Still Missing: What Happened to Janie Sue Lindsey?
A mother and former business owner vanishes from the Carroll County area, and more then 20 years later, she is still missing.
- Name: Janie Sue Lindsey (a.k.a. Janie Sue Grooms-Lindsey)
- Last Seen: October 10, 2004
- Missing From: Huntingdon/Atwood, TN
- Current Age: 76 (55 at time of disappearance)
- Eyes: Green
- Hair: Light brown/gray
WHO IS JANIE LINDSEY?
In October 2004, Janie Sue Lindsey was a 55-year-old mother of two who lived in Atwood, Tennessee.
Described by her daughter Phelicia Rodgers as a caregiver, Janie lived at her parent’s home at the time, and helped take care of them.
Phelicia tells us that her mom was her best friend, and she always depended on her to help provide support.
Janie was known by many in the community, as she and her late husband previously owned a local restaurant known as P.J.’s.
According to Phelicia, Janie was dating a man known as Donald Beard. Tennessee Missing and Unsolved reports that prior to her disappearance, Janie stated that Donald had made very specific threats to her about ending her life.
Phelicia tells us that she advised her mother to stay away from him.
JANIE GOES MISSING
On Saturday, October 9, 2004, Phelicia says that Janie was supposed to come to her house to babysit, but Janie called to cancel the plan because her car would not start.
📸: Make and model of Janie’s car (not actual vehicle) / bringatrailer.com
She says that her grandfather recalled that later that day, a man came to their home to help Janie get her car started, and then both she and the man left the property.
On Sunday, October 10, Phelicia called her grandparents’ home and learned that her mother had not came home or called since the previous day.
Phelicia tells us she then called everybody she could think of that her mother was acquainted with, along with several family members. No one had heard from Janie.
Considering her absence was extremely out of character, Phelicia contacted the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department to report her mother as missing. She says she was initially met with hesitation from authorities, who weren’t convinced that Janie was actually missing and reminded that as she was an adult, she had a right to do what she pleased. However, Phelicia says that she encountered an officer who took her seriously, and she was able to get the process started.
Phelicia says an extended family member later called her to say that he had seen Janie and Donald together on October 10 [around 6 p.m.] in Huntingdon. They were spotted at Murphy’s gas station outside of Walmart on Veterans Drive, where sources say Donald was allegedly seen filling up multiple gas cans.
This would be the last reported sighting of Janie.
THE SEARCH BEGINS
On October 13, Janie’s car — a white 1983 Lincoln Towncar with a burgundy roof — was found at a home near the intersection of Grooms Road and Bobbitt Road in Carroll County.
Phelicia tells us that the home belonged to an acquaintance of Donald’s, who explained to authorities that Donald showed up with Janie to buy a van from him, and the two left in the van, with Donald claiming that he would be back later to collect Janie’s car.
According to Tennessee Missing and Unsolved, Donald “lawyered up” when law enforcement questioned him about Janie’s disappearance. In November 2004, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted a search of Donald’s home and property near Highway 424 in Cedar Grove. If any evidence of Janie was found, it was not announced.
In September 2006, Donald was found dead of natural causes.
Phelicia says that after Donald’s residence was sold, she worked with the new owners and personally contacted Texas EquuSearch to request their help in finding her mother, who had someone visit the property with cadaver dogs.
She also says cadaver dogs and a team from The CUE Center for Missing Persons searched the property where Donald’s mother had lived.
No signs of Janie were located in either of the searches.
THE SEARCH CONTINUES
More than two decades have passed, but Janie’s daughter Phelicia has never given up hope in finding answers.
📸: 2017
She says she just hopes that someday she’ll be able to bring her mom home.
To anyone who may know what happened to Janie, Phelicia pleads that you reach out to her at (731) 414-6910, even if you remain anonymous. She says she would be happy to speak to anyone.
If you have any information that could help Janie’s family get closure, you can also contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department at (731) 986-8947.
