The Abduction

One Friday in June, 1968, Jo Sharp Lacey answered the door of her sister’s home in Bethany, OK, expecting to see her estranged husband, Mike Lacey, who was scheduled to pick up their 2-year-old son, Kipper for a weekend visit.  But Mike’s mother, Dorothy Wills of Enid stood there instead.

Dorothy explained that Mike was driving from his home in Dallas and that she was there to pick up Kipper so that Mike could spend the weekend with his son at her home in Enid.  It all seemed logical, so Jo handed Kipper to Dorothy.  It was the last time Jo ever saw her beloved son.

When Kipper didn’t return home Sunday evening, Jo called Dorothy, who said Kipper and Mike were on their way.  But Kipper and Mike never arrived.  What happened after that has been pieced together over the years, but all trails leading to Kipper, Mike, and Dorothy have gone cold.

  • At the time of the disappearance, Jo was told by the police they would not get involved since this was a domestic issue between Jo and her husband.  Their divorce was not final, and it was not a crime for a father to take his child.
  • Jo kept calling Mike but couldn’t reach him.  She contacted Dorothy, who reassured Jo that Kip was fine, and that Mike probably took the boy on a vacation.
  • When Jo scraped together enough money to go do Dallas to look for Mike and Kipper, he had vanished, leaving all his belongings behind. Within two months of the disappearance, Dorothy sold her home and has not been heard from since.
  • In 1987, a three year investigation conducted by International Genealogical Search, Inc was concluded.  “It would appear that when Mike, Kipper, and Dorothy disappeared in 1968, they left the United States and either immigrated to a foreign country or obtained new identities,” the report stated.  The investigation was conducted by the estate of Mike Lacey’s aunt, regarding an inheritance left to him.
  • Kipper would be 43 years old today.  See photos.
  • Mike Lacey would be 70 years old today.  See photos.

Jo has never given up on finding her son.  Please help Kipper’s mom find her son. Click here to read “A Mother’s Plea.”

If you have any information about Kipper Lacey, Mike Lacey, or Dorothy Wills, please call this number: 877-355-7995 or e-mail: findkipper@kippersmom.com.

Click here to read the latest news about Kipper’s disappearance.