Beverly Ann Ward, 13: Kidnapped From Her Home In 1978
A Fourth of July sleepover became a holiday forever haunting a Kansas family. On July 3, 1978, Beverly Ann Ward invited a friend to stay the night at her single-story home. The 13-year-old from Junction City was sleeping in the same room with her friend lying nearby in another bed. Then, somehow, Beverly went missing and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
A Cold, Unsolved Case: The Circumstances
If you look for the home where Beverly Ann Ward disappeared, you’ll find it’s been torn down. However, Junction City Police have kept the young teen’s case open as it’s a mystery that has plagued the city for decades. Early in the morning on July 4, Beverly’s family members awoke to witness an incident across the street. There were reportedly four people in the home at the time, and when everyone, including the visiting friend, went outside to watch the commotion, they all noticed that Beverly wasn’t with them.
After a quick search, police were called to inspect the scene. There, investigators found that a screen from a bedroom window was missing. It was about ten feet away from the house and reportedly cut from the frame. Authorities speculate that somewhere between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., Beverly Ann Ward was kidnapped out of her bed. All of her personal items, including $12 she was saving up for a kid’s camp, were left behind. Her bags were packed and ready for her camp trip the next day. She is not considered to be a runaway.
The Investigation’s Extensive Probe Into The Community
In 1978, Junction City had a reputation as a transient area where people didn’t live for long. They used it as a community to pass through or to temporarily reside. A few suspects were questioned about Beverly’s disappearance, two of whom were seen in a vehicle by neighbors, but it wasn’t around the time that the 13-year-old went missing. A third person in the area was also named as a person of interest, but no evidence could tie the suspect to the case.
It was only in these last few years that the Junction City Police Department asked the FBI for help in this cold case. “Several Detectives over the years have looked at the [Beverly Ann Ward] case,” Police Capt. Trish Giordano said back in 2018. “When I took over investigations, I made it one of my goals to see if anything more could be done to try and solve the case.”
Authorities have ruled out Beverly’s relatives as suspects.
Beverly Ann Ward: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Beverly Ann Ward stood 4 feet 8 inches to 5 feet tall and weighed approximately 54 to 60 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. Beverly was born with an extra bone (partial finger). She also has moles on her face and a mark on her chest. She was last seen wearing a green nightgown and blue underwear. Beverly would be in her 50s at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Junction City Police Department at (785) 762-5912 or their local authorities.
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