A Florida family says their lives have been turned upside down by fear, heartbreak, and unanswered questions after their 72-year-old mother disappeared under troubling circumstances that suggest she may have been targeted by a scam.
Margaret Hanley, a Navy veteran described as kind and deeply devoted to her family, was last seen on Feb. 9 at her home in Jacksonville. Nearly two weeks later, her children say the silence has become unbearable.
“My brother and sister — they’re distraught,” her son, Jomo Thompson, said in an emotional interview. “They’re not eating or sleeping very well. We just want to get our mom home.”
A Sudden Disappearance — And Disturbing Financial Activity
Concern began when family members could no longer reach Hanley by phone. Soon after, Thompson checked her bank account — and what he found alarmed him.
Large payments had reportedly been sent to unknown recipients, transactions he described as completely out of character for his mother.
“She’s a very friendly and smart person,” he said. “I just don’t know how someone could’ve taken advantage of a person like that.”
Authorities are now examining whether Hanley may have fallen victim to a financial scam before she disappeared.
A Journey That Doesn’t Make Sense
Hanley left home in her silver 2001 Toyota RAV4, but her family says she rarely drove long distances — especially not out of state.
Cell phone data shows her vehicle traveling through northern Florida before later pinging in Hinesville. Her debit card was also used at gas stations in Georgia days after she vanished.
For her children, the travel pattern deepens their fears.
“She doesn’t even like driving far,” Thompson said. “So this just doesn’t make sense.”
Compounding concern, Hanley suffers from short-term memory loss, which could leave her especially vulnerable.
A Family Searching, Waiting, Hoping
With few concrete leads, Hanley’s children have taken the search into their own hands — visiting gas stations, sharing her photo, and even hiring a private investigator.
“I’ve been lost for words and don’t know what the next steps are,” Thompson said. “But the more people looking, the better.”
Her disappearance has also mobilized friends, former Navy shipmates, and members of her church community, who describe her as compassionate, faithful, and deeply respected.
“She is a proud veteran, a strong leader, and a woman of integrity,” one former colleague wrote in a public appeal.
Limits of the Silver Alert System
Florida’s Silver Alert system is designed to help locate missing seniors with cognitive impairments — but its effectiveness can be limited when cases cross state lines, as appears to have happened in Hanley’s case.
Law enforcement continues to investigate, but her family says time feels painfully slow.
A Plea for Help
As days pass without answers, Hanley’s loved ones say they are holding onto hope — and asking the public to help bring her home.
Anyone with information about Margaret Hanley’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
For her children, the message is simple and urgent:
“We just want our mom back.”
