Missing Since: 1996-06-08 Location: Benton, Tennessee
Nelson was last seen in Benton, Tennessee on June 8, 1996. She lived with her boyfriend, 77-year-old John Burlie Pike, on a farm north of town off Highway 411. They were joint caretakers of the property. On the morning of June 9, Pike’s body was found in the driveway; he had been beaten and his throat slit. Nelson was missing and the residence was “virtually untouched.” She has never been heard from again. In December 1996, police thought they had found Wallace after they learned someone was cashing her Social Security checks in Batavia, New York. It turned out Wallace’s son was cashing the checks and keeping the money for himself, and he didn’t know his mother’s whereabouts. She has previously been married six times and is not originally from the Benton area. There are no outstanding warrants for Wallace, but authorities would like to question her and see what she knows about Pike’s murder. It’s unclear whether she also met with foul play. Pike’s murder and Wallace’s disappearance remain unsolved. Investigating Agency Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 423-307-7647 Source Information NamUs The Knoxville News-Sentinel Tenth Judicial District Cold Case Task Force The Chattanooga Times Free Press Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004. Last updated March 6, 2017; casefile added.