The Astonishing Rediscovery of Lula Cora Hood After 40 Years
In 1970, Lula Cora Hood, a single mother of four from Galesburg, Illinois, vanished after a family argument. Her disappearance left her children and loved ones in a haze of uncertainty, wondering if she was alive or gone forever. For decades, her fate remained one of the most perplexing mysteries in Knox County. In 1996, a skeleton found in an abandoned brickyard seemed to close the case, with authorities believing it was Lula. But in 2011, an astonishing discovery turned everything upside down: Lula Cora Hood, then 84 years old, was found alive in Jacksonville, Florida. This is the remarkable story of her disappearance, the years of unanswered questions, and the incredible moment when her family learned she was still out there, living a life no one could have imagined.
A Mother’s Life in Galesburg, Illinois
Lula Cora Hood was born on October 30, 1926, in Knoxville, Illinois, to Jentry Robert Hood and Mary Mulviney Condreay. She grew up in a large family with seven siblings, including her sister Hazel Mae Hood Shepard, who would later play a significant role in her children’s lives. By 1970, Lula was 43 years old and a single mother raising four children: Grace, Joann, Owen, and David. Life wasn’t easy for her. She struggled with mental health challenges, which made parenting even harder in an era when support for such issues was scarce.
Lula’s children were adopted by her sister Hazel before her disappearance, a decision driven by Lula’s realization that she couldn’t provide the stable home they needed. Despite this, she stayed in touch with her kids, visiting them regularly in Galesburg. Grace Kivisto, her eldest daughter, was 15 at the time and remembers her mother’s presence in their lives, even if it was inconsistent. But everything changed after a family dispute in 1970, the details of which remain murky.
The Day Lula Vanished
The argument that led to Lula’s disappearance happened in 1970, though the exact date and circumstances are unclear. Grace, who was too young to fully understand the situation, recalls that her mother was told to leave by two aunts and never come back. Whether it was a heated moment or a culmination of ongoing tensions, Lula took the words to heart. She walked away from her family, her home, and her life in Galesburg, leaving no trace behind.
For her children, the sudden absence was devastating. “She just left one day, and we never heard another thing,” Grace later told reporters. The family searched for her, reaching out to anyone who might know where she went, but there were no leads. Lula had no history of running away for good—though she’d left briefly before, she always returned. This time, it was different. Months turned into years, and hope began to fade. The mystery of Lula Cora Hood’s disappearance deepened, leaving her loved ones with more questions than answers.
Decades of Silence
As the 1970s rolled into the 1980s, Lula’s family clung to the possibility that she was still alive. They followed up on rumors and tips, but nothing led to her. Galesburg, a small town in western Illinois, wasn’t the kind of place where people just vanished, so her absence felt even more jarring. The lack of closure weighed heavily on her children, especially Grace and her sister Debbie Caulley, who never stopped wondering what happened to their mother.
Lula’s mental health struggles added another layer of complexity. In the 1970s, mental health care was limited, and stigma often kept people from seeking help. Her family knew she’d faced challenges, but they didn’t know if those issues had led her to leave or if something else had happened. Was she safe? Had she started a new life somewhere? Or had something tragic occurred? These questions haunted her loved ones for decades.
A Grim Discovery in 1996
In May 1996, a chilling discovery seemed to provide answers. Workers at the abandoned Purington Paver Brickyards in East Galesburg found skeletal remains inside a kiln, wrapped in a plastic garbage bag. The skeleton was that of a short, middle-aged woman, roughly 4’10” tall—matching Lula’s height. The brickyard was also across the street from where Lula’s parents had lived, making the connection seem even stronger.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Department investigated, and without advanced DNA testing available at the time, they relied on circumstantial evidence. The height, location, and general profile led authorities to believe the remains were Lula’s. Her family was notified, and the news was heartbreaking. “They said it was her,” Grace told WQAD, a local news station. The family held a memorial service, buried the remains, and tried to find peace, believing Lula was gone.
Doubts and DNA Advancements
For over a decade, Lula’s family lived with the belief that she was dead. But as DNA technology improved in the 2000s, new possibilities emerged. In 2008, Grace and her sister Debra Sanfo provided DNA samples to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department to compare with the remains. The results, released in June 2009, were stunning: the skeleton was not Lula Cora Hood’s. The family was back to square one, grappling with the realization that their mother might still be out there.
The discovery also raised new questions about the remains. If they weren’t Lula’s, whose were they? Investigators considered other missing persons, including Helen “Ruth” Alps, a woman last seen in the late 1980s who frequented the brickyards. But Alps was ruled out for reasons the sheriff’s department didn’t disclose. The identity of the “Jane Doe” remains a mystery to this day, with the case still open.
Reopening the Case
The 2009 DNA results prompted the Knox County Sheriff’s Department to reopen Lula’s missing persons case. Sergeant Jason Landers took the lead, determined to find answers. He gathered fresh information from Lula’s family, including the birthplaces of her children. One detail stood out: Lula’s daughter Joann was born in Jacksonville, Florida, suggesting a possible connection to the area.
Landers used a new law enforcement internet resource to search for women with Lula’s first and middle names and birth date. The search led to a woman in Jacksonville, Florida, living under a different last name. When Landers contacted her, she provided a Social Security number that matched Lula’s from decades earlier. To confirm, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective Frank Lockley spoke with the woman, who verified her maiden name and other personal details. The pieces were falling into place.
The Shocking Call in 2011
On June 29, 2011, Sergeant Landers interviewed the woman in Jacksonville over the phone. She confirmed specific details about her family and life that only Lula Cora Hood would know. Investigators were confident they’d found her. The next day, June 30, Landers personally visited Grace Kivisto at her home in North Henderson, Illinois, to deliver the news: “We found your mom. She’s alive in Jacksonville, Florida.”
Grace was overwhelmed. “I started crying,” she recalled. “I never would have thought I would have that reaction, but I sure did.” Debbie Caulley, in Dayton, Ohio, got a similar call and was equally stunned. “I’m still trying to process it,” she said. After 41 years of uncertainty, the impossible had happened. Lula, now 84, was alive and well, living 1,100 miles away from where she’d last been seen.
Confirming Lula’s Identity
To ensure there was no mistake, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department arranged for DNA testing. Grace and Debra provided samples, which were compared to DNA from the woman in Jacksonville. On July 15, 2011, the results came back: there was a 99.99% certainty that the woman was Lula Cora Hood. The testing, conducted by Genetic Technologies, Inc. in Missouri, closed the case definitively. Lula was alive, and her family could finally plan to reconnect.
Lula’s Life in Florida
Details about Lula’s life after 1970 are scarce, as authorities and her family protected her privacy due to her age and health. What is known is that she’d been living in Jacksonville under a different last name, possibly Stewart, as noted in her 2018 obituary. Reports suggest she had more children—potentially up to 14 in total—though her family in Illinois hasn’t confirmed meeting these siblings. Lula’s mental health challenges persisted, and she may have faced financial exploitation, with one caregiver noting that a family had persuaded her to take out loans she couldn’t repay.
When Grace spoke to her mother by phone, their conversations were bittersweet. Lula remembered her sisters and her birthplace but didn’t recall Grace or her other children from Illinois. “When I ask her if she remembers me, she says no,” Grace said. Despite this, Lula expressed a desire to reunite with her family, and Grace described their talks as feeling “like old friends.”
A Family Reunion
In the weeks following the discovery, Grace, Debbie, and their cousin Bernadine Collis traveled to Jacksonville to meet Lula. The reunion was emotional. “We said we weren’t going to cry,” Bernadine told The Register-Mail. “But when we saw each other, me and my sister and Aunt Cora, all three of us cried. We were so happy.” Grace knew instantly that the woman was her mother, a moment that brought both joy and closure.
Lula later moved to Dayton, Ohio, to live with Debbie, though she returned to Galesburg each autumn for family reunions. These gatherings became a cherished tradition, with relatives coming together to celebrate Lula’s return. “Every year we have a big dinner for her, and she enjoys it with us,” Bernadine said. “I’m so glad we found her.”
The Mystery of Jane Doe
While Lula’s rediscovery was a happy ending, the case of the 1996 remains remains unsolved. In 2013, DNA testing identified the skeleton as Helen “Ruth” Alps, a woman who vanished in the late 1980s. Her daughter provided a DNA sample that confirmed the match, but how Ruth died is still unknown. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department continues to seek information, urging anyone with details to call (309) 345-6790 or email tips@knoxcountysheriffil.com.
Lula’s Final Years
Lula Cora Hood, also known as Lula Cora Stewart, passed away on May 16, 2018, at the age of 91. Her obituary notes that she was cremated, with her ashes given to family or friends. While her later years were marked by reconnection with her Illinois family, the full story of her 41 years away remains private, respecting her and her family’s wishes. For Grace, Debbie, and their relatives, the chance to know their mother again, even briefly, was a gift they never expected.
A Story That Captivated the World
Lula’s story gained national attention, featured in a 2013 episode of “Presumed Dead” on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The show highlighted the twists and turns of her case, from the mistaken identification of the remains to the joyous reunion decades later. Producer Jeffrey Hirschfield called it a story with “mystery, twists, and a happy ending,” comparing it to an episode of “CSI.” For viewers, it was a reminder of the power of perseverance and the wonders of modern technology.
What We Can Learn
Lula Cora Hood’s rediscovery teaches us about resilience, hope, and the importance of never giving up. Her family’s determination, combined with advancements in DNA testing and dedicated police work, turned a decades-old mystery into a miracle. It also highlights the challenges of mental health and the need for better support systems, both then and now. For every missing person found, countless others remain lost, urging us to stay vigilant and compassionate.
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