Never Quit Looking Case File
Case ID#: 0303
Mary Anne Katherine Falk
Also known as: Mary Anne Runyen
Unidentified Person Notice: In English, unidentified individuals are often known as βJane Doeβ or βJohn Doe.β This means the victimβs true name is currently unknown.
Case Status: Closed Case
Age: 75
Gender: Female
Country: United States of America
Mrs. Falk was an elderly woman who disappeared while checking the mail near her home in Vedic City, Iowa. She suffered from Dementia and may have become disoriented. ποΈ She was tragically found deceased on March 21.
Public Awareness Notice: This case file is provided for public awareness and responsible information sharing. If you have relevant information, please contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Victim Description
Physical Description
Identifying Details
Date of Birth
November 25, 1950
Birthplace
Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age
75
Age Group
70s
Biological Sex
Female
Hair Color
Longer light brown hair, but now greying based on her photo.
Eye Color
Green
Skin Complexion
Fair or Light
Ethnicity
Caucasian or White
Nationality
United States
Languages Spoken
English
Physical Build
Physical Build
Average, Petite or Short
Height (ft’ in”)
5'2"
Height (cm)
157 cm
Weight (lbs)
160 lbs
Weight (kg)
72.6 kg
Distinguishing Features
Medical Condition
She suffers from Dementia
Physical Abnormality
She may have walked with a bit of a shuffle and was not likely to have traveled far.
Other Descriptors
Victim’s Possessions
Clothing & Accessories
Clothing
Description of Clothing
- White T-Shirt (or light colored top)
- Baggy Yellow Pants
- Purple or Pink Shoes (she was seen at one point walking without shoes).
Description of Events
The Incident(s)
Disappearance
Date of the Disappearance
March 6, 2026
Description of the Disappearance
Mary Anne Falk, a 75-year-old resident of Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, vanished on the evening of Friday, March 6, 2026, prompting an extensive two-week search by local law enforcement, emergency services, and volunteers. Maharishi Vedic City was a small, distinctive housing community in Jefferson County, built according to principles of Maharishi Vastu Architecture and closely tied to the Transcendental Meditation movement. It sat immediately adjacent to Fairfield, Iowa, home of Maharishi International University (formerly Maharishi University of Management). Falkβs home was in the 1700 block of Jupiter Avenue, one of the residential areas in this peaceful township.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriffβs Office, Falk left her residence on foot sometime around 9:30 p.m. to check the mail. Her husband noticed her absence and alerted authorities. She was last seen just before 10:00 p.m. walking near the Jasmine and 170th Street intersection without her shoes. It was unclear exactly when or how she lost them. Reports indicated she appeared to be walking away from the nearest major town, Fairfield.
Falk was described as approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds, with gray or brown/gray hair and green eyes. At the time she left home she was wearing yellow pants, a white T-shirt, and purple/pink shoes. She suffered from dementia and may have been confused or disoriented, which heightened concerns for her safety.
Search efforts began immediately that Friday night with assistance from the Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield Fire Department, and multiple county emergency management agencies. Teams used K-9 units, drones, and conducted ground searches of the neighborhood, wooded areas, ponds, ditches, and nearby properties. Over the following days, the Iowa State Patrol conducted thermal-imaging flights, and volunteers canvassed the area.
Authorities emphasized that her direction of travel remained unknown, but the available sighting placed her moving northward on rural roads away from Fairfieldβs commercial center.
Multiple Victims?
No
Recovery or Discovery
Date of Recovery or Discovery
March 21, 2026
Description of Recovery or Discovery
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 11 a.m., Falkβs body was located in Jefferson County. Community reports indicated it was found in a field near 170th Street, close to her residence. Her family was notified, and the Jefferson County Sheriffβs Office thanked the community for its help during the roughly two-week search. No further details on the exact circumstances of her death or precise location were released publicly by authorities at the time. An autopsy was scheduled with the Iowa State Medical Examinerβs Office in Ankeny and eventually ruled that there were no indications of foul play.
Obituary: Mary Anne Katherine Falk was born November 25, 1950, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Runyen. She married Drew Falk on July 6, 1997, in Vedic City. A longtime and devoted practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, she enjoyed going for walks and shopping. A Celebration of Life was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Dalby Hall on the MIU Campus in Fairfield, with Behner Funeral Home caring for the family.
Cause of Death
Autopsy ruled the cause of death was hypothermia.
Suspected Homicide?
No
Places of Interest
Location(s)
Disappearance
Street Address
Intersection of Jasmine and 170th St.
City
Maharishi Vedic City
State or Province
Iowa
Country
United States of America
Postal Code (Zip Code)
52556
Coordinates (Latitude & Longitude)
41.0609786,-91.9970012
General Location
Town or City, Rural
Recovery or Discovery
Street Address
In an unidentified field near 170th street.
City
Maharishi Vedic City
State or Province
Iowa
Country
United States of America
Postal Code (Zip Code)
52556
Coordinates (Latitude & Longitude)
41.0609786,-91.9970012
General Location
Rural
Map of Key Locations
Photo Gallery
Images of the Victim
Actual Photos of the Victim
Posters
Resources
Sources & Additional Information
Written Works
- Hallman, A. (2026) βVedic City woman missing since Fridayβ, Southeast Iowa Union, 10 March, Link
- Harbit, C. (2026) βSearch Continues for Missing Fairfield Womanβ, KCII Radio, 10 March, Link
- Iowaβs News Now Staff (2026) βSearch continues for 75-year-old Mary Anne Falk missing more than a week near Vedic Cityβ, CBS2 Iowa, 10 March, Link
- Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse (2026) βMARY ANNE KATHERINE FALKβ, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Link
- KTVO Staff (2026) βAuthorities continue search for missing southeast Iowa womanβ, 10 March, Link
- Ottumwa Courier Staff (2026) βSearch continues for missing Fairfield-area womanβ, 10 March, Link
- Ottumwa Radio Staff (2026) βJefferson County Sheriffβs Office Asks Public to Help Locate Missing Womanβ, 9 March, Link
- Ottumwa Courier (2026) βMissing Vedic City woman found dead after 2-week searchβ, 21 March, Link.
Contact Information β United States of America
Agency π’
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Phone Number π
Emergency Phone Number π¨
Website π»
Email Address π§
IDD Prefix
011
Country Code
+1
Additional Contacts
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) β Website
- Crime Stoppers USA β Locate a Program
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) β Website
- National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) β Website
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