The Shocking Disappearance of Gloria Gary: Iowa's Most Haunting True Crime Case
In a quiet Iowa neighborhood, Gloria Gary's unexplained absence sent ripples of concern through her close-knit family. The 49-year-old IT analyst, known for her predictable routine and reliable nature, vanished after leaving work on January 3, 2017. Her absence became alarming when she missed both work and a planned dinner with family, completely out of character for someone who lived such a structured life.
The search for Gloria took an unexpected turn when her distinctive red Honda was spotted in southern Utah, far from her Des Moines home. Surveillance footage revealed an unknown young man driving her vehicle, raising more questions than answers. The mystery deepened until January 12, when police encountered the same vehicle on a rural highway, partially spray-painted black with makeshift repairs. The driver, 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson, made a startling claim during questioning that would lead investigators back to Gloria's home.
Key Takeaways
Gloria Gary's disappearance became suspicious when she missed work and family commitments, behaviors completely contrary to her predictable and reliable nature.
Her bright red Honda was discovered in Utah being driven by an unrecognized young man, creating a puzzling geographic disconnect in the investigation.
Police apprehended 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson after he ran out of gas on a rural highway, driving Gloria's partially disguised vehicle.
The Vanishing of Gloria Gary
Missing Person Alert
Gloria Gary, a 49-year-old IT analyst from Des Moines, Iowa, was reported missing on January 5th, 2017, after failing to appear at work for two consecutive days. Her absence was immediately concerning as she was known for her reliability and consistent routines. On January 3rd, she had left work around 1:00 p.m., purchased pizza, and returned home—this was the last confirmed sighting of her.
When Gloria missed a scheduled dinner with her father and sister, and then failed to show up for work without notification, her family became alarmed. This behavior contradicted her meticulous nature and commitment to punctuality. Gloria lived alone, had no children, and maintained a predictable lifestyle that rarely changed without prior communication.
Her family conducted a thorough search of her home but found no indications of her whereabouts. Her phone calls went directly to voicemail, heightening concerns. The family mobilized quickly, distributing flyers with her description: a 5'5" white woman with black hair, brown eyes, and thin-framed glasses.
Locating the Abandoned Vehicle
On January 12th, 2017, a breakthrough occurred when Gloria's distinctive red Honda was discovered on a rural highway in northern Utah. A young man had pulled over after running out of fuel, drawing attention from a passing motorist who found the isolated stopped vehicle suspicious and contacted local authorities.
When police arrived and ran the license plate, they discovered the vehicle belonged to Gloria Gary, who had been reported missing a week earlier. The responding officer approached the car and encountered a young man who appeared much younger than his actual age, holding an empty gas container.
The vehicle showed signs of tampering—portions of the bright red exterior had been hastily spray-painted black. The passenger window was broken and covered with orange and silver duct tape. Condensation on the windows suggested someone had been inside for an extended period.
Prior to this discovery, the same red Honda had been spotted in a parking lot in southern Utah. Security footage from a nearby 24-hour store captured images of the driver—a white male with a distinctive mark on his arm. When shown these images, Gloria's family confirmed they didn't recognize the individual or understand why Gloria's car would be in Utah.
The driver was identified as 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson, who was taken into custody for questioning. During the interview, he made the puzzling claim that Gloria was still in her home, directly contradicting the thorough search her family had conducted days earlier.
Investigation and Arrest
The search for Gloria Gary took a significant turn when her distinctive red Honda was spotted in an unexpected location, leading authorities to the person responsible for her disappearance.
Finding the Vehicle
On January 12, 2017, a police officer responded to a call about an abandoned red Honda on a rural highway in northern Utah. A concerned driver had noticed the stationary vehicle in this isolated area and contacted authorities. Upon approaching the car, the officer observed several suspicious details. The bright red body had been partially spray-painted black in what appeared to be a hasty disguise attempt. Additionally, one window was broken and crudely repaired with orange and silver duct tape.
