Thelma “Polly” Melton, 58, disappeared on September 25, 1981, while hiking the Deep Creek Trail in North Carolina with friends Trula Gudger and Pauline "Red" Cannon. Born February 26, 1923, in Alabama, Polly was known for her friendly and intelligent demeanor and had lived with her husband, Robert Melton, in an Airstream trailer near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each fall. On the day of her disappearance, Polly, a heavy smoker with health issues, walked ahead of her friends, vanished over a hill, and was never seen again. Search efforts revealed no signs of a struggle, though her scent was detected briefly on a tree. Authorities speculated she may have left the park voluntarily by vehicle, as her personal belongings, including ID, medication, and money, were left behind. Months later, a check made out to Polly was cashed in Alabama, fueling theories she started a new life. Despite reported sightings, her fate remains a mystery.

Ossuary 6 - Air Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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