Denise Newsom Porch

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Nc (NC)

Missing From:

Charlotte, NC

Summary:

Denise Newsom Porch, 21, was employed as the manager of Yorktown Apartments on Tyvola Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. On July 31, 1975, she disappeared while showing an apartment to a prospective renter. Her body has never been found. Larry Gene Bell, a former electrician who lived about 300 yards from the apartment complex, emerged as a possible suspect in the mid-1980s. He was never formally charged in connection with her disappearance.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

Denise Porch was last seen in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 31, 1975 and was employed as the manager of Yorktown Apartments on Tyvola Road. She left a note for her husband saying she'd left to show an apartment to a prospective renter. She was last seen at 3:11 p.m. as she showed a man around the property. There were no signs that a struggle had taken place inside Porch's own apartment, and the air conditioning and television set were left on. She left all of her personal belongings behind, including her Camaro and her purse and identification. The only things missing were the keys to the vacant apartments in the complex, and a log of available units which she would show to prospective tenants. She has never been seen again. An extensive search did not produce any clues as to her whereabouts.

Additional Details:

Her family had her declared legally dead in 1982, seven years after her disappearance. Larry Gene Bell emerged as a possible suspect in Porch's case in the mid-1980s. A former electrician, he lived on Cherrycrest Lane in 1975, approximately 300 yards from Yorktown Apartments. Bell was found guilty of the murders of two young women from South Carolina in 1985 and sentenced to death. Porch physically resembled Bell's other victims and authorities believe he was involved in her case. Bell was executed in 1996. He maintained his innocence in Porch's case and was never formally charged in connection with her disappearance. The investigation into her disappearance is now the oldest active missing persons case in all of North Carolina. Porch was recently married to her husband, Dean Porch, who never got over the loss of his wife and believes she was abducted. He is now deceased. Denise Porch's younger sister, Diane Hill, said they grew up in the small town of Denton in Davidson County. Some folks had last seen Denise riding in her car with two unidentified folks. That wasn't unusual at the time, as she might have somebody hop in the car to drive them over to take a look at a particular unit.

Case Last Updated:

Apr 16, 2026