Barbara Louise Cotton Missing Person Billboard
Donation protected
The Barbara Louise Cotton billboard
For this new billboard there was a one-time $850 fee for it to be printed onto the vinyl. Then the non-profit price is $400 per month. We are in a 6 month contract that started when the new billboard went up in September. We have aprox. 4 months paid for. .
Barb's story can be found on her website: FindBarbCotton.com
Here's a very short outline on the disappearance of Barbara Louise Cotton for anyone that hasnt heard about her case:
On April 11th 1981 15 year old Barb Cotton disappeared from the streets of Williston, North Dakota. She was walking home and was last seen near Recreation Park by some accounts. Many details about that night are unclear. One thing that is clear... She has never been seen or heard from again. No remains have been found that match Barb. There have been no arrests in her case and the people that should have been questioned immediately in 1981, but never were, have since passed away including a new boyfriend named Stacey Werder she had apparently aquired. Stacey left Williston for Montana the following day and hung himself in jail in July of 81 (3 months after Barb Disappeared) while being held for disorderly conduct.
Stacey Werder wasn't the only person of interest who hung himself in jail. Frank Delapena was in Williston at the time of Barb's disappearance and within weeks he had what seems like a mental breakdown. He lost his job working for Sefel on a seismiology crew and drove to Rawlins WO where he killed 2 young girls. In May of 81 (aprox. 6 weeks after Barb disappeared) Frank Delapena hung himself while in jail for those murders.
The most detailed account of this long and confusing case is James Wolners podcast Dakota Spotlight. Barb is featured in the 5th season "A Better Search for Barbara Cotton". We can't thank him enough for all of the time and effort he has put into Barb's case. There's no doubt that Barb wouldn't be going on a billboard if it wasn't for him!
The truth is that Barbara was immediately labeled as a runaway despite the fact that she took none of her personal belongings with her. She even left her paycheck at home and money in her savings account. Her case has never received the attention, the effort, or the investigation that it should have. Barb's mother, Louise, seemed to be the only one investigating it at all. Louise is gone now but Barb's remaining siblings and friends aren't. They want to know what happened to her 40 years ago and they want to bring her home!
We want to do everything possible to make that happen while it's still possible. Before anyone else that might hold the answers is gone.
40 years is long enough!
It's time to find her!
#findbarbcotton
If you know something or think you know someone who does please email: [email redacted]
***Information submitted will be kept confidential***
Organizer
Lisa Schiele
Organizer
Williston, ND