Overview

Last seen: April 3, 1976
Location: West Los Angeles, California
Age: 23
Status: Missing
Also known as: Wilma Rae Swanson

Main circumstances: Wilma disappeared from West Los Angeles. Family and friends reportedly attempted to reach her afterward. Missing-person sources state that her husband initially indicated that she was not there and later said he did not know where she was. She has not been publicly reported as located.

Key identifying information: Brown hair, brown eyes, surgical scar on the left knee, discoloration on the abdomen and distinctive dental work. Dental X-rays are available.

Investigation: The Los Angeles Police Department is the reporting agency. California’s missing-person database continues to carry Wilma’s case. No publicly documented resolution was located.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Wilma Rae Vermaas: Missing from West Los Angeles Since 1976

Wilma Rae Vermaas was 23 years old when she disappeared from West Los Angeles, California, on April 3, 1976. Nearly five decades later, her disappearance remains unresolved, and she continues to be listed as a missing person by the California Department of Justice.

Who Was Wilma Rae Vermaas?

Wilma Rae Vermaas, whose maiden name was Swanson and who is also listed as Wilma Rae Swanson, was born May 24, 1952. She was a white woman with brown hair and brown eyes. The California Department of Justice lists her as approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and 110 pounds at the time she disappeared.

More detailed missing-person records describe Wilma as approximately 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing between 105 and 115 pounds. Identifying characteristics included a large surgical scar on her left knee, discoloration on her abdomen and pierced ears. Her dental characteristics were particularly distinctive: both upper front teeth were reportedly false, while one lower front tooth was a smaller baby tooth. Dental records or X-rays are reported to be available.

Wilma Vermaas Disappears in West Los Angeles

Wilma was last seen in West Los Angeles on April 3, 1976. Publicly available official records provide very little information about exactly where she was last seen, what she was doing that day, what she was wearing or the circumstances immediately preceding her disappearance.

Accounts preserved by The Charley Project, Doe Network-derived case information and missing-person discussion archives provide an additional detail about what reportedly happened afterward.

According to those accounts, Wilma’s family and friends attempted to contact her. Her husband reportedly initially told them that she was not there or was out. He eventually said that he did not know where she was. Wilma was never heard from again.

The available public records do not establish that Wilma was the victim of homicide, identify a suspect or publicly explain what investigators believe happened to her. Her husband’s reported statements are part of the circumstances recorded by secondary missing-person sources, but those statements alone should not be interpreted as evidence that he was responsible for her disappearance.

Identifying Wilma

Wilma’s physical and dental characteristics could be particularly important in a disappearance dating to 1976.

The California Department of Justice confirms that dental X-rays are available and records a scar on her left knee and discoloration on her abdomen. Other missing-person databases describe the knee scar as a large surgical scar and document her unusual dental characteristics.

These details have also resulted in members of online missing-person communities comparing Wilma with unidentified people discovered elsewhere. Such proposed comparisons should be treated as public tips or discussion rather than confirmed investigative findings unless law enforcement or NamUs documents a match or exclusion.

Case Numbers and Missing-Person Records

Wilma’s Los Angeles Police Department case number is 8508-30429. The California Department of Justice currently associates that case with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Wilma is also associated with NamUs #MP5489 in missing-person records and discussions. Doe Network identifies her as Case 1162DFCA, while archived case information gives an NCIC number of M-177947600.

Latest Information on the Investigation

As of the latest publicly accessible information located for this article, Wilma has not been publicly reported as found or identified. The California Department of Justice continues to maintain an active public missing-person entry for Wilma and lists the Los Angeles Police Department as the reporting agency. The current California DOJ entry gives LAPD’s contact number as 213-996-1800 and case number 8508-30429.

The most recent specifically dated case-update notice located during this review comes from Doe Network. Its update archive states that Wilma’s 1162DFCA case information was updated on October 27, 2021. The notice says only that the case information was updated; it does not announce a new investigative development, suspect, identification or resolution.

The California DOJ page, which was accessible and indexed recently, continues to classify Wilma as a missing person. No reliable public source located for this review documents an arrest, homicide determination, confirmed suspect, recovery of Wilma’s remains or resolution of her disappearance.

Very Brief Case Summary

Last seen: April 3, 1976
Location: West Los Angeles, California
Age: 23
Status: Missing
Also known as: Wilma Rae Swanson

Main circumstances: Wilma disappeared from West Los Angeles. Family and friends reportedly attempted to reach her afterward. Missing-person sources state that her husband initially indicated that she was not there and later said he did not know where she was. She has not been publicly reported as located.

Key identifying information: Brown hair, brown eyes, surgical scar on the left knee, discoloration on the abdomen and distinctive dental work. Dental X-rays are available.

Investigation: The Los Angeles Police Department is the reporting agency. California’s missing-person database continues to carry Wilma’s case. No publicly documented resolution was located.