September 1, 2025 • 14 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In January 2019, 85-year-old Pandora Duckett stepped out into the Memphis cold for what should have been a routine morning—but she never came back. Despite extensive searches, community vigils, and a family unwilling to give up hope, Pandora hasn't been seen since. Five years later, haunting questions remain: Did she wander into danger, or was she the victim of something far more sinister? Anyone with information about her case should contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at 901-377-7700. The agency case number is: 1901001344sh.
This is the story of Pandora Duckett.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began on a bitter cold morning
in Memphis, Tennessee, on January twenty eighth, twenty nineteen. An
(00:22):
eighty five year old grandmother with Alzheimer's disease walked out
of her home that morning and vanished. What started as
a routine trip to the convenience store became the beginning
of a mystery that would consume a family and baffle
investigators for over five years. Despite extensive searches, reward money,
(00:47):
and even the community rallying around her family, it still
seems as if the elderly woman simply disappeared and left
no trace. This is the story of Pandora Ducket. Pandora
(01:08):
Ducket was eighty five years old in January of twenty nineteen,
a beloved grandmother living in the Raleigh neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee.
At the time of her disappearance. She's described as having
black hair, brown eyes, and war classes. Both of her
ears were pierced and She was known for her warm
(01:30):
presence in the family home that she shared with other relatives,
but Pandora was also battling Alzheimer's disease. The progressive condition
had begun to cloud her memories and confuse her sense
of time and place. Family members said that she sometimes
believed that she still worked at her previous job at
(01:53):
TJ max A store, where she had been employed years earlier.
But despite her condition, Pandora maintained a level of independence.
She could walk around the neighborhood and was familiar with
the local area. Her family kept a close watch on her,
(02:13):
but on that cold January morning, their vigilance sadly wouldn't
be enough. January twenty eighth, twenty nineteen, in Memphis, the
temperature was frigid, the kind of cold that cuts through
clothing and chills you to the bone. It wasn't the
(02:34):
kind of weather for an elderly person to just be
wandering around outside. At eight thirty am, Pandora Ducket left
her home on Raleigh Avenue. She was last seen wearing
a gray jacket, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. She also
was carrying a small blue purse with her. Her destination
(02:59):
seemed simple, a convenience store that was in the area,
but what happened next would turn this routine trip into
a mystery that continues to haunt her family today. Pandora
made it to the convenience store that morning. Surveillance footage
(03:20):
and witness accounts would later confirm that she indeed was there,
going about what appeared to be a normal visit. But
it was what happened after she left the store that
would change everything. As Pandora exited the convenience store, a
woman approached her. This woman, later identified as Rodrika Settles,
(03:45):
saw an elderly woman in the cold and made a
decision that she would later described as trying to do
the right thing. Settles offered Pandora a ride home. It
was a gesture of kindness that would soon become the
center of a missing person investigation. Rodrika Settles took Pandora
(04:08):
to the Valero gas station located off New Allen and
Raleigh Millington Road, about two miles from Pandora's home. This
gas station would become a crucial location in the investigation,
the last place where Pandora's whereabouts could be definitively confirmed
(04:31):
After their stop at the Valero, Settles said that she
drove Pandora to an address on ross Wood Drive. According
to her, she dropped Pandora off at what appear to
be a home where she believed that Pandora lived or
at least was familiar with. But Rosswood Drive wasn't Pandora's address.
(04:54):
The family home where she lived was on Raleigh Avenue,
not Rosswood Drive. This defining detail would become one of
the most puzzling aspects of the case. Did Pandora's Alzheimer's
cause her to give Settles the wrong address or was
there something else at play. As the hours passed on
(05:18):
January twenty eighth, Pandora's family began to realize that something
was very wrong. She hadn't returned home, and with the
bitter cold outside, they were growing increasingly concerned. The family
contacted the Memphis Police Department to report Pandora missing. Given
(05:38):
her age and her health conditions, this was treated as
a high priority case. Elderly individuals with dementia are extremely
vulnerable when they go missing, especially in harsh weather conditions.
Search teams were deployed. The family organized their own search
(05:58):
efforts as well. Flyers with Pandora's photograph and description were
distributed throughout the entire neighborhood and beyond. The community rallied
around the family, with volunteers joining the search for the
missing grandmother. As the investigation unfolded, Rodriga Settles found herself
(06:24):
in a very uncomfortable position when she learned that the
elderly woman that she had tried to help went missing.
