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Active Missing — 7 Years — $10,000 FBI Reward

The Disappearance of Sarah Burton

● Active Missing — 7 Years $10,000 FBI Reward Joplin, Missouri July 16, 2018
Missing Person
Sarah Elizabeth Burton
Age at Disappearance
28 (would be 35–36)
Last Seen
July 16, 2018 — After Midnight
Last Known Location
10th St & Rex Ave area, Joplin, MO
Reported Missing
July 20, 2018
Reward
$10,000 — Joplin PD & FBI
Investigating Agencies
Joplin PD, FBI Kansas City
Case Status
Active — No Arrests
About the Missing Person

Sarah Elizabeth Burton

Sarah Burton
Full NameSarah Elizabeth Burton
Date of BirthFebruary 22, 1990
Age Missing28 (would be 35–36)
Height / Weight5'7" / approx. 160 lbs
Hair / EyesBrown / Blue
TattoosLarge cross on upper arm, others
Last SeenJuly 16, 2018 — Joplin, MO

Sarah Elizabeth Burton was 28 years old and the mother of two young boys, ages 3 and just 8 months, at the time of her disappearance. She was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri, where she attended Joplin High School as a cheerleader and was placed in a program for gifted students. She was intelligent and capable, and the people who knew her before her struggles remembered that clearly.

After high school, Sarah fell into methamphetamine addiction and served time in prison in 2010 on drug-related charges. After her release, she spent time at Lafayette House, an addiction treatment center in Joplin, genuinely trying to rebuild her life. At the time of her disappearance, she was living with her parents, Stephanie and Ronald Burton, on Irwin Street. She was free on bail for charges related to drug possession, identity theft, and vehicle theft, but she was making all of her court appearances and her attorney believed a suspended sentence was possible. Her parents were working to get her into a long-term treatment program. She was not running.

Her parents are firm that Sarah would not have disappeared voluntarily because of her legal troubles. She was devoted to her two small children. Not calling home, not checking in, not coming back — none of that was like Sarah. She has been missing since July 16, 2018.

Sarah Burton
Sarah Burton
01
Background

What We Know

Just after midnight on July 16, 2018, a friend dropped Sarah Burton off at a service alley near 10th Street and Rex Avenue in Joplin. She planned to walk approximately one mile to her parents' house on Irwin Street. She never arrived. When Sarah's friend contacted her parents a few days later to return belongings left in the car, she returned Sarah's purse and one of her shoes. Sarah's parents had not heard from her since July 8, when her father had helped her put tags on a car he recently bought for her. On July 11, she wrecked that car in Pittsburg, Kansas. Her parents believe she may have been avoiding them out of embarrassment about the accident while she figured out what to do.

Her parents filed a missing person report on July 20. In September 2018, investigators updated Sarah's last known sighting — she was seen at a residence on North Pearl Avenue on the western side of Joplin later the same morning she was dropped off by her friend. That residence was searched in December 2018, along with two vacant lots, without significant findings. A second property in Pittsburg, Kansas, was searched on December 20, 2018, also without result.

In April 2019, new leads directed investigators to 1174 Crane Drive in Newton County, Missouri, following the execution of a drug search warrant at the property. Credible information prompted a thorough search including outbuildings and the use of search and rescue dogs. Items were removed from the property, though their nature and connection to the case were not publicly disclosed. As of 2025, investigators have followed more than 170 leads. Sarah has not been found.

