Real Name: Desiree Chaunessy Carroll
Nicknames Desi
Location: Kosse, Texas
Date: March 25, 1983
Bio[]
Date of Birth: July 2, 1980
Height: 2'6"
Weight: 40 lbs.
Characteristics: White female with curly brown hair and brown eyes. She has a scar under her left eye from a dog bite. She suffered from allergies in 1983 which caused her nose to run, and dark circles to develop under her eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue turtleneck sweater, brown coveralls, and red sneakers.
Case[]
Details: Two-year-old Desiree Carroll is the daughter of Ann Elizabeth and Reggie Carroll. The couple divorced shortly after Desiree’s birth. Ann had primary custody of Desiree and their other daughter, five-year-old Heather. In March 1983, Ann moved with the children into a house owned by her boyfriend, David Morris. The house was in a rural, heavily wooded area, a few miles southwest of Kosse, Texas. Despite the divorce, Reggie saw the children regularly. He last saw Desiree in early March.
At 1pm on March 25, 1983, Ann was driving to Marlin, Texas, when she dropped Desiree and Heather off at the lane leading to their house. Heather walked towards the house while Desiree followed Ann’s truck. Desiree then apparently walked into the woods surrounding the house and vanished. She was reported missing later that day.
Police and volunteers searched the nearby woods extensively. They turned up no trace of Desiree. Police noted that David had "peculiar" religious beliefs. They also noted that he and Ann displayed a "lack of emotion" following Desiree’s disappearance. Other members of David’s family also noticed this when they arrived at the house that day.
Police have looked into several possible theories as to the cause of Desiree’s disappearance. Ann and David claimed that she wandered off. Others indicated that David disciplined Desiree and Heather "a good bit." One theory was that he accidentally killed Desiree while disciplining her. Yet another theory was that she was either given away or sold. However, police now presume she was abducted by a non-family member.
In April 1983, Ann appeared at a House Law Enforcement Committee hearing to talk about Desiree’s disappearance. Her testimony helped spur the committee to recommend House approval of legislation that would require state and local law enforcement agencies to provide free fingerprinting services for children upon parental or guardian request.
Suspects: None known
Extra Notes:
- This case was first released on October 19, 2020 as a part of the second volume of the Netflix reboot of Unsolved Mysteries. It is featured at the end of "Stolen Kids" as a part of a long term missing children roll call along with Andre Bryant, Cherie Barnes, Amber Crum, Corey Edkin, Ke'Shaun Vanderhorst, Aaron Anderson, and Christopher Abeyta.
- It was also featured after the broadcast of the movie Adam.
- Some sources state that: Desiree was 3'6"; her last name was "Denson"; she was from Santa Fe, Texas; and their house was eight miles east of Kosse.
Results: Unsolved - Sadly, on January 28, 2018, Heather passed away at the age of forty. In her obituary, Desiree was listed as having predeceased her.
Links:
- Desiree Carroll on the Charley Project
- Desiree Carroll on The Doe Network
- Desiree Carroll on Texas Department of Public Safety websute
- Desiree Carroll on the NCMEC website
- Desiree Carroll on New England Cold Cases
- Crime Of Week - April 26, 1983
- Free fingerprinting of children recommended - April 28, 1983
- Fingerprinting for children - April 28, 1983
- Reagan Makes Plea For Missing Children - April 30, 1985
- Missing Texas child Desiree Carroll - January 2013
- TapTalk Discussion thread on Desiree Carroll
- Websleuths Discussion thread on Desiree Carroll
- Heather's Obituary