Missing Since: 1972-01-15 Location: Palmetto, Florida
Kathaleen’s husband, Gilbert Charles Hine Sr., told police he last saw her at the Palmetto Agricultural Center at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto, Florida. She was supposed to help out at the fair’s poultry barn that day, but other witnesses stated that they never saw Kathaleen at the fairgrounds. She has never been heard from again. Foul play is suspected in Kathaleen’s disappearance. She left behind her eyeglasses, her medication, and her purse when she disappeared. After her disappearance, Gilbert deeded to himself some property that was held in both their names. The paperwork he submitted bore Kathaleen’s signature, although she had been missing for years. In other papers filed later, Gilbert listed his wife as deceased. One of Kathaleen’s daughters, Debra Dingeldine, says she got a phone call from her mother on the day she disappeared. Dingeldine says Kathaleen said she wanted to talk to her about something important, then she screamed, and after that the call was cut off. Dingeldine drove immediately to Kathaleen’s house in the 3200 block of north Rye Road in Parrish, Florida and found signs of a struggle there, including overturned furniture. Kathaleen was missing and so was her .38 Special revolver, but its holster was found lying on her bedroom floor. Gilbert never reported Kathaleen missing. He told police that she had been having affairs with other men and probably ran away with one of them, but Kathaleen’s children say this is untrue and have stated their beliefs that she was murdered and probably never went to the fairgrounds the day of her disappearance. Gilbert, who is now in his eighties, eventually hired an attorney and stopped cooperating with police. He has never been charged in connection with his wife’s case, which is unsolved. Investigating Agency Manatee County Sheriff’s Department 941-747-3011 Source Information NamUs Florida Department of Law Enforcement The Doe Network The Child Seek Network The Doe Network North American Missing Persons Network Updated 3 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated December 6, 2005; medical conditions updated.