MISSING: Leila Lewis Bryan and Mary Rachel Bryan

On May 10, 1941 mother and daughter 36-year-old Leila Bryan and 4-year-old Mary Rachel Bryan went to the beach. They arrived back at their Carolina Beach, North Carolina home at 6:30 p.m. She started dinner. At the time her husband Edis Clarence Bryan or E.C. was making plans to pour a concrete floor in the basement.

At 9 p.m. Leila left with Mary. She initially was going to go out to buy groceries or a bra down the street. She brought Mary Rachel with her because she insisted on going with her. For some reason, she left her rings on the sink. At the time she was driving her husband's black 1935 Ford Model A coupe with 1941 North Carolina License plate number 219-056.

E.C. had gone to bed while she was gone. Later that night Barry Lewis, Leila's brother, and one of his friends came over to the home. He asked  E.C. where the girls were. E.C. said they never came home from their trip. Barry and his friend went out to search for his sister and niece. They couldn't find them.

E.C. called the police and reported the girls missing. This was when the community and police joined the search. The search included the beach, waterways, and wooded areas. The car was low in gas when she left so it was possible that she went to get gas. One station attendant reported that they saw a woman around 10 and they were pretty sure it was her. This tip led nowhere though.

The car was never recovered and the two were declared dead in 1948. Police did not believe that Leila left on her own accord. It could be possible that the girls met foul play and she and Mary Rachel were dead.

Police suspected Leila's husband for their disappearance. They suspected that he killed his wife and daughter and then buried their bodies. It was initially believed that they were buried under their concrete basement floor at the beach cottage on Raleigh Ave., but it was dug up in 2009 and remains were not found. It's possible their bodies were buried elsewhere though if it was him.

Leila may be spelled as Lela is a white female and was 36-years-old at the time. She was 5'7" to 5'8" and 120 lbs. She has black hair and grey eyes. She was wearing a summer print housedress with a green turban, possibly a sweater and white and brown shoes.

Mary Rachel is a white female and was 4 at the time. She was 3'0" and 40 lbs at the time. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

 
SOURCES:
Charley Project (Leila)
Charley Project (Mary Rachel)
Find A Grave (Leila)
Find A Grave (Mary Rachel)
Doe Network (Leila)
Doe Network  (Mary Rachel)
Dead Maidens