- A 69-year-old Utah woman, DeEtte Spencer, is missing after a mysterious route change.
- She was last seen on Jan. 26 at a Walmart in Price, Utah, investigators say.
- The family is urging public help; the public is asked to contact the Garfield County Sheriff's Office with any information.
SALT LAKE CITY — A desperate search is underway for a 69‑year‑old Utah woman who vanished after leaving her daughter's home in Colorado. Investigators say she was last seen at a Walmart in Price.
Family members say it has now been one week since DeEtte Spencer left her daughter's home in Rangely, Colorado. She was supposed to be driving to her home in Escalante, but instead ended up in the Price area — an entirely different direction.
"It's a scary time for us," her younger brother, Brad Allen, told KSL. He said the family fears she may be stranded somewhere without help.
"We're really scared that she's out there somewhere, stuck in a snowbank or on a dirt road where she has no contact with anybody," he said.
"It's hard to even think of somebody out there alone, especially with winter, and it's cold," said Juliann Allen, Brad's wife and Spencer's daughter-in-law.
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said Spencer was last seen on Jan. 26, about 10:30 p.m., at the Walmart in Price. A surveillance photo of her in the store and what she was wearing was released to the media. Investigators do not suspect foul play.
They also say she doesn't have any known medical issues that may have led to her disappearance and that the sheriff's office has checked hospitals across the state.
"She ended up in Price. And that's the last contact we've had," her brother said.
For the past week, family members have traveled hundreds of miles across Utah and Colorado, retracing possible routes in hopes of finding clues. So far, they've turned up nothing.
They are urging anyone who may have seen Spencer or her white 2010 Buick Lucerne with Utah license number E604JU to come forward.
"Keep your eyes open. If you see a car that doesn't look like it should be there, reach out and see if somebody needs some help," her brother added.
Spencer's disappearance comes just months after a tragedy for the family. DeEtte's husband died in November after crashing his ultralight aircraft.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garfield County Sheriff's Office at 435-676-2678.
