MAYFIELD, KY — Kentucky State Police are asking the public to help locate 80-year-old Ethelene Moss, a Mayfield resident whose family says they have not been able to reach her for more than a month. The request for help came after a relative contacted Post 1 on Sept. 16 to express concern about her welfare.
Troopers say Moss was last heard from on Aug. 18. Officers have already checked her last known residence on South Second Street, but they have not been able to make contact with her there. Family members believe she may be staying at a hotel in the area.
Family raised concerns after weeks without contact
The case gained attention when a family member reported to Kentucky State Police that Moss had not been reachable since mid-August. That kind of call often triggers a welfare-focused search, especially when an older adult has gone without contact for an extended period.
Police have not said why the family became concerned beyond the lack of communication. At this stage, troopers are treating the matter as a search for a missing person and are relying on the public to share any information that could help narrow down her location.
Authorities did not provide any details about where Moss may have gone after Aug. 18 or whether she has been seen since then. The public notice is intended to increase the chances that someone who has spotted her, or knows where she may be staying, will come forward.
What Kentucky State Police say about Moss’s appearance
Law enforcement described Moss as a Black woman who is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs roughly 165 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes, details that can help people recognize her if they have seen her recently.
These identifying features are especially important in cases where a person may not be in the place family expects. Troopers are asking anyone who may have seen an older woman matching that description in Mayfield or nearby areas to pay attention to the clothing, location, and timing of the sighting.
Police did not release any additional identifying information, and they did not say whether Moss may have access to transportation or personal support outside of the area. For now, the physical description and her last known connection to Mayfield are the main details available to the public.
Search efforts focused on South Second Street and nearby lodging
According to Kentucky State Police, officers attempted to check Moss at her last known home on South Second Street in Mayfield. Those efforts did not lead to contact, which is why investigators are now looking beyond that address for possible leads.
Family members believe she could be in a hotel somewhere in the area, though police have not confirmed that. If that turns out to be accurate, it would mean the search could extend to local lodging, where staff or guests might have seen her recently.
At the moment, there is no public indication that police have found evidence of foul play or any other specific circumstance surrounding her disappearance. The focus remains on locating Moss and confirming where she is staying.
How the public can share information with investigators
Kentucky State Police say anyone with information about Moss’s whereabouts should contact Post 1 at 270-856-3721. Tips can also be submitted online, giving people another way to pass along information if they are unable to call directly.
Investigators are likely hoping for small but useful details, such as a recent sighting, a hotel name, or a direction of travel. Even partial information can help police connect a timeline and determine whether Moss is safe.
The request is aimed at anyone in Mayfield and the surrounding area who may have seen an older woman matching her description since Aug. 18. Police have not said whether they have received other leads, but they continue to ask the public to remain alert.
Why missing-person notices matter in older-adult cases
Cases involving older adults often move quickly from a private family concern to a wider public alert when contact has been lost for an extended period. In this case, the more than four-week gap between the last known contact and the family’s call to police made a public appeal especially important.
Notices like this one help spread a description far beyond the immediate family circle. A clerk, hotel employee, neighbor, or passerby may be the person who finally recognizes someone and provides the key detail police need.
For now, Kentucky State Police are emphasizing the basics: Moss’s name, age, appearance, and last known connection to South Second Street in Mayfield. Anyone with new information is being urged to contact investigators as soon as possible.
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