The officer followed standard procedure by running the license plate before making contact. The results revealed critical information: the vehicle belonged to Gloria Gary, a 49-year-old woman reported missing from Des Moines, Iowa several days earlier. As the officer approached, a young man exited the vehicle carrying an empty gas container, claiming he had run out of fuel and was waiting for assistance.
Questioning Kyle Jepson
The young man was identified as 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson. Though legally an adult, his appearance suggested someone much younger. Authorities transported him to the local police station for formal questioning about his possession of a missing person's vehicle.
During interrogation, Jepson made a startling claim that contradicted the missing person report. He stated that Gloria Gary wasn't actually missing but was still in her home. This assertion directly conflicted with family accounts, as Gloria's relatives had thoroughly searched her residence after she failed to appear for work on January 4th and missed a scheduled dinner with her father and sister.
Prior to Jepson's arrest, authorities had already glimpsed the suspect through surveillance footage from a 24-hour store in an area of Utah known as Park. The footage captured around 12:45 p.m. showed a white male with a distinctive mark on his arm that resembled a tattoo or glove. These images, shared on social media, helped establish a timeline of Jepson's movements with the stolen vehicle before his eventual capture when he ran out of gas on the rural highway.
Gloria Gary's Final Known Whereabouts
Last Confirmed Sightings and Daily Activities
Gloria Gary was last seen on January 3rd, 2017, when she left her workplace in Urbandale around 1:00 p.m. After departing from her job as an IT analyst, she stopped at a local pizzeria where she enjoyed a meal and purchased a pizza to take home. She then drove her distinctive red Honda back to her residence. This routine trip marked the final confirmed sighting of the 49-year-old woman.
Gloria's absence was first noticed when she failed to appear at work on January 4th. Her colleagues initially assumed she might have overslept, though this was unusual for someone known for her punctuality. Later that same day, Gloria missed a scheduled dinner with her father and sister without any communication, which was completely out of character for her. By January 5th, after a second day of missed work and no contact with family or friends, serious concerns were raised about her welfare.
Beginning the Investigation
Gloria's employer contacted her sister on January 5th after she missed work for a second consecutive day without notification. This prompted her worried family to initiate a search. Her siblings and brother-in-law carefully examined her home but found nothing unusual except for her missing car.
The family quickly reported Gloria's disappearance to police, emphasizing how her absence drastically deviated from her predictable lifestyle. Gloria, described as a 5'5" white woman with black hair and brown eyes weighing approximately 160 pounds, typically wore thin-framed glasses and was last seen in a long dark sweater and pants. Her family worked diligently to locate her by:
Distributing flyers with her photograph
Creating dedicated social media accounts for anonymous tips
Coordinating with local media outlets
Providing descriptions of her bright red Honda
The police issued a public alert requesting information about Gloria's whereabouts, noting that her disappearance was being treated as highly concerning due to its uncharacteristic nature.
Profile of Gloria Gary
Character Traits and Behaviors
Gloria Gary was a remarkably organized and predictable individual who valued routine in her daily life. Standing at 5'5" with black hair, brown eyes, and thin-framed glasses, she typically dressed in long dark sweaters and pants. Despite her reserved nature, Gloria drove a bright red Honda that hinted at a hidden passionate side to her personality.
She was known for her extraordinary reliability and punctuality. When she didn't show up for scheduled events, those who knew her immediately recognized this as highly unusual behavior. Her quiet, unobtrusive demeanor made her well-respected among neighbors who described her as soft-spoken, gentle, and notably non-confrontational.
Reading was Gloria's primary passion. She frequently purchased romance novels and mystery books in bulk, dedicating much of her free time to this beloved hobby. As an IT analyst in Urbandale, she maintained a professional life as organized as her personal one, rarely missing work without notification.
Family and Social Connections
Gloria, at 49, maintained strong bonds with her extended family despite living alone with no children. Her family network included her father, two sisters, and a brother, all with families of their own. She regularly spent designated evenings at her father's house, maintaining a predictable schedule of family connections.
Her nieces and nephews adored her, testament to the warmth she brought to family gatherings. When Gloria disappeared, her brother-in-law stepped forward as the family spokesperson, working with authorities while her sisters took the initiative to search her home for clues.
