area
• County: Nicholas County
• State: West Virginia
• Case classification: Missing person; Silver Alert issued
• Current publicly documented status: Missing; no verified recovery or resolution located
• Investigating agency: West Virginia State Police
• Medical vulnerability: Dementia
• Main circumstances: Mary disappeared from her yard while her husband prepared dinner. Authorities investigated the possibility that she entered nearby woods, but her subsequent movements have not been established.

Sources: WV MetroNews, June 23, 2026 and WV MetroNews, June 26, 2026.

Background: Who Is Mary Catherine Green?

Mary Catherine Green was 62 years old when she disappeared from the Richwood area of Nicholas County, West Virginia.

According to information released during the search, Mary was living with dementia, a condition that can affect memory, orientation, judgment, and a person’s ability to navigate familiar surroundings.

Her family described a routine in which Mary would spend time standing outside in the yard while her husband prepared supper. This familiar daily activity became central to understanding the final reported moments before her disappearance.

According to a June 26, 2026, report by WV MetroNews, Mary’s husband said she had been outside while he cooked. He checked on her, returned inside, and later discovered that she was gone.

Investigators also reported that Mary did not drive, an important consideration when determining how far she might have traveled.

Physical Description and Clothing

A missing-person case profile published by The Disappearance of Mary Green provides the following description:

• Height: Approximately 5 feet 3 inches
• Weight: Approximately 130–145 pounds
• Hair: Gray, medium length
• Eyes: Green
• Eyeglasses: Normally worn, although it was unknown whether she had them when she disappeared
• Last reported clothing: Cream-colored sweater, gray sweatpants, and plastic or rubber shoes
• Jewelry: Rings on her fingers and a gold necklace

These details may help distinguish Mary from other missing individuals. However, clothing and appearance may change over time.

Sources: The Disappearance of Mary Green and WV MetroNews search coverage.

The Disappearance on June 18, 2026

The afternoon of Thursday, June 18, 2026, reportedly began as an ordinary day at Mary’s home along Greenbrier Road near Richwood.

Mary was outside in the yard while her husband prepared supper.

Her husband later told search personnel that he had checked on her and found nothing unusual. He returned to cooking, expecting Mary to remain nearby.

When he went to call her inside at approximately 3:30 p.m., she was missing.

There was no publicly documented explanation for where she had gone.

The Possibility That Mary Entered the Woods

Initial reporting from West Virginia State Police indicated that Mary was last seen leaving the area of her home and entering a wooded location.

Other reporting, based on her husband’s account, described her last confirmed presence as standing in the yard.

These accounts are not necessarily contradictory, but the publicly available reporting does not establish precisely who observed her entering the woods or the exact route she took.

Authorities considered the possibility that Mary had wandered into surrounding wooded terrain.

Given her dementia and inability to drive, investigators focused substantial resources on the area surrounding her home.

However, the possibility that she walked into the woods should not be confused with confirmation of what happened afterward.

Source: WAJR, June 23, 2026.

Investigation History and Search Efforts

West Virginia State Police Issue a Silver Alert

By June 23, 2026, West Virginia State Police were publicly seeking information about Mary’s disappearance, and a Silver Alert had been issued.

The alert reflected concerns about her safety, particularly because she was reportedly living with dementia.

Mary’s information was also entered into the National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, a law enforcement information system used to share records about missing individuals.

The existence of an NCIC entry does not mean a crime occurred. It is a tool for identifying and locating missing people.

Authorities asked anyone with information to contact West Virginia State Police at 304-256-6700.

Source: WV MetroNews, June 23, 2026.

Ground Searches and Roadway Investigations

Search teams initially concentrated on roads, trails, and other routes Mary might have followed on foot.

According to Richwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tommy Coleman, searchers used vehicles, four-wheelers, and side-by-sides to investigate the surrounding area.

The initial search extended approximately 10 miles from the home along accessible routes, but it produced no confirmed discovery of Mary’s whereabouts.

Searchers later planned more detailed foot searches along roads, examining areas approximately five to 50 feet from the roadways and working toward a distance of about two miles from the residence.

These efforts were intended to identify locations that might not have been visible during earlier vehicle-based searches.

Search Dogs, Helicopters, and Thermal Drones

The search expanded to include several specialized resources.

Multiple canine searches were conducted. A helicopter was used during the earlier stages, and drones equipped with thermal imaging technology were deployed to examine the terrain.

Chief Coleman told WV MetroNews that three drones were operating on the night of the disappearance. State Police subsequently continued aerial search efforts.

Despite these measures, search teams had not located Mary or a confirmed trace of her by June 26.

Community Volunteers and Continued Search Plans

By June 26, the search had continued for more than a week.

Chief Coleman stated that approximately 150 volunteers were expected to participate in additional weekend searches.

Organizers were preparing to continue despite forecasts of rain, which threatened to make the search more difficult.

The chief emphasized that personnel were not abandoning their efforts.

