Leah Toby Roberts was born on 23 July 1976, in Durham, North Carolina. She was a student at North Carolina State University, majoring in Spanish and anthropology. In the years leading up to her disappearance, Leah faced significant personal tragedies. Her father passed away from a chronic illness and her mother died suddenly from heart disease.
According to Ranker, Leah also survived a serious car crash that left her with a metal rod inserted in her femur. These events profoundly impacted her leading her to seek meaning and direction in her life. She found inspiration in the works of Jack Kerouac, particularly The Dharma Bums which influenced her decision to embark on a cross-country journey.
“She was trying to find herself, to figure out what she wanted to do with her life,” recalled her sister, Kara Roberts.
Departure from Durham
On 9 March 2000, Leah spoke with her roommate, Nicole Bennett about plans to babysit the following day. Later that day, she withdrew several thousand dollars from her bank account, packed her belongings including her kitten Bea and left Durham in her white 1993 Jeep Cherokee without informing friends or family.
She left behind a note stating, “I’m not suicidal. I’m the opposite,” along with cash to cover household expenses. The note also referenced Jack Kerouac and included a drawing of the Cheshire Cat’s grin.
“Remember Kerouac,” she wrote, indicating her desire for a journey of self-discovery, per Unsolved.
Leah’s bank records and receipts traced her journey westward. She made purchases in several states including Tennessee and Oregon. The last confirmed activity was a gas purchase in Brooks, Oregon, on 13 March 2000.
Security camera footage from the gas station showed her alone and appearing in good condition, although she seemed to be looking around the parking lot while waiting for her transaction to be completed, as Wikipedia noted.
“She looked like she was waiting for someone,” noted the gas station attendant.
Sightings in Bellingham, Washington
On 13 March, Leah was reportedly seen at a restaurant in the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, Washington. She dined alone at the bar between two male patrons. One of the men later contacted the police, stating that Leah had been talkative and friendly, discussing her travels and interest in Jack Kerouac.
According to Grunge, the second man claimed that Leah left with a third individual named “Barry,” providing a description for a police sketch. However, the first man did not recall seeing this third person and no other witnesses could corroborate the existence of “Barry.”
“She was very open about her journey and seemed excited,” the first man recounted.
On 18 March 2000, a couple jogging along Canyon Creek Road, near Mount Baker Highway in Whatcom County, Washington, discovered Leah’s Jeep Cherokee wrecked at the bottom of a steep embankment. Clothing was found hanging from trees near the crash site.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found Leah’s belongings including cash, jewelry, her mother’s engagement ring and a small cat carrier but no sign of Leah or her kitten. Blankets and pillows were hung inside the windows, suggesting the vehicle may have been used as shelter after the crash, as reported by Unsolved Mysteries.
“With the speed that the vehicle was traveling and the amount of damage, you would anticipate some type of injury to the person inside,” said Sergeant Kevin McFadden of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigation and Evidence
Initial investigations concluded that the Jeep had been traveling at approximately 40 mph when it went off the road. However, there was no evidence that anyone was inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.
In 2006, a re-examination of the vehicle revealed that a wire to the starter relay had been cut, allowing the car to accelerate without someone pressing the gas pedal, suggesting the crash was staged. A fingerprint under the hood and male DNA on Leah’s clothing were found but these have not led to any conclusive leads, per Wikipedia.
“It appeared as though the Jeep had been tampered with and that it would have taken someone with the knowledge of a mechanic,” stated Detective Smith.
A few days after the Jeep was discovered, an anonymous man called the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, claiming that his wife had seen Leah at a gas station in Everett, Washington. He stated that she appeared disoriented and confused. However, the caller hung up before providing further information and the tip could not be substantiated.
Search Efforts
Extensive searches were conducted in the area surrounding the crash site. Search and rescue teams including trained dogs and aerial surveys using helicopters, spent two weeks combing a large radius of dense forest around the crash site. A second search was performed in the late 2000s using cadaver dogs and metal detectors but no new evidence was discovered
“We hoped to find the metal rod in her leg, which would not decompose and would contain a serial number,” explained Detective Jamie Collins, per Grunge.
Leah’s disappearance has been featured on television programs such as Unsolved Mysteries and Disappeared, generating some new tips for investigators but nothing that proved credible.
In 2005, Monica Caison, with the help of a network of volunteers called Community United Effort (CUE), organized a caravan across the country to raise awareness about Leah’s case and other disappearances. This event has become an annual occurrence, noted CBS 17.
“We’re just trying to, you know, keep Leah’s face out there as much as possible,” said Kara Roberts during an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live.
Where Is Leah Roberts?
Despite extensive investigations and media coverage, Leah Roberts remains missing and her case is unsolved. Her family and friends continue to seek answers and efforts persist to keep her story in the public eye.
“It’s unlike Leah to not have called to let us know that she’s okay for this amount of time,” expressed her sister, Kara, as quoted by WRAL News.
