April 20, 1989, seemed like any other night in eastern Montana. But something strange happened on a quiet stretch of Highway 200 near the small town of Circle. Patricia Meehan, a 37-year-old woman from Bozeman, was behind the wheel of her car. That night, she was involved in a serious crash. And after stepping out of her vehicle, she walked away—and was never seen again.
To this day, the disappearance of Patricia Meehan remains one of Montana’s most haunting and confusing mysteries. Her sudden vanishing has left her family heartbroken, her community puzzled, and investigators with more questions than answers.
Who Was Patricia Meehan?
Patricia Bernadette Meehan was born in 1951 and lived in Bozeman, Montana. She didn’t have a fancy job or a lot of money. She worked part-time as a ranch hand and helped her landlord with chores to pay bills. Friends described her as quiet and kind. But those who knew her best say she had been struggling with her emotions in the months before the crash.
Her mother, Dolly Meehan, later shared that “She had been depressed before her disappearance… She had an appointment with a psychologist scheduled for April 21,” per Only In Montana. This detail added even more mystery to her sudden disappearance.
The Crash on Highway 200
On the night she disappeared, Patricia was driving far from home. She was nearly 400 miles away from Bozeman, driving northwest on a dark road near Circle. For reasons no one fully understands, Patricia was on the wrong side of the road. She almost hit several cars before crashing into one driven by Carol Heitz—an off-duty police officer.
Carol later told investigators that Patricia got out of the car and just stared at her. She didn’t say anything. Another witness, Peggy Bueller, saw Patricia standing beyond a fence nearby, watching the crash scene quietly. It was as if she was disconnected from what had just happened. And then, without a word, Patricia turned and calmly walked into the darkness.
That was the last confirmed sighting of her.
Immediate Search Efforts
Authorities launched a search right away but they found no trace of Patricia. They only found tennis shoe prints leading into a field, which they believed were hers. The footprints ended in rough terrain, and because it was early morning by then, the search had to be paused.
The next day, the effort grew larger. Police, volunteers, and Patricia’s family joined forces. Helicopters flew overhead, over 2,000 flyers were handed out. Abandoned buildings, coal mines, and nearby fields were searched. But still—nothing.
Some believed she might have gotten a ride from a nearby hay truck seen not far from the crash. Others thought she could have hitchhiked. Police also considered that Patricia may have been suffering from amnesia caused by a head injury, according to Unsolved.
Before she disappeared, Patricia was known to be going through a difficult time mentally. She had become withdrawn and quiet. Her family noticed signs that she was depressed, and that concerned them.
Because of how strangely she acted after the crash, many began to wonder if Patricia had a traumatic brain injury. A psychologist named Don La Plante, who looked into the case, said, “She seemed jumpy, dazed, and in a hurry.” That description fits someone who may have been confused or hurt emotionally and physically.
Sightings Across States
Even though Patricia disappeared after the crash, people kept seeing someone who looked like her. Over the years, more than 5,000 sightings have been reported. Many of these were in Montana and Washington. People said they saw her hitchhiking, eating alone at diners, or quietly sitting in public places.
One early sighting happened just two weeks later, on May 4, 1989. A police officer in Luverne, Minnesota, saw a woman matching Patricia’s description sitting inside a Hardee’s fast food restaurant. She stayed there for hours. When questioned, she gave confusing answers about where she was from and didn’t give her name.
Several other sightings placed her near Interstate 90. Truck drivers said they saw a woman who looked tired, confused, and quiet—asking for directions to Washington. Some believed she was trying to reach an ex-boyfriend in Spokane or a sister who once lived in Seattle. But none of these sightings were confirmed.
Theories About What Happened
There are many ideas about what might have happened to Patricia Meehan. Some believe she might have crashed on purpose. Since she had been suffering emotionally and had an appointment with a psychologist the next day, it’s possible she was in crisis, the AP News reports.
Others believe she was injured in the crash and got confused. She may have walked off and gotten lost in the wilderness. One user on Reddit explained it this way: “What seems to be the prevailing theory is that she was involved in a car accident which resulted in a traumatic brain injury that impaired her judgment. Following that, she left the accident site and ventured into the wilderness, where she ultimately fell victim to either exposure or the effects of her injury.”
But there’s also the chance she survived and chose to disappear. Maybe she didn’t want to be found. Maybe her emotional state led her to start a new life, far from the people she knew.
Still No Answers
Despite all the sightings, reports, and investigations, no one has found Patricia Meehan. Her family has never heard from her again and no solid evidence has ever turned up.
“We can’t explain why she was here or why she just vanished after the crash,” one police officer said during the investigation. “It’s as if she disappeared into thin air.”
For the people of Montana and those who knew Patricia, her story is more than just a mystery. It’s a painful example of how quickly someone can vanish, even in front of witnesses. Her case is still open and her family still hopes for answers.
The story of Patricia Meehan continues to confuse investigators and touch the hearts of those who hear about it. Her photo still appears on missing person websites, and every so often, a new tip comes in. But none have led to the truth.
More than three decades have passed since that night on Highway 200. Patricia’s disappearance has become part of Montana’s history—a strange, heartbreaking story of a woman who walked away from a crash and into a mystery that has never been solved.