She came forward to share her story with police, but
instead of being praised for her cooperation, Settles faced suspicion
in even harassment from the community. As she later told reporters,
(06:48):
people were saying awful things about her, accusing her of
robbing Pandora, hurting her, or hiding her somewhere. The backlash
was so severe that Settles gave an interview to wr
EG News, saying, folks making me feel like me doing
(07:09):
the right thing was the wrong thing. She maintained that
she had simply tried to help an elderly lady on
that cold day and had dropped her off at what
she believed was Pandora's home. Police interviewed Settles extensively, but
ultimately found no evidence to suggest that she was involved
(07:32):
in any way with Pandora's disappearance. Meanwhile, the search for
Pandora Ducat expanded beyond the immediate neighborhood. Investigators followed up
on tips and leads from the public. Search and rescue
teams combed through wooded areas, abandoned buildings, and any location
(07:54):
where an elderly woman might have salt shelter from the cold.
The harsh reality was sobering. Memphis had experienced dangerously low
temperatures that week, and for an eighty five year old
woman with Alzheimers, spending a night outdoors in those conditions
could have been fatal. As days turned into weeks, the
(08:19):
active search efforts began to wind down, but the family's
determination never wavered. They continued to distribute the flyers, follow
up on tips, and kept Pandora's story in the public eye.
Pandora's son, Kim Duckett, became the family's most vocal advocate.
(08:42):
He refused to let his mother's case fade from public attention.
Kim organized search efforts, spoke with spoked with media outlets,
and worked to keep Pandora's disappearance in the news. In
a touching tribute, he even had dog tags made with
his mother's name and a phrase that she would often say,
(09:06):
keep me near your heart engraved on them. He distributed
these dog tags to family members as well as supporters
as a way to keep Pandora's memory alive. He also
spoke openly about what he missed most about his mother,
the love, the guidance, and the warm smile that you
(09:26):
would feel when everything was going wrong. His words painted
a picture of a woman who had been the heartbeat
of her family, making her disappearance even more heartbreaking. As
the months and years have passed by, the family has
increased the reward money for any information leading to Pandora's whereabouts.
(09:50):
They've increased the reward money over the years with hopes
that someone will come forward. What started as five thousand
dollars then increased fifteen thousand, and now the family has
raised twenty thousand dollars to help bring Pandora home. Despite
the monetary incentive, no one has come forward with any
(10:14):
information that could definitively explain what happened to Pandora that day.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office has maintained that the case
remains open and active, but acknowledge that they have had
no new leads to pursue at the time. Pandora's disappearance
(10:35):
also highlights a broader issue affecting families dealing with Alzheimer's
and dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, sixty percent of
people with dementia will wander at some point. Many families
are now turning to GPS tracking devices, ID bracelets, and
(10:56):
other forms of safety measures to help locate their loved
ones if they go missing. Pandora's case has spotlighted the
need for better safety protocols and community awareness when it
comes to protecting vulnerable individuals. Local organizations even began using
(11:17):
Pandora's story to help educate the community about all timers
and the importance of approaching confude's elderly individuals with care
and ensuring that they make it home safely. Today, Pandora
Ducket has been missing for over five years. She would
(11:39):
be ninety years old now if she is still alive.
The harsh reality is that, given her age, medical condition,
and the circumstances of her disappearance, the chances of finding
her alive diminish with each passing day. But her family
(12:01):
refuses to give up hope. They continue to believe that
someone out there knows exactly what happened to Pandora. They
continue to hope that someday they'll get the answers that
they've been searching for. The question that haunts the Ducat
family is simple. What happened to Pandora on that cold
(12:26):
morning in January twenty nineteen. Did she knock on the
door of the house where she was dropped off? Did
someone take her in, not realizing her family was searching
for her. Did she wander away from the address, becoming
lost or disoriented in an unfamiliar part of the neighborhood.
(12:49):
Or is there something more sinister at play? The family
and investigators have considered all possibilities, from tragic accidents to
foul play, but without more evidence or witnesses, Pandora's faith
(13:10):
remains a mystery. Pandora Ducket's case serves as a reminder
of how quickly life can change in an instant. Her
story is a call to action for all of us
to be more aware of not only our elders, but
other vulnerable individuals in our communities, and to help ensure
(13:33):
that they have the support and protection that they need.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends
of Pandora Ducket. Anyone with information about her disappearance to
contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. You can find their
contact information along with the agency case number, in the
(13:55):
description box below. As we close out this episode, don't
forget to click the follow button to stay updated on
Pandora's case and others like it. Be sure to subscribe
to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow us on
Instagram and TikTok for more true crime content and case updates.
