Police appeal for publics help in locating missing woman

Beth Dowdy Chapman

Rainbow City police are making a public appeal to help them locate Beth Dowdy Chapman.  Chapman has been missing since August 7 and was last known to be driving a rental vehicle, a 2013 Volvo S-60, Illinois license plate R950351. Police say She rented the vehicle after a recent accident.  Chapman failed to return the rental vehicle on Tuesday, August 12 at 6 p.m.  Police said they have found no evidence suggesting Chapman may have been taking a trip, such as missing clothes or a suitcase.  There have been unconfirmed sightings including some people claiming they saw her shopping in Gadsden the night of August 7. They even claimed to have stood in line with her and spoke to her calmly. Authorities say the last time anyone tried to use Chapman's cell phone was 2 a.m. the morning of Friday, August 8. Since then, it's just gone to voicemail.  Police have ATM video of her making a transaction at a bank in Etowah County before 6 a.m. on August 8.   At 10 a.m. that on August 8, police say her debit card shows a purchase at a service station in Etowah County.  Officials say Chapman rented the Volvo from Enterprise Rent-A-Car because after she was involved in a head-on collision on July 30 at the intersection of Highway 174 and 411 in Odenville.  Police say someone brought her to Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden, where hospital personnel told police she appeared to have a black eye under heavy makeup, perhaps from the accident. Other than the emergency room visit from the Odenville wreck, investigators have checked everyone hospital in Jefferson, Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega and Etowah Counties in their attempts to find her.

Those attempts were unsuccessful.

Police want anyone with any info to call the Rainbow City Police Detective Division at 256-413-1234.