Barbara Lea Norton

On April 8, 2014 at about 1500 hours, The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Willits Police Department regarding a missing persons report for Barbara Lea Norton that occurred in the unincorporated area of Willits.  A friend initially reported Norton missing to the Willits Police Department after not having seen Norton for about a week.

During the course of the investigation, MCSO Detectives discovered Norton’s cell phone, purse, and ID were inside her residence.  No other indication of anything suspicious or suggesting foul play was found.  Detectives and Deputies searched the surrounding area for any sign of Norton, to no avail.

MCSO Detectives learned from neighbors, friends, and a family member who lived on the same property, that Norton was known to disappear for several days/weeks by herself.  However, Norton was always known to bring her purse and cell phone with her.   Norton was also reported to be stressed she had no money, no food, and her last text message (04/04/14) to her friend was “take care”.

Norton does not have a vehicle, is known to walk on foot, and is described as being 53 years old, 5’1”, weighing about 130lbs with gray eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with any information relating to Norton’s disappearance of whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office’s Tip-Line at (707)234-2100 or the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at (707)463-4086.

   Age at time of disappearance: 53 years-old

• Height: 5 feet 1 inches
• Weight: 130 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eye color: Gray