On December 9, 1988, Joan Bernal and her family were preparing to leave their home in Joliet, Illinois, and head to Texas to visit her husband’s parents for the holidays. Things didn’t go as planned, and they were only able to bring one of their children. According to Joan’s husband Gil, they left the following morning, and Joan asked to be let out of the car in Oklahoma. She wanted