Myrtle Polk was a beloved figure in her community retired teacher, devout church-member, and widely known in the Singing Hills / Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.
On June 11, 2024 (around noon) she was last seen driving her black 2004 Lexus ES 330 in the 1100 block of Indian Creek Trail in Dallas.
At that time, her family reported she was in the early stages of dementia, which raised concern because she lived alone and was not out by herself usually.
A “Silver Alert” was issued given her age, cognitive condition and the fact she was missing.
Following the June 2024 disappearance, the family, neighbors and local faith community mobilized: flyers, social-media posts, search parties, and neighborhood canvassing.
Community members expressed frustration and fear: as one niece stated, “How do you not find somebody?”
Meanwhile the local police stated that as time passed the high-level resources dedicated to the search diminished, and the burden increasingly fell on the family and volunteers.
On November 4, 2025 about 17 months after her disappearance the Dallas Police Department located Myrtle’s black Lexus overturned in water near Five Mile Creek, close to the 5600 block of South Lancaster Road in South Dallas.
The car was retrieved from the creek bed by tow truck; importantly, Myrtle was not inside the vehicle.
This discovery triggered a renewed search effort specifically in the creek banks and surrounding area, including mounted units, K-9 teams and private search groups.
What we still don’t know
Despite the car being found overturned in water, there is no confirmation of Ms. Polk’s status alive, deceased or otherwise so the cause of her disappearance and any cause of death are not yet established.
How and when the vehicle entered the creek remains undetermined. Authorities have not confirmed whether foul play is involved, or whether Ms. Polk drove into the water, was assisted or removed.
There has been no sign of her phone or bank activity since her disappearance.
The family remains hopeful and continues to call for information: “Now we are focused on finding her,” her son Phillip Polk said.
Because there is no confirmed death or recovered body, the term “passed away” or “cause of death confirmed” is not accurate at this time. The case remains one of a missing person with tragic circumstances.
Why this case matters
This case highlights several themes: the vulnerabilities faced by older adults with dementia, the urgency of missing-persons cases where cognitive decline is involved, and the challenges for families when high-level law-enforcement resources taper off over time.
It also underscores the importance of community vigilance, especially when a beloved local figure goes missing.
Friends and neighbors say Ms. Polk was always caring, active and reliable which deepens the grief and mystery over her disappearance.