(14:16):
If you're watching us on YouTube, drop your thoughts on
this case in the comments below. Thank you so much
for joining us on another episode. Until next time. Hunting
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
(14:38):
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that began on a bitter cold morning
in Memphis, Tennessee, on January twenty eighth, twenty nineteen. An
(00:22):
eighty five year old grandmother with Alzheimer's disease walked out
of her home that morning and vanished. What started as
a routine trip to the convenience store became the beginning
of a mystery that would consume a family and baffle
investigators for over five years. Despite extensive searches, reward money,
(00:47):
and even the community rallying around her family, it still
seems as if the elderly woman simply disappeared and left
no trace. This is the story of Pandora Ducket. Pandora
(01:08):
Ducket was eighty five years old in January of twenty nineteen,
a beloved grandmother living in the Raleigh neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee.
At the time of her disappearance. She's described as having
black hair, brown eyes, and war classes. Both of her
ears were pierced and She was known for her warm
(01:30):
presence in the family home that she shared with other relatives,
but Pandora was also battling Alzheimer's disease. The progressive condition
had begun to cloud her memories and confuse her sense
of time and place. Family members said that she sometimes
believed that she still worked at her previous job at
(01:53):
TJ max A store, where she had been employed years earlier.
But despite her condition, Pandora maintained a level of independence.
She could walk around the neighborhood and was familiar with
the local area. Her family kept a close watch on her,
(02:13):
but on that cold January morning, their vigilance sadly wouldn't
be enough. January twenty eighth, twenty nineteen, in Memphis, the
temperature was frigid, the kind of cold that cuts through
clothing and chills you to the bone. It wasn't the
(02:34):
kind of weather for an elderly person to just be
wandering around outside. At eight thirty am, Pandora Ducket left
her home on Raleigh Avenue. She was last seen wearing
a gray jacket, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. She also
was carrying a small blue purse with her. Her destination
(02:59):
seemed simple, a convenience store that was in the area,
but what happened next would turn this routine trip into
a mystery that continues to haunt her family today. Pandora
made it to the convenience store that morning. Surveillance footage
(03:20):
and witness accounts would later confirm that she indeed was there,
going about what appeared to be a normal visit. But
it was what happened after she left the store that
would change everything. As Pandora exited the convenience store, a
woman approached her. This woman, later identified as Rodrika Settles,
(03:45):
saw an elderly woman in the cold and made a
decision that she would later described as trying to do
the right thing. Settles offered Pandora a ride home. It
was a gesture of kindness that would soon become the
center of a missing person investigation. Rodrika Settles took Pandora
(04:08):
to the Valero gas station located off New Allen and
Raleigh Millington Road, about two miles from Pandora's home. This
gas station would become a crucial location in the investigation,
the last place where Pandora's whereabouts could be definitively confirmed
(04:31):
After their stop at the Valero, Settles said that she
drove Pandora to an address on ross Wood Drive. According
to her, she dropped Pandora off at what appear to
be a home where she believed that Pandora lived or
at least was familiar with. But Rosswood Drive wasn't Pandora's address.
(04:54):
The family home where she lived was on Raleigh Avenue,
not Rosswood Drive. This defining detail would become one of
the most puzzling aspects of the case. Did Pandora's Alzheimer's
cause her to give Settles the wrong address or was
there something else at play. As the hours passed on
(05:18):
January twenty eighth, Pandora's family began to realize that something
was very wrong. She hadn't returned home, and with the
bitter cold outside, they were growing increasingly concerned. The family
contacted the Memphis Police Department to report Pandora missing. Given
(05:38):
her age and her health conditions, this was treated as
a high priority case. Elderly individuals with dementia are extremely
vulnerable when they go missing, especially in harsh weather conditions.
Search teams were deployed. The family organized their own search
(05:58):
efforts as well. Flyers with Pandora's photograph and description were
distributed throughout the entire neighborhood and beyond. The community rallied
around the family, with volunteers joining the search for the
missing grandmother. As the investigation unfolded, Rodriga Settles found herself
(06:24):
in a very uncomfortable position when she learned that the
elderly woman that she had tried to help went missing.
