Cold Case Files: Car belonging to Tulsa woman was found in Clarksville, Texas two days after her disappearance in 2005

Karen Faye Heim

Nearly two decades after Karen Faye Heim vanished from her west Tulsa home, her family and authorities are still searching for answers in a case marked by mystery and suspected foul play.

The 42-year-old mother was last seen leaving her parents’ home around 10:00 p.m. on December 26, 2005, the day after Christmas. Despite active investigations by the Tulsa Police Department and Red River County Sheriff’s Department in Texas, no arrests have been made, and no significant updates have emerged in the past five years.

Heim, described as 5’4”, 135 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a distinctive cross tattoo on her ankle, had a history that included a 2001 felony arrest for acting “in concert” with others and a pivotal role as a witness in a 2005 methamphetamine trial against her ex-husband and others.

Months after her testimony, she disappeared, leaving behind a trail of questions and a haunting discovery in rural Texas.

On December 27, 2005, Heim’s tan 1988 Buick Electra Park Avenue, bearing Oklahoma license plate TNM937, was found abandoned on Farm-to-Market Road 1159, approximately 12 miles north of Clarksville, Texas, near the Oklahoma state border--some 215 miles south of Tulsa.

The vehicle’s doors were open, and it had been meticulously wiped clean of fingerprints. Inside, authorities found all of Heim’s belongings, including her purse, keys, Social Security card, driver’s license, money, and a toll receipt.

Her family emphasized that she had no known connection to the Clarksville area, deepening the mystery of why her car was found there.

Despite unconfirmed reports of sightings in Tulsa and Sand Springs on the day she vanished, no verified leads have surfaced.

Heim’s father has speculated that her disappearance may be linked to her testimony in the drug trial, though law enforcement has not confirmed a connection.

“She was in good spirits that Christmas,” her son, Ryan Underwood, shared in a 2024 interview, reflecting on the family’s ongoing pain, especially during the holiday season. “We just want to know what happened to her.”

Heim had a history of depression but was reportedly upbeat at the time of her disappearance. The condition of her abandoned car and the absence of fingerprints have led authorities to suspect foul play, yet the case remains at a standstill.

Recent coverage in 2024 highlighted the family’s continued plea for information, with no new suspects or breakthroughs reported in the past five years.

The Tulsa Police Department (918-596-9122), Sand Springs Police, and Red River County Sheriff’s Department (903-427-3838) continue to investigate, urging anyone with information to contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

“Even the smallest detail could make a difference,” a Tulsa Police spokesperson said. For Heim’s loved ones, the hope for closure persists as they await answers in a case that has haunted the community for nearly 20 years.