Hattie Juanita Burton, 19: Pregnant High School Student, Disappeared in 1988
Her stepmother spoke with her during the day, but Hattie vanished sometime
Boynton Beach, Florida, resident Hattie Juanita Burton went missing almost 40 years ago. The 19-year-old was reportedly last seen by her stepmother, Ruth Burton, before Ruth made her way to work at 10:00 o'clock in the morning of February 9, 1988.
According to reports, Hattie's stepmother called during the day and spoke with Hattie, but by the time she arrived home, Hattie was no longer there.
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.
On February 9, 1988, Hattie's stepmother reported her missing. There wasn't anything left behind at their home that indicated Hattie planned to leave, but the teen hasn't been seen or heard from since. Ruth also reportedly told police that it was unusual for Hattie not to leave a note before leaving. She also revealed that Hattie didn’t have any money with her.
A report further states that the Santaluces High School student was approximately five months pregnant when she went missing. Hattie lived with her father and stepmother at the time.
There haven’t been many details shared publicly about this case or the status of the investigation.
Hattie Juanita Burton: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Hattie was described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall and 165 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes.
Please share this story about Hattie Juanita Burton to reignite the investigation into her missing person case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 88-44190
Agency: Boynton Beach Police Department
Phone: 561-742-6100
Email: gleicherj@bbfl.us
Join the Our Black Girls conversations on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, as well as on the OBG Podcasts on Apple, Spotify, Google, and Anchor FM. Stay updated on the latest cases, developments, messages from survivors, and much more.






