Reward increased in Sarah Burton missing person case
Jul. 22—Six years after Sarah Burton's disappearance, there are still no new leads on what happened to her, resulting in an increase in the reward for information that provides answers.
The Joplin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are now offering a $10,000 reward for information about where she could be found.
Joplin police have checked out more than 150 leads throughout the area, but nothing new could be verified, police said.
Burton, a mother of two children, would be 34 years old now.
She vanished in the early morning hours of July 16, 2018, after a friend dropped her off at 10th Street and Rex Avenue. Her disappearance was not reported to the authorities until a few days later.
At that time, her parents told police they had not seen her since July 8. Burton's father had bought her a used SUV to replace a car she had wrecked earlier that year. She had taken the SUV for a drive. Her parents later learned from others that she had crashed it July 11 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Property in Newton County was searched by Ozark Drug Enforcement Team members in April 2019 when a tip was received tied to the Burton missing person case. Divers were called to search a pond there and FBI crime lab technicians brought in to help process the scene. If there was any connection, it has never been made public.
Investigators say they have had no verifiable leads in the case since then.
Anyone with information may call Detective Sgt. Luke Stahl at 417-623-3131, ext. 1885.
After business hours, information can be provided by calling 417-623-3131. If she is located, police asked that be reported by calling 911.