These were documented search plans as of June 26; the reporting reviewed does not independently confirm the final number of participants or the results of every subsequent search.

Source: WV MetroNews, June 26, 2026.

Evidence and Investigative Limitations

The most significant publicly reported finding during the initial investigation was the absence of a confirmed location for Mary despite extensive searching.

As of the last detailed search report reviewed, authorities had not publicly announced the discovery of physical evidence that established what happened to her.

The available reporting does not document a confirmed suspect, arrest, criminal charge, forensic identification, or DNA breakthrough connected to Mary’s disappearance.

No reliable source reviewed establishes that her disappearance was a homicide.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

Several possibilities have been discussed or considered in connection with Mary’s disappearance. None should be treated as a confirmed explanation.

Could Mary Have Become Lost in the Woods?

The principal search scenario involved Mary leaving the immediate vicinity of her home and becoming disoriented in the surrounding terrain.

Dementia can cause wandering and difficulties with navigation, even in familiar places.

Investigators’ focus on roads, trails, wooded areas, and logging routes was consistent with that concern.

However, no publicly verified discovery establishes that Mary became lost or suffered an accident in the woods.

Could She Have Left the Area by Vehicle?

Investigators acknowledged that Mary might somehow have traveled beyond the immediate search area.

However, they considered that possibility less likely because she did not drive and was not believed likely to enter a vehicle with someone else.

There is no publicly confirmed report in the sources reviewed of a vehicle transporting Mary away from the property.

Is There Evidence of Foul Play?

The reviewed reporting does not identify verified evidence of an abduction, assault, or homicide.

There are no publicly confirmed suspects or persons of interest identified in the sources examined.

It would therefore be inaccurate to describe Mary’s case as a murder investigation.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

Important questions include whether Mary entered the woods, what direction she traveled, how far she could have walked, and whether any evidence was overlooked in areas previously searched.

Another unresolved issue is whether subsequent search operations produced information that has not been publicly released.

These questions identify gaps in the public record rather than evidence supporting any particular theory.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates

June 27, 2026: Large Volunteer Search Organized

Additional reporting by WV News documented a major grid-search operation scheduled for Saturday, June 27, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Richwood Fire Department.

The report stated that the initial search began at approximately 5:30 p.m. on June 18, when the fire department was alerted. It also described participation by approximately 100 volunteers and roughly 15 emergency-response agencies during the early multi-day effort.

The terrain included steep, rocky, and heavily wooded areas near Monongahela National Forest, presenting significant challenges for ground teams.

Source: WV News search coverage.

Late June 2026: Search Focus Shifted

A subsequent report from Lootpress described an important change in search operations.

According to a statement attributed to the Richwood Fire Department, West Virginia State Police directed that the search along Greenbrier Road be paused while investigators considered other areas and possible locations.

This represented a change in search strategy, not confirmation that Mary had been located or that investigators had established what happened.

The report did not identify a confirmed discovery, suspect, or criminal offense.

Source: Lootpress search update.

July 2026: Family Interview and Public Awareness

A July 2026 episode of the Creepalachia podcast featured an interview with Mary’s daughter, Brooke Neil, discussing the disappearance and efforts to locate her mother.

The interview represents a family perspective and public-awareness effort, rather than an official investigative finding.

Its publication shows that the family continued seeking attention for Mary’s case after the initial searches.

Source: Creepalachia family interview.

August 2026: Continued Public Discussion

An August 2026 discussion on Websleuths continued to reference Mary’s missing-person case and her NamUs listing.

Community discussion can help maintain awareness, but statements made by forum participants should not be treated as verified law enforcement findings.

No publicly confirmed investigative breakthrough was established by that discussion.

Source: Websleuths case discussion.

Status as of October 25, 2026

The latest sources located continue to document Mary’s disappearance, the initial search operations, subsequent changes in search focus, and family awareness efforts.

No publicly confirmed recent developments establishing her recovery, identification of remains, an arrest, or a criminal prosecution were located.

Mary’s precise current administrative status should be confirmed directly with West Virginia State Police or NamUs before publication of any new claim that her case has been resolved.

Conclusion: The Search for Mary Catherine Green

Mary Catherine Green disappeared from a familiar place during an ordinary afternoon in June 2026.

Her husband reported that she had been standing outside while he prepared dinner. Within a short period, she was gone.

Search teams examined roads, wooded terrain, and nearby routes. They used dogs, drones, aircraft, and coordinated volunteer efforts. Yet the public reporting reviewed has not established where Mary went or what happened after she disappeared.

Her case remains a reminder of the urgency surrounding disappearances involving people living with dementia and the difficulties that search personnel can encounter in mountainous, heavily wooded areas.

Anyone with information about Mary Catherine Green’s whereabouts, or who recalls seeing someone matching her description on or after June 18, 2026, is encouraged to contact West Virginia State Police at 304-256-6700.

Even information that seems insignificant may help investigators reconstruct her movements.

The central question remains unanswered: What happened to Mary Catherine Green after she disappeared from her Richwood-area home?