Bethany Lee Buckles

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Asheville Police Department (NC)

Missing From:

Asheville, North Carolina

Summary:

Bethany Buckles of Asheville, North Carolina disappeared in November 2021. According to NamUs, Buckles was 47 years old, and her last contact with a family member was on November 17, 2021. She was reported missing by her family on November 20, 2021, when she failed to return to her residence on Ravencroft Lane in South Asheville. Her car was later located in the Swannanoa area. She remains missing.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

Bethany's last contact with a family member was on November 17, 2021. She was reported missing by her family on November 20, 2021, when she failed to return to her residence on Ravencroft Lane in South Asheville. Her car was later located in the Swannanoa area. According to NamUs, a charge was made at a BP Gas Station in Asheville in the early morning hours of 11/18. The vehicle is a black Hyundai Elantra. Her family says she has some mental health issues and can often be seen panhandling in the downtown area.

Additional Details:

Bethany Buckles was a well-regarded member of the Asheville community. After graduating from Warren Wilson College, she dedicated herself to education, working as a reading specialist in Henderson County. Described by her mother, Jo Collins, as someone who cherished family gatherings, Bethany was known for her warm personality and commitment to her loved ones. However, in the period leading up to her disappearance, she had taken a step back from her professional life to focus on personal mental health challenges. Jo Collins said, while talking about her missing daughter, "Even though she's all grown up, she's still my daughter" and "When you look at them, you still see them when they were in pigtails." The 75-year-old woman said she sold her house in Atlanta to move to Western North Carolina so she could help search for Buckles. On Nov. 18, 2021, Collins discussed Thanksgiving Day arrangements with Buckles, who planned to spend time with her mother. Days went by, and Collins didn't hear from Buckles, who never indicated a change in plans. "Somebody else apparently had that car between November and February," Collins said. As of November 2024, this week marked the third anniversary of the disappearance of Bethany Collins Buckles. Bethany Buckles, 50, failed to return to her residence on Ravencroft Lane in South Asheville and was initially reported missing by her family on Nov. 20, 2021. Her car was later located in the Swannanoa area.

Case Last Updated:

Nov 04, 2026