Time doesn’t always heal all wounds. Ask the family of Nita Mayo.
Eight years ago they received the tragic news that their beloved mother had gone missing on a road trip to Sonora, Calif. Instead of the family receiving postcards or photos from their mother, the family was notified that Mayo had not returned to Hawthorne.
Mayo, a nurse at Mt. Grant General Hospital, had decided to take a road trip over Sonora Pass with a friend. At the last minute, the friend had to cancel. Instead of canceling her plans, Mayo would set out on her own. This was not unusual for Mayo, who was known to go on backpacking trips by herself.
The last known sighting of the small English nurse was in Hawthorne at her home on the day she departed. Colleagues at Mt. Grant General Hospital immediately noticed her disappearance and reported her missing. The report touched off a two-state search for the missing motorist.
Mayo was described a five feet tall and about 140 pounds with hazel brown eyes. She spoke with an English accent and was believed to have been traveling alone. Those that knew her described her as always having a smile on her face and always ready to help.
Mineral County Search and Rescue began by combing over Lucky Boy to Bridgeport, Calif. in search of any possible sightings of Mayo. On August 8, 2005, a CalTrans worker in the vicinity of Donnell’s Vista Outlook on Sonora Pass reported a 1997 silver Mercury Sable station wagon at the outlook point that looked abandoned.
Investigators in Tuolomne County, California didn’t hear about the report until the next day. Found inside were Mayo’s purse; wallet; keys and cell phone. Mayo had also purchased souveniors at the Strawberry General Store. Everything was found just as Mayo had left it. The only things missing were Mayo and her camera.
The discovery of Mayo’s car focused the search efforts in California. But five days of searching turned up nothing, and the search was called off.
Earlier this year Mayo was legally declared dead in court, though the family still holds onto the glimmer of hope that someday their questions of “where” “how” and “why” will be answered.
Cindy Mayo, Nita Mayo’s daughter, said, “I think about her everyday and miss her so much. I will always have hope. She lives on in our hearts.”
Although the official search to find Mayo have long since ended, unofficial efforts continue.
A five week search effort in the Sonora area turned up no new clues; nor did a search spearheaded by Tim Miller of Equusearch. Miller spent hours on horseback looking for one small shred of evidence as to where the beloved mother and nurse may have disappeared to.
Some may believe that she will never be found, but residents of Mineral County who knew the nurse, do not want her name to go into the ‘cold case’ file. Co-worker Kristin Stinson, remembers each anniversary and reflects on her friend.
“I can’t believe it has been eight years since she went missing and there is no trace of her,” Stinson said. “She is always in my thoughts and she will forever be in my heart, as will her family.”
To date, there are still no answers, no suspects and no idea where Nita Mayo went but daughter Tracy O. Mayo wants those to know.
“We miss her dearly and she is constantly in our thoughts.” Tracy O. Mayo said. “If anyone has information as to her disappearance, please come forward so that our family can finally have the peace we need and pray for daily.”
The case leaves a haunting reminder on the desk of those who deal with missing persons cases. Former Mineral County Sheriff Edward Smith remembers the day clearly yet his thoughts go out to the family of Mayo.
“God bless her soul. I think of her often. Someday, someday…we will know what happened then her family and we all may have some closure,” he said. “She will never be forgotten. God bless.”
Scott Johnson from the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, who is in charge of the case, gave a short statement during a phone call interview.
“I can’t believe it has been eight years,” he said. “I’ve spoken with the investigator on Nita’s case. Even though no new information has come forward, the file is open and active.”
As always, those that may have anything to contribute to the case, regardless of how small the piece of information may be, are urged to call the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office at 209-533-5815 or the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office at 775-945-2434.
I tried to help the family find their Mom–but the police told me to leave the family alone or i could get arrested. so Of course i did–that was around the end of 2005. I told the authorities that i had been able to find lost dogs and lost keys–why not give me a chance to help find Nita mayo? something inside me said–she is not where they are looking and they need to look for a living woman not a dead one. I got a lot of clues in my head. i got a picture of a man who was taking care of her–she had had amnesia and didnt know who she was. the picture showed a doctors office and the words angels camp. then i saw the phone number–and i wrote it down and called it. it turned out to be a doctors office on main st. in angels camp. because of all that i figures i was on to something–so i made a lot of notes over the period of several weeks. then i contacted the Tuol. county sheriffs off. and 2 men came to my apt. one was local–the other looked like a federal agent. i talked with them and said “the dogs did not pick up a scent–i know this–thats because she was NOT in that car–it was driven by someone else and left there” i handed them all my notes–i said–if i got anything wrong–tell me and i can work on it…i never heard back from anyone again..i would love to discuss this with a family member–i think i do know what happened and why it happened. if they would contact me–i dont think i can get arrested for that.
sincerely, Rev. Karina
209-532-4846
please write to me and i will explain what I believe happened to Nita Mayo.
I do know where she is now. She is at Peace. I was able to have a long conversation and i just wish someone would contact me concerning this lovely person.
if i do not hear anything after posting this..i will not ever bother to do more.
i will not make a pest of myself. I work to make closure for many people who have lost loved ones–and i have been able to help these people understand what happened.
but I will not continue to ask to help any longer. it will mean to me that my work was for nothing. and i will close the book on this search.
Sincerely, Yours In Jesus Christ,
rev. Karina,
(ministry of healing and personal prophecy)
Sonora, Ca.
(not2kareful@gmail.com)
Tracy I am so sorry and I pray for you and your family. I pray you have gotten closure. You probably don’t remember me but I sure would like to talk because its been about 7 years. Take care. My email is zigger21@hotmail.com or zieglerj-PDM-Specialist@outlook.com
Karina,
If you think you know something then why don’t you spit it out. Why would you be so adamant that the family contact you in order for you to bring what you think you know to light…unless,of course, you want to hit them up for money or donations or something like that. Truth does not wait to be called upon. Truth DEMANDS to be heard. I would think a “Reverend” would know that. Put up or shut up, please.
Thank you for saying EXACTLY what I was thinking, Karina. Also, I think the “reverend” needs to brush up on his spelling and punctuation.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if she disappeared in August of 2005, then she’s been gone for NINE years, correct ?
The article was written in 2013, Rick.