| Age at missing | 24 years old |
| Case ID | patricia-lee-otto |
| City en | Lewiston |
| City geo ID | 5598538 |
| City slug | lewiston |
| Classification | Endangered Missing |
| Classification en | Endangered Missing |
| County en | |
| County fips ref | 16069 |
| County slug | nez-perce-county |
| Created at | 2026-01-16T16:23:17.046178+00:00 |
| Date of birth | 1952-08-04 |
| Disappearance details | Patricia was last seen in Lewiston, Idaho late in the evening on September 2, 1976. She got into an argument with her husband, Ralph Otto, and left the house angrily. She never returned. She left behind all her belongings, including her car and her wedding rings, which she normally didn't remove. The rings were found in Ralph's coat pocket, but they have since been lost. The Ottos' marriage was difficult and Patricia had left on her own before, taking the children with her. She filed for divorce in the spring of 1976, but later reconciled with her husband. They were fighting at the time of her disappearance because he believed she was unfaithful to him. After her disappearance, Ralph told their two young daughters that their mother had abandoned them. Authorities theorize Patricia was murdered, and Ralph is the prime suspect in her disappearance. One of the couple's daughters said he was an alcoholic who "incriminating statements about himself" in relation to his wife's case. Another daughter, then three years old, said she saw her father assault her mother on the night Patricia disappeared, and that the last time she saw her mother, her father had his hands around her neck. Less than a year after she vanished, he was convicted of hiring a contract killer to murder the lead investigator in Patricia's disappearance. The verdict was overturned on a technicality in 1981, however. Ralph died of a heart attack a few years later, while in jail on an unrelated charge. Patricia and Ralph's daughters who were raised by their paternal aunt and uncle after their father's death. One of the daughters is now deceased, but the other is still alive and still looking for answers in her mother's case. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected. Investigating Agency Lewiston Police Department 208-746-0171 Source Information Wesley Neville Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse The Doe Network NamUs The Lewiston Tribune KHQ Q6 KLEW TV Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 9, 2022; details of disappearance updated. |
| Disappearance details en | Patricia was last seen in Lewiston, Idaho late in the evening on September 2, 1976. She got into an argument with her husband, Ralph Otto, and left the house angrily. She never returned. She left behind all her belongings, including her car and her wedding rings, which she normally didn't remove. The rings were found in Ralph's coat pocket, but they have since been lost. The Ottos' marriage was difficult and Patricia had left on her own before, taking the children with her. She filed for divorce in the spring of 1976, but later reconciled with her husband. They were fighting at the time of her disappearance because he believed she was unfaithful to him. After her disappearance, Ralph told their two young daughters that their mother had abandoned them. Authorities theorize Patricia was murdered, and Ralph is the prime suspect in her disappearance. One of the couple's daughters said he was an alcoholic who "incriminating statements about himself" in relation to his wife's case. Another daughter, then three years old, said she saw her father assault her mother on the night Patricia disappeared, and that the last time she saw her mother, her father had his hands around her neck. Less than a year after she vanished, he was convicted of hiring a contract killer to murder the lead investigator in Patricia's disappearance. The verdict was overturned on a technicality in 1981, however. Ralph died of a heart attack a few years later, while in jail on an unrelated charge. Patricia and Ralph's daughters who were raised by their paternal aunt and uncle after their father's death. One of the daughters is now deceased, but the other is still alive and still looking for answers in her mother's case. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected. Investigating Agency Lewiston Police Department 208-746-0171 Source Information Wesley Neville Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse The Doe Network NamUs The Lewiston Tribune KHQ Q6 KLEW TV Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 9, 2022; details of disappearance updated. |
| Disappearance details word count | 340 |
| Distinguishing marks | White female. Blond hair, hazel eyes. Patricia's nickname is Patty. She has a scar on her back. |
| Distinguishing marks en | White female. Blond hair, hazel eyes. Patricia's nickname is Patty. She has a scar on her back. |
| Full name | Patricia Lee Otto |
| Full name en | Patricia Lee Otto |
| Height | 5'3 |
| ID | 13198 |
| Investigating agency | Lewiston Police Department 208-746-0171 Source Information Wesley Neville Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse The Doe Network NamUs The Lewiston Tribune KHQ Q6 KLEW TV |
| Missing since | 1976-09-02 |
| Official last updated | 2022-04-09 |
| Official update count | 6 |
| Official update history | details of disappearance updated. |
| Path | idaho/nez-perce-county/lewiston |
| Race | White |
| Race en | White |
| Sex | Female |
| Source info | Wesley Neville Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse The Doe Network NamUs The Lewiston Tribune KHQ Q6 KLEW TV |
| State en | Idaho |
| State ref | ID |
| State slug | idaho |
| Status | active |
| Updated at | 2026-01-16T16:23:17.046178+00:00 |
| URL path | idaho/nez-perce-county/lewiston |
| Weight | 140 pounds |
Patricia was last seen in Lewiston, Idaho late in the evening on September 2, 1976. She got into an argument with her husband, Ralph Otto, and left the house angrily. She never returned. She left behind all her belongings, including her car and her wedding rings, which she normally didn’t remove. The rings were found in Ralph’s coat pocket, but they have since been lost. The Ottos’ marriage was difficult and Patricia had left on her own before, taking the children with her. She filed for divorce in the spring of 1976, but later reconciled with her husband. They were fighting at the time of her disappearance because he believed she was unfaithful to him. After her disappearance, Ralph told their two young daughters that their mother had abandoned them. Authorities theorize Patricia was murdered, and Ralph is the prime suspect in her disappearance. One of the couple’s daughters said he was an alcoholic who “incriminating statements about himself” in relation to his wife’s case. Another daughter, then three years old, said she saw her father assault her mother on the night Patricia disappeared, and that the last time she saw her mother, her father had his hands around her neck. Less than a year after she vanished, he was convicted of hiring a contract killer to murder the lead investigator in Patricia’s disappearance. The verdict was overturned on a technicality in 1981, however. Ralph died of a heart attack a few years later, while in jail on an unrelated charge. Patricia and Ralph’s daughters who were raised by their paternal aunt and uncle after their father’s death. One of the daughters is now deceased, but the other is still alive and still looking for answers in her mother’s case. Her case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected. Investigating Agency Lewiston Police Department 208-746-0171 Source Information Wesley Neville Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse The Doe Network NamUs The Lewiston Tribune KHQ Q6 KLEW TV Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 9, 2022; details of disappearance updated.