Adele Marie Wells, 7: Possibly Kidnapped While Walking To School In 1958
A man in the area was spotted trying to lure children into his vehicle days before Adele disappeared.
This unsolved mystery has baffled investigators for over 60 years. On November 21, 1958, just over an hour away from Detroit, Michigan, seven-year-old Adele Marie Wells in Flint was told to stay home from school because she was sick. Adele was one of nine children in the residence, so her parents ran a bustling household.
The little girl did her best to stay put, but Adele reportedly headed to the school in the afternoon to finish the second half of the day.
Our Black Girls is an independent, reader-supported publication. If you believe in amplifying the stories of missing Black women and girls, please consider making a direct gift through PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee, or by subscribing here.
She first stopped at her grandmother’s house, just a few blocks from her school. After her social call, Adele left her grandmother’s and walked the rest of the way to Jefferson Elementary School. She never arrived at her destination and has never been seen or heard from again.
Witnesses Tell Of A Kidnapping
During the initial investigation, police spoke to reliable witnesses who all said they saw a girl between the ages of eight and ten being carried away and placed into a black Chevrolet. They described the suspect as a Black man with a light complexion wearing a gray coat and red socks.
He has never been identified, but investigators don’t know if this man is related to Adele’s disappearance. Yet, other children who attended Adele’s school told police that they saw a man who drove a black Chevrolet days before Adele went missing. They claimed he tried to lure them into his vehicle.
Adele Wells: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance and possible kidnapping, Adele Wells was 3 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 45 to 60 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair (with bangs) and brown eyes. She was described as having a small, skinny build.
Her hair had waves on the sides, and she wore bangs. Her dental records and fingerprints are not on file, but her DNA reportedly is available for testing. Adele was last seen wearing a grey cotton coat, a bluish dress with small animal figures along the lower hemline, red knee-length socks, and black shoes.
Anyone with information regarding this 60+-year-old case is urged to contact the Flint Police Department at (810) 237-6945, the Michigan State Police at (313) 215-0675, or their local authorities. The agency case numbers are 15053-14 and 35-7663-58, respectively.
Please share this story about Adele Marie Wells to help reignite the investigation into this case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 15053-14 and 35-7663-58
Agency: Flint Police Department at (810) 237-6945, the Michigan State Police at (313) 215-0675
Email:
Join the Our Black Girls conversations on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Stay updated on the latest cases, developments, messages from survivors, and much more.