02
Case Timeline

How It Unfolded

July 8, 2018
Last Known Contact With Parents
Sarah's father helped her put tags on a used SUV he had purchased for her. This was the last time her parents saw her before her disappearance.
July 11, 2018
Car Accident in Pittsburg, Kansas
Sarah wrecked the new car in Pittsburg, Kansas. Her parents believe she may have been avoiding contact with them out of embarrassment about the accident and was trying to figure out what to do before telling them.
July 16, 2018 — After Midnight
Sarah Dropped Off Near 10th and Rex — Never Arrives Home
A friend dropped Sarah off at a service alley near 10th Street and Rex Avenue in Joplin. She planned to walk approximately one mile to her parents' house on Irwin Street. She was never seen arriving. Her purse and one of her shoes were left in her friend's car.
July 16, 2018 — Later That Morning
Final Sighting — North Pearl Avenue Residence
Investigators later determined that Sarah was seen at a residence on North Pearl Avenue on the western side of Joplin later the same morning — after being dropped off but before the day was over. This became the last confirmed sighting. What happened after that remains unknown.
July 20, 2018
Missing Person Report Filed
Sarah's mother filed a missing person report with the Joplin Police Department. Her friend had already contacted the family to return Sarah's purse and shoe left in the car, making clear she had not simply moved on.
September 2018
Candlelight Vigil Held — Last Sighting Updated
A community candlelight vigil titled "Lighting the Way Home for Sarah" was held at Mercy Park in Joplin. Investigators also updated the case to reflect that the last known sighting was at a North Pearl Avenue residence, not the original 10th and Rex drop-off point.
December 2018
Two Properties Searched — No Results
On December 18, investigators searched the North Pearl Avenue residence, its basement, and two adjacent vacant lots. On December 20, a second search was conducted at a property in Pittsburg, Kansas, including a home and two outbuildings. Neither search produced conclusive findings.
April 2019
Newton County Property Searched — Items Removed
New credible leads directed investigators to 1174 Crane Drive in Newton County, Missouri, following a drug search warrant execution at the property. Multiple agencies conducted a thorough search using search and rescue dogs. Items were removed from the property, but their nature and any connection to Sarah's disappearance were not publicly disclosed.
2019 — July 2025 — Ongoing
Investigation Continues — 170+ Leads — $10,000 Reward
The Joplin Police Department and FBI Kansas City Division continue to investigate. As of 2024, investigators have pursued more than 170 leads. The reward for information leading to Sarah's location has been increased to $10,000. On the seventh anniversary of her disappearance in July 2025, police renewed their public appeal. Sarah has not been found. No arrests have been made.
03
Investigation

The Investigation

The investigation is led by the Joplin Police Department, with the assistance of the FBI's Kansas City Division. Over seven years, investigators have followed more than 170 leads spanning multiple Missouri and Kansas properties. The involvement of the FBI reflects the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case. The $10,000 joint reward from Joplin PD and the FBI indicates a belief that someone in the community has information that has not yet come forward.

Several aspects of the circumstances surrounding Sarah's disappearance warrant attention. She was dropped off without her purse or one of her shoes, both of which were left in her friend's car, items that are unusual to simply forget. The later confirmation that she was seen at a North Pearl Avenue residence after the drop-off suggests she made at least one stop that morning before contact was lost. The searches of that residence, as well as properties in Pittsburg, Kansas, and Newton County, Missouri, suggest investigators have had specific locations of interest, though none have produced publicly disclosed findings that led to an arrest.

The case has received sustained attention from both local and national media over the years, including annual anniversary coverage. Despite that visibility and over 170 leads investigated, Sarah's location remains unknown. Anyone with information is urged to contact Joplin PD or the FBI.

04
How to Help

Help Find Sarah

Physical Description
Height: 5'7"
Weight: Approx. 160 lbs
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Tattoos: Large cross on upper arm, additional tattoos
Age now: 35–36
Submit a Tip — $10,000 Reward

The Joplin Police Department and FBI are jointly offering a $10,000 reward for information that may lead to Sarah's location. All tips are taken seriously. Anonymous tips are accepted.

Joplin Police Department: (417) 623-3131

FBI Kansas City: tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI

Missing Poster: Download and Share

05
In Her Memory

She Is Not Forgotten

Sarah Elizabeth Burton was 28 years old. She was a mother. Her sons were three years old and eight months old when she disappeared. She was a cheerleader and a gifted student who fought hard battles after high school. She was trying. She was living with her parents, she was making her court dates, she was working toward something better. She was not someone who would walk away from her children.

Seven years is a long time to carry not knowing. Her parents have carried it. Her children have grown up in it. Her community has held vigils and shared posters and made calls. More than 170 leads have been investigated. The FBI and Joplin Police are still looking. That persistence matters, and the people who have kept Sarah's name in public view deserve credi

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