Molly Laura Datillo

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IN)

Missing From:

Indianapolis, IN

Summary:

Molly Dattilo was reported missing by her brother on 07/08/2004. She was last seen on 07/06/2004 around 7:00 PM. Molly had intended to visit a nearby Wendy's restaurant to fill out a job application. Her brother noted that while Molly occasionally disappeared for three days at a time, this instance felt different as she left without her phone or any clothing, and had an appointment on 07/09/2004.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

Molly Dattilo dropped off an employment application at a Wendy's fast food restaurant near 10th Street and Highway 465 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at 7:00 p.m. on July 6, 2004. Molly purchased several supplies for school and her hobbies. Molly also dropped one of her three classes she was taking at Indiana University since it was the last day to drop a class without a penalty. At 11:00 p.m., she placed a call from a pay phone at a Thornton's gas station in the 5700 block of Crawfordsville Road. The call was to a friend, but the line was disconnected when the friend picked up the phone. She has never been heard from again. All of Molly Datillo’s personal belongings, including her car, voice practice equipment, cell phone, wallet, bank card, contact lens solution, and identification, were left behind when she vanished. She left additional job applications inside her vehicle as well. She had taken her cell phone with her when she left her brother's apartment and it was later found later in his home, which indicates that she made it back there at some point before disappearing. Molly Datillo’s brother was not immediately concerned when his sister did not come home that night, as she had gone on short unplanned visits to people in the past. He did not report her missing until July 8, two days after she was last seen. Molly was a student at Eastern Kentucky University in 2004. She was in her fifth year and very close to graduating. She had enrolled in the school on a running scholarship, which expired in 2003. Molly Datillo was taking summer classes at Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) at the time of her disappearance and was also taking private voice lessons. She had attended all of her classes and lessons up until the day of her disappearance. She was preparing to audition for the American Idol contest in August 2004, and also planned to attend her nephew's birthday party which happened later in July 2004. She left a substantial amount of money behind in her bank account, which has not been accessed since her disappearance. In October 2008, authorities announced they were investigating Molly’s case as a homicide. John E. Shelton is considered a person of interest in her case. He is the last person known to have seen her; he was with her when she placed the call at the gas station. He has a criminal record for theft and traffic offenses, and his driver's license has been suspended for life. John Shelton was a friend of one of Molly Dattilo's friends. The two of them met on the day of her disappearance, and they went on a boat ride and ate dinner together at a Taco Bell restaurant. No criminal charges have ever been filed in Molly Dattilo's disappearance. However, in November 2010, John and his father, Ed Shelton, were found civilly liable for her wrongful death and ordered to pay $3.4 million in damages to her family. The Dattilo family alleged that John Shelton committed battery on her which led to her death. The Sheltons never came to court to defend themselves against the suit, so a default judgement was issued against them. John is currently imprisoned on unrelated charges; Ed Shelton’s whereabouts are unknown. Molly Datillo is the youngest of nine children and a native of Madison, Indiana. She is an excellent student, runner and singer and is described as a very social and trusting person. Her loved ones believe she was abducted, as it is extremely uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. Her case is still unsolved.

Case Last Updated:

Jan 18, 2026