Missing in Plain Sight: The disappearance from Tennessee of Bethany Leanne Markowski and a Little Rock connection?
- Dennis McCaslin
- Jun 15
- 1 min read
On March 4, 2001, 11-year-old Bethany Markowski vanished from the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tennessee. But what began as a local missing child case quickly took on a more disturbing dimension: within days, Bethany was reportedly seen in Little Rock--over 130 miles away--with one or more unidentified adults.
According to multiple witness accounts, Bethany was spotted at a restaurant and possibly a gas station in the Little Rock area. These sightings were considered credible enough that law enforcement expanded their search across state lines.
One witness even claimed the girl appeared disoriented and frightened, but no one intervened at the time. The FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation followed up, but no definitive leads emerged.
What makes this even more unsettling is that Bethany’s father, Larry Markowski, later admitted to taking her to Little Rock that weekend to visit a friend named Harold and his family.
This revelation raised serious questions: Was Bethany already in danger before she disappeared? Did something happen in Little Rock that led to her vanishing?
Despite these leads, no charges were filed, and the case remains unsolved. The Little Rock sightings remain one of the most haunting threads in Bethany’s story—suggesting she may have been moved across state lines in the critical hours after she was last seen.
The investigation is being led by the FBI’s Memphis Field Office. If you have any information--especially about the Little Rock sightings---please call (901) 747-4300.
