Cold Case Files: : Janice Potts went missing from Harrison in 1981 abd has never been heard from again

Janice Catherine Potts, a 40-year-old divorced mother of three sons, disappeared from her home in Harrison, Boone County on August 28, 1981. More than 44 years later, no trace of her has been found.

No body has been recovered, no burial site identified, and no one has been charged. The case remains open with the Arkansas State Police.

Janice Potts was born January 2, 1941, in Missouri. She moved to Harrison, worked the night shift at a local factory, and supported her teenage sons alone after her divorce. She attended a Pentecostal church and was known as a reliable, quiet person in the community. I

n the summer of 1981 she learned she was four months pregnant, which added stress to her situation.

On the morning of August 28, 1981, one of her sons saw her before he left for school. She was asleep after working overnight. When the sons returned home that afternoon, the house was empty. The front door was unlocked. A pot of beans was boiling on the stove. The utility light was on. An iron was plugged in and left in the on position. There were no signs of a struggle or forced entry.

Janice was last seen wearing everyday clothing appropriate for August weather. She stood 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 110 pounds, had black hair and brown eyes. She had no known history of running away or mental health issues that would explain a voluntary departure.

Her purse, identification, and personal items remained in the home.Harrison in 1981 had a population of about 9,000. Crime was low, and sudden disappearances were uncommon.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office and Arkansas State Police investigated immediately. Searches covered the surrounding rural areas, including fields, creeks, forests, and abandoned sites. Divers checked nearby waterways. No evidence surfaced.

Over the decades family members and investigators continued to follow leads. Community vigils were held. Tips were submitted, but none produced results. The pregnancy factored into early theories, including possible foul play related to the father or someone who knew about it. No suspect has been named publicly.

The case file notes the unusual condition of the home: food cooking, iron on, light left burning. These details suggest Janice intended to return soon and left abruptly.

The unlocked door and absence of struggle point away from a random home invasion

.As of 2026, Janice would be 84 years old. Her sons, now in their late 50s and early 60s, have kept the case active through public appeals and cooperation with authorities. The Arkansas State Police Cold Case Unit reviews it periodically.

No new physical evidence has emerged in recent years.The disappearance of Janice Potts stands as one of northern Arkansas's longest unsolved missing-persons cases.

Without a body or burial location, her family remains without final answers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arkansas State Police Cold Case Unit or Boone County Sheriff's Office.