The epidemic of Native American women going missing does not appear to be new, sadly. In fact, this 1956 disappearance points toward the lengthy history of violence towards Native American women since colonization. This disappearance is of Walcie Rae Downing, a Native American mother of five who vanished from Gallup in 1956.
There are not many details in this old case. Walcie Rae Downing, also called Walcie Rae Pearce or Walcie Rae Alston or simply “Rae”, was Native American. At the age of 32, she was confident and gorgeous. She dressed well. She was 130 pounds, 5’6”, with a petite frame and curly brown hair. In this photo, you can see her confident demeanor and inner strength.
Walcie Rae Downing lived in Gallup at the time she disappeared. She had five children but it is not clear who their father was, or if there were multiple fathers. It is also not clear if these children lived with her. She appeared to have a bit of an unstable life and bounced around between New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California. She had recently been involved in a break-up, though with whom is unclear. Rumors went around that she was “having an affair” with a police officer, suggesting he was probably married.
On December 14, 1956, she vanished without a trace. Apparently, her tan/cream Ford also disappeared with her. Some think she was on her way to see her children (it never states where they were living at the time but it appears she did not have custody of them). No one knows for certain that that is where she was going, though. She was last seen in Gallup.
In 1959, she allegedly called her fourteen-year-old daughter and told her, “Don’t look for me.” Missing persons profiles say that this call is unconfirmed. I’m not sure what that means. Do they think the daughter made this call up? Do they think it may have been someone other than Walcie Rae Downing? If this call did take place, then it suggests Walcie elected to disappear and there is no mystery.
In a vague and poorly written profile, her family alludes to someone deliberately keeping Walcie Rae Downing from her children. Apparently she “could not stay away” from her children and someone had kept her from them before. Her children theorize this led to her death, so they want to give officers leads on who kept her from them. I’m sure that would be a great place to start investigating, but all these years later, with no body and no confession, the odds of this case being solved are slim to none.
At the time she went missing, she was possibly involved with a police officer. Given the many instances of violence against women committed by officers, it seems that could be a good place to start the search for Walcie Rae Downing. Of course, police are always reluctant to turn against their own, so that could be why this lead has never panned out. Another possible person of interest would be the officer’s wife discovering the affair.
Walcie Rae Downing also apparently had been through a recent break-up. It is unclear whom she was with. Did they end on good terms? Was this man abusive?
It is also unclear who the father or fathers of her children are. Was she on good terms with the fathers? Did any of them want to keep her from the children? Did any of them abuse her or mean her harm?
In the 1950s, being a single mother was pretty rare and pretty difficult. Most women didn’t have the experience or ability for lucrative work that they do now. What did Walcie Rae Downing for a living?
There is a theory that Walcie Rae Downing was killed near Grants and buried in the Malpais. How was this theory arrived at? Was she seen in the area? Several people have gone missing in the Malpais and it has taken years to recover their bodies. Some people are never found out there. There are many caves, hollow tubes, and crannies where someone can become stuck (or where a body can be hidden). If you get lost in the Malpais, the harsh, arid environment of the area makes it difficult to survive for long. It gets bitter cold in winter, with a harsh wind blowing over the area, and it gets dangerously hot in summer, with the black lava rocks absorbing the sun’s heat. Snakes, scorpions, and bobcats also thrive in the area.
I continue to be puzzled by the article saying her children have memories of someone keeping her from her children. It makes me think someone in the family was involved. Someone who had interest in custody of the children – a grandparent, an ex-husband, a stepmother to the kids.
If you have any information at all, you can reach the Gallup Police Department at (505) 722-4438.
https://www.justicefornativepeople.com/2016/04/walcie-downing-missing-from-new-mexico.html