Beyond family, Gloria maintained a consistent social circle. She had a standing tradition of dining at her local pizzeria with friends on specific evenings. Her disappearance on January 3, 2017, after picking up a pizza to go, immediately triggered concern among colleagues when she missed work the following day without notification. This prompted a chain of worried communications between her workplace and family, ultimately leading to the realization that something was seriously wrong.
The Recovery Mission
Family Mobilization After Vanishing
Gloria Gary's family responded immediately when they realized she was missing. After she missed both work and a family dinner without any communication, they grew alarmed - particularly because Gloria was known for her punctuality and dependable nature. Her sisters thoroughly searched her residence but found nothing unusual, except for her conspicuously absent red Honda. The family swiftly contacted police to report her disappearance, emphasizing how completely out of character this behavior was for the 49-year-old woman.
The family united in their efforts to locate Gloria. Her brother-in-law stepped forward as the family spokesperson, coordinating with authorities while her siblings organized search efforts. They refused to sit idle while waiting for news, instead taking proactive measures to spread awareness about their missing loved one.
Community and Law Enforcement Collaboration
Police issued a detailed missing person alert following Gloria's disappearance. The description included her physical characteristics: a 5'5" white woman with black hair, brown eyes, thin-framed glasses, and last seen wearing a dark sweater and pants. Authorities also highlighted her distinctive bright red Honda, which would be easily recognizable on the road.
The Gary family expanded the search through multiple channels:
Distributed flyers featuring Gloria's photograph
Utilized social media platforms to spread awareness
Created a dedicated tip line for anonymous information
Coordinated with local news outlets to publicize the case
Their efforts yielded results when Gloria's red Honda was spotted in southern Utah. Two officers identified the vehicle in a store parking lot, but it departed before they could investigate further. Store surveillance footage captured images of a young white male driving Gloria's car, with what appeared to be a distinctive mark on his arm. Police distributed these images through social media, seeking public assistance in identifying the individual connected to Gloria's disappearance.
The breakthrough came on January 12, 2017, when police arrested 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson. A truck driver had reported the red Honda parked on a rural highway, and responding officers found the vehicle partially spray-painted black with a damaged window covered in duct tape. Jepson made the startling claim that Gloria was still in her home, contradicting the family's thorough search and deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
Major Breakthrough
The investigation into Gloria Gary's disappearance reached a turning point through unexpected circumstances in a remote area of Utah. Police finally obtained tangible evidence connecting a suspect to the case, providing the first real leads since the 49-year-old woman vanished from her Des Moines home in early January 2017. What began as a routine response to a stranded motorist quickly evolved into a significant development in the disappearance case.
Vehicle Discovery and Surveillance Findings
On a desolate stretch of highway in northern Utah, a young man in Gloria's distinctive red Honda found himself stranded without gas or money. A concerned passing motorist noticed the vehicle in this isolated location and contacted local authorities. When police arrived and ran the license plate, they discovered the car belonged to Gloria Gary, who had been reported missing days earlier in Iowa.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Kyle Alexander Jepson, was taken into custody for questioning. During the interview, Jepson made the puzzling claim that Gloria was "still in her home" - directly contradicting her family's thorough search of the residence.
Prior to this breakthrough, Gloria's car had been spotted in southern Utah's Park City area. Two officers noticed the vehicle in a 24-hour store parking lot around 12:45 p.m., but it departed before they could return to investigate. Security footage from the store proved crucial, as it captured clear images of a young white male driving Gloria's Honda. The footage revealed a distinctive mark on the suspect's arm - possibly a tattoo or glove.
When officers finally intercepted the vehicle on January 12, 2017, they found several suspicious modifications:
Portions of the bright red exterior hastily spray-painted black
Passenger window broken and covered with orange and silver duct tape
Condensation on windows indicating recent occupancy
The family confirmed they didn't recognize the young man in the surveillance images and had no knowledge of any connection between him and Gloria. This discovery established the first solid link between a suspect and Gloria's disappearance, marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