She came forward to share her story with police, but
instead of being praised for her cooperation, Settles faced suspicion
in even harassment from the community. As she later told reporters,
(06:48):
people were saying awful things about her, accusing her of
robbing Pandora, hurting her, or hiding her somewhere. The backlash
was so severe that Settles gave an interview to wr
EG News, saying, folks making me feel like me doing
(07:09):
the right thing was the wrong thing. She maintained that
she had simply tried to help an elderly lady on
that cold day and had dropped her off at what
she believed was Pandora's home. Police interviewed Settles extensively, but
ultimately found no evidence to suggest that she was involved
(07:32):
in any way with Pandora's disappearance. Meanwhile, the search for
Pandora Ducat expanded beyond the immediate neighborhood. Investigators followed up
on tips and leads from the public. Search and rescue
teams combed through wooded areas, abandoned buildings, and any location
(07:54):
where an elderly woman might have salt shelter from the cold.
The harsh reality was sobering. Memphis had experienced dangerously low
temperatures that week, and for an eighty five year old
woman with Alzheimers, spending a night outdoors in those conditions
could have been fatal. As days turned into weeks, the
(08:19):
active search efforts began to wind down, but the family's
determination never wavered. They continued to distribute the flyers, follow
up on tips, and kept Pandora's story in the public eye.
Pandora's son, Kim Duckett, became the family's most vocal advocate.
(08:42):
He refused to let his mother's case fade from public attention.
Kim organized search efforts, spoke with spoked with media outlets,
and worked to keep Pandora's disappearance in the news. In
a touching tribute, he even had dog tags made with
his mother's name and a phrase that she would often say,
(09:06):
keep me near your heart engraved on them. He distributed
these dog tags to family members as well as supporters
as a way to keep Pandora's memory alive. He also
spoke openly about what he missed most about his mother,
the love, the guidance, and the warm smile that you
(09:26):
would feel when everything was going wrong. His words painted
a picture of a woman who had been the heartbeat
of her family, making her disappearance even more heartbreaking. As
the months and years have passed by, the family has
increased the reward money for any information leading to Pandora's whereabouts.
(09:50):
They've increased the reward money over the years with hopes
that someone will come forward. What started as five thousand
dollars then increased fifteen thousand, and now the family has
raised twenty thousand dollars to help bring Pandora home. Despite
the monetary incentive, no one has come forward with any
(10:14):
information that could definitively explain what happened to Pandora that day.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office has maintained that the case
remains open and active, but acknowledge that they have had
no new leads to pursue at the time. Pandora's disappearance
(10:35):
also highlights a broader issue affecting families dealing with Alzheimer's
and dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, sixty percent of
people with dementia will wander at some point. Many families
are now turning to GPS tracking devices, ID bracelets, and
(10:56):
other forms of safety measures to help locate their loved
ones if they go missing. Pandora's case has spotlighted the
need for better safety protocols and community awareness when it
comes to protecting vulnerable individuals. Local organizations even began using
(11:17):
Pandora's story to help educate the community about all timers
and the importance of approaching confude's elderly individuals with care
and ensuring that they make it home safely. Today, Pandora
Ducket has been missing for over five years. She would
(11:39):
be ninety years old now if she is still alive.
The harsh reality is that, given her age, medical condition,
and the circumstances of her disappearance, the chances of finding
her alive diminish with each passing day. But her family
(12:01):
refuses to give up hope. They continue to believe that
someone out there knows exactly what happened to Pandora. They
continue to hope that someday they'll get the answers that
they've been searching for. The question that haunts the Ducat
family is simple. What happened to Pandora on that cold
(12:26):
morning in January twenty nineteen. Did she knock on the
door of the house where she was dropped off? Did
someone take her in, not realizing her family was searching
for her. Did she wander away from the address, becoming
lost or disoriented in an unfamiliar part of the neighborhood.
(12:49):
Or is there something more sinister at play? The family
and investigators have considered all possibilities, from tragic accidents to
foul play, but without more evidence or witnesses, Pandora's faith
(13:10):
remains a mystery. Pandora Ducket's case serves as a reminder
of how quickly life can change in an instant. Her
story is a call to action for all of us
to be more aware of not only our elders, but
other vulnerable individuals in our communities, and to help ensure
(13:33):
that they have the support and protection that they need.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends
of Pandora Ducket. Anyone with information about her disappearance to
contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. You can find their
contact information along with the agency case number, in the
(13:55):
description box below. As we close out this episode, don't
forget to click the follow button to stay updated on
Pandora's case and others like it. Be sure to subscribe
to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and follow us on
Instagram and TikTok for more true crime content and case updates.
(14:16):
If you're watching us on YouTube, drop your thoughts on
this case in the comments below. Thank you so much
for joining us on another episode. Until next time. Hunting
for Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
(14:38):
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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