Gallup police seek missing 76-year-old woman, maroon truck spotted

Gallup police are asking residents to watch for a 76-year-old woman last seen on the north side of town around 1:23 p.m. on June 19. Lanita Lynn Roberts was reported missing on June 20, and officers say the maroon Chevy truck she was driving, with a white camper attached, may be the most important clue in the search.

Roberts is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 190 pounds, with green eyes and white hair. Police said the camper carries an Idaho license plate, a detail that could help neighbors, business owners and drivers recognize the vehicle if it turns up anywhere in Gallup, McKinley County or along nearby highways.

The first 24 to 48 hours after an older adult is reported missing can be crucial, especially when the search depends on a vehicle sighting and a small number of visual details. In this case, police have given the public a specific time, place and description, making it possible for anyone who saw the truck on June 19 or June 20 to help move the case forward quickly.

Anyone with information is asked to call McKinley County Metro Dispatch at 505-722-2002 or the Gallup Police Department at 505-863-9365. The city says the department has 60 commissioned officers, 10 public service officers and 6 civilian employees.

The alert fits into a wider New Mexico system built to spread missing-person information fast. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety operates the Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse, which serves as a central repository for law enforcement agencies across the state, including tribal agencies. State officials say that when a missing-person alert is issued, it can include a description of the person, the last known location and vehicle information if available.

New Mexico also uses Silver Alert and Turquoise Alert systems for at-risk adults. Turquoise Alert criteria cover missing enrolled or eligible members of federally or state-recognized Indian nations, tribes or pueblos when the disappearance is involuntary, unexplained, suspicious or tied to a health or safety risk, and emergency alerts can be sent when there is evidence of imminent danger and enough descriptive information to help locate the person.

For Gallup and surrounding communities, the key details are already in hand: Roberts was last seen on the north side of Gallup, she was driving a maroon Chevy truck with a white camper, and the camper had an Idaho plate. Police want any tip that could help bring her home.