Elgin Police Launch Podcast on 1982 Missing Woman Case

The 'Wyteria is Missing' podcast explores the mystery of Wyteria Jones, who disappeared 44 years ago

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:42pm

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The Elgin Police Department has launched a new podcast called 'Wyteria is Missing' that delves into the case of Wyteria Jones, a married mother of five who was last seen in 1982 at the Douglas Hotel, an offsite residential facility for the Elgin Mental Health Center. Jones' disappearance remains the department's oldest unsolved missing person case, and detectives are hoping the podcast will elicit new tips from the public and allow them to obtain DNA samples from family members to build a victimology profile.

Why it matters

The case highlights the challenges of solving cold cases, especially those involving individuals with mental health issues. The closure of many state-run mental health facilities in the 1970s and 1980s led to a shift in treatment approaches, and detectives are still working to obtain records that could provide more insight into Jones' background and disappearance.

The details

Wyteria Jones was last seen in late September or early October 1982 at the Douglas Hotel in Elgin, where she was moving out. She planned to go to Aurora, where her husband lived, and then to Joliet, but she never arrived at either destination. Her husband reported her missing on January 29, 1983, after her mail started getting returned. Detectives are now trying to locate 40 other people who were believed to be staying at the Douglas Hotel at the time of Jones' disappearance.

  • Wyteria Jones was last seen in late September or early October 1982.
  • Her husband reported her missing on January 29, 1983.
  • The Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Unit was formed in 2024.

The players

Wyteria Jones

A 45-year-old married mother of five who was last seen in 1982 at the Douglas Hotel in Elgin, an offsite residential facility for the Elgin Mental Health Center.

Waylon Jones

Wyteria Jones' husband, who reported her missing in January 1983 after her mail started getting returned.

Andrew Houghton

A detective with the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Unit, which was formed in 2024.

Matt Vartanian

The sergeant who oversees the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Unit.

Bill Briska

A historian who has a video about the history of the Elgin Mental Health Center posted on YouTube.

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What they’re saying

“We'd like to get some personal information about her time here.”

— Andrew Houghton, Detective, Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit (chicagotribune.com)

“The real hope is not to only get a better idea of her time here and victimology, but getting to learn about her and build theories about her time here.”

— Andrew Houghton, Detective, Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit (chicagotribune.com)

“Cold cases are unresolved for a reason. We truly need the public's help to get a resolution and closure for the families.”

— Matt Vartanian, Sergeant, Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

The Elgin Police Department plans to use forensic genetic genealogy for the first time to create a victimology profile for Wyteria Jones, and they are hoping the 'Wyteria is Missing' podcast will elicit new tips from the public about her disappearance.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of solving cold cases, especially those involving individuals with mental health issues, and the importance of community engagement and modern investigative techniques in trying to provide closure for families of missing persons.