| Age at missing | 38 years old |
| Case ID | deborah-dee-sykes |
| City en | Rathdrum |
| City geo ID | 5553955 |
| City slug | rathdrum |
| Classification | Endangered Missing |
| Classification en | Endangered Missing |
| County en | |
| County fips ref | 16055 |
| County slug | kootenai-county |
| Created at | 2026-01-16T16:23:17.046178+00:00 |
| Date of birth | 1967-01-30 |
| Disappearance details | Sykes was last seen in the 7100 block of west Winchester Street in Rathdrum, Idaho on February 13, 2005. Her husband went to the grocery store in the morning while she was still in bed, and when he returned, she was gone. She apparently took off her wedding ring and left her house on foot, leaving her purse and all her belongings behind. Sykes was distraught at the time she went missing, and she was known for drinking heavily. She doesn't have a serious criminal record, but at the time of her disappearance there was a warrant out for her arrest for writing bad checks. She was close to her family and had a reputation as a street-smart woman who could take care of herself. Sykes had left on her own in the past, but always returned within a day or two. Her family doesn't believe she would have left for this long without contacting her husband or children. Her case remains unsolved. Investigating Agency Rathdrum Police Department 208-687-0711 Source Information Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse NamUs The Pacific Northwest Inlander The Couer D'Alene Press KXLY East Idaho Cold Cases NBC Right Now Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 30, 2018; picture added, medical conditions and details of disappearance updated. |
| Disappearance details en | Sykes was last seen in the 7100 block of west Winchester Street in Rathdrum, Idaho on February 13, 2005. Her husband went to the grocery store in the morning while she was still in bed, and when he returned, she was gone. She apparently took off her wedding ring and left her house on foot, leaving her purse and all her belongings behind. Sykes was distraught at the time she went missing, and she was known for drinking heavily. She doesn't have a serious criminal record, but at the time of her disappearance there was a warrant out for her arrest for writing bad checks. She was close to her family and had a reputation as a street-smart woman who could take care of herself. Sykes had left on her own in the past, but always returned within a day or two. Her family doesn't believe she would have left for this long without contacting her husband or children. Her case remains unsolved. Investigating Agency Rathdrum Police Department 208-687-0711 Source Information Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse NamUs The Pacific Northwest Inlander The Couer D'Alene Press KXLY East Idaho Cold Cases NBC Right Now Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 30, 2018; picture added, medical conditions and details of disappearance updated. |
| Disappearance details word count | 213 |
| Distinguishing marks | White female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Sykes has previously fractured her right knee and one of her knee joints is artificial. She has a tattoo of a blue heart on her left breast and a tattoo of the Canadian flag on her right hip. Sykes may use the last name Gilchrist. She has broken and discolored teeth. |
| Distinguishing marks en | White female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Sykes has previously fractured her right knee and one of her knee joints is artificial. She has a tattoo of a blue heart on her left breast and a tattoo of the Canadian flag on her right hip. Sykes may use the last name Gilchrist. She has broken and discolored teeth. |
| Full name | Deborah Dee Sykes |
| Full name en | Deborah Dee Sykes |
| Height | 5'8 |
| ID | 11195 |
| Investigating agency | Rathdrum Police Department 208-687-0711 Source Information Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse NamUs The Pacific Northwest Inlander The Couer D'Alene Press KXLY East Idaho Cold Cases NBC Right Now |
| Missing since | 2005-02-13 |
| Official last updated | 2018-07-30 |
| Official update count | 6 |
| Official update history | picture added, medical conditions and details of disappearance updated. |
| Path | idaho/kootenai-county/rathdrum |
| Race | White |
| Race en | White |
| Sex | Female |
| Source info | Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse NamUs The Pacific Northwest Inlander The Couer D'Alene Press KXLY East Idaho Cold Cases NBC Right Now |
| State en | Idaho |
| State ref | ID |
| State slug | idaho |
| Status | active |
| Updated at | 2026-01-16T16:23:17.046178+00:00 |
| URL path | idaho/kootenai-county/rathdrum |
| Weight | 125 pounds |
Sykes was last seen in the 7100 block of west Winchester Street in Rathdrum, Idaho on February 13, 2005. Her husband went to the grocery store in the morning while she was still in bed, and when he returned, she was gone. She apparently took off her wedding ring and left her house on foot, leaving her purse and all her belongings behind. Sykes was distraught at the time she went missing, and she was known for drinking heavily. She doesn’t have a serious criminal record, but at the time of her disappearance there was a warrant out for her arrest for writing bad checks. She was close to her family and had a reputation as a street-smart woman who could take care of herself. Sykes had left on her own in the past, but always returned within a day or two. Her family doesn’t believe she would have left for this long without contacting her husband or children. Her case remains unsolved. Investigating Agency Rathdrum Police Department 208-687-0711 Source Information Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse NamUs The Pacific Northwest Inlander The Couer D’Alene Press KXLY East Idaho Cold Cases NBC Right Now Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 30, 2018; picture added, medical conditions and details of disappearance updated.