Kassaundra Williams Patterson, 33: Missing From Oklahoma Since 1988
It was around 6:00 a.m. on May 5, 1988, when three young sisters woke up at the Silver Leaf Apartments in Haskell, Oklahoma. They attempted to locate their 33-year-old mother, Kassaundra Williams Patterson, but she wasn’t home. Her personal belongings, including her purse, were still at the residence—something the mother of three wasn’t accustomed to doing. Reports state that Kassaundra always took her purse with her when leaving her home, so it being left behind gave concern. What happened to Kassaundra has been a mystery that has dragged on for decades, and her loved ones continue to search for answers.
“I want to see my child — I’m getting older,” Nathella Williams, Kassaundra’s mother, told reporters back in 2010. “Nobody just vanishes off the face of the earth. Somebody knows something.”
Even with the few news articles available about Kassaundra’s case, little is known about her personal life. There hasn’t been information shared about whether or not she was dating at the time or if she had any animosity with her exes. Where she worked and what she did the day before going missing also remain unknown. What police uncovered during their investigation is undisclosed.
The Mysterious Phone Call Stirs Interest
One year after the disappearance of Kassaundra, Nathella received a mysterious phone call on Mother’s Day. Almost immediately, the person on the other end hung up, but there were concerns that it may have been Kassaundra on the other line. Similar calls were reportedly received in subsequent years. However, there was apparently no evidence to suggest that the missing mother was responsible for the calls.
“[My mother] would pick up the phone and they would say ‘Mom? Momma, are you there?’ said Seqwendolyn Johnson, Kassaundra’s sister. “So that would really worry her.”
Police have expressed that finding missing adults can prove to be difficult as it is not illegal for them to simply walk away from their lives. Yet, Kassaundra’s loved ones insist she never abandon her family.
“It’s hard on my mom, and before she declares her daughter deceased, I am trying this last time,” Seqwendolyn said. “You never know what can pop up more than 20 years later.”
Investigators Look Into The Case Once Again
In 2019, a report stated that the Haskell Police Department was reopening Kassaundra’s case. At the time, investigators hoped to revisit old leads and drudge up new ones.
“It would be very rewarding if we could find her if she’s still alive or give the family some type of closure, instead of it being a mystery,” said Haskell Assistant Police Chief Kermit Thomas. He would see Kassaundra’s mother around town over the years, still putting up missing person flyers. “I do have some small bits and pieces of information, and I do believe I can solve this case.”
“Regardless of what people think, she’s still a child of God, and I just want to know what happened to her,” said Seqwendolyn. By 2019, Nathella was living with dementia. “A lot of people would ask, ‘Do you want to declare her deceased?’ and she never wanted to do that. She always held out hope.”
Kassaundra Williams Patterson: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Kassaundra Williams Patterson stood 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed anywhere between 115 to 160 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair (styled shoulder-length and straightened) and brown eyes. Kassaundra had a left inner ankle depression from when she sprained or broke her ankle in a bicycle accident when she was 12. She is listed as Black, but she is also Indigenous American and is “enrolled with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.” Kassaundra also went by “Kaye” or her middle name, “Denise.” She would be 66 years old at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Haskell Police Department at (918) 482-3933, Haskell Police Chief Kermit Thomas at (918) 482-5244, Chief Deputy Terry Freeman at the Muskogee Sheriff’s Office at (918) 687-0202, or their local authorities. The agency case number is 2019-226. In 2010, reports stated that the family secured a $5,000 reward.
Please share this story about Kassaundra Williams Patterson to help reignite the investigation into her case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Sources
NamUs
News On 6
The Doe Network
Muskogee Phoenix
