Daughter of missing Boonville woman makes Mother's Day plea
BOONVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Donna Hatfield of Boonville was last seen alive in late May or early June of 2019. For six years, the case has gone unsolved. However, now, the family and investigators are bringing the case back to the public's eye in hopes of finding closure.
Hatfield was believed to have been last seen alive at her residence in the 600 block of First Street in Boonville, where her son and caretaker, Thomas Rainey, Jr. also lives. Authorities have confirmed Rainey is one of a few persons of interest in Hatfield's disappearance.
'I don't talk to my brother, no,' says Shannon Martin, daughter of Donna Hatfield. 'I haven't talked to him since, well, right after all this came about.'
Martin says Rainey was their mother's caretaker for around four years. She says Rainey called her on August 26, 2019 saying Hatfield died at a hospital. 'I called the hospital he told me,' recalls Martin, 'and they said, 'No', she hadn't been there since, I think they told me 2015 or '16 for a test or something.'
Authorities continue to ask for information after 72-year-old Boonville woman disappears
Martin then called police, launching an investigation that has now hit the six year mark. 'We felt a renewed sense of urgency since Mother's Day is Sunday, and her children would like to know what happened to their mother,' says Boonville Chief of Police Brandon Wells.
Detective Lieutenant Adam Wilmes with the Boonville Police Department has been involved in the case for several years. He says the number of tips has decreased over time, but is hopeful this renewed call to the public will spark someone to come forward. 'At this point, there is no evidence to suggest she is still alive,' says Wilmes. 'Donna was suffering from Alzheimer's, and her medication, identification and clothing were still at the residence when she was reported missing.'
'Absolutely nothing is being ruled out at this point. Whether Ms. Hatfield died of natural causes or under criminal circumstances is still unclear,' says Warrick County Prosecutor Michael Perry. 'Donna was a mother, she was a grandmother, she was a sister, she was an aunt, she was a human being.'
There was no sign of Rainey when our crew stopped by his residence. When asked if she thought her brother played a role in Hatfield's disappearance, Martin did not want to discuss what may have happened, only saying Rainey's story had continued to change.
'That she died of a stroke, that she died of an aneurysm, that she was in a nursing home on the north side,' says Martin. 'I do believe somebody knows something. They know what happened to my mom.'
Hatfield's family has stated that a reward of up to $10,000 will be strongly considered for information that directly leads to the discovery of her remains. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact one of the following agencies:
Boonville Police Department: 812-897-6550
Warrick County Dispatch: 812-897-1200
Warrick County Prosecutor's Office: 812-897-6199
Indiana State Police: 812-867-2079
FBI (Toll-Free): 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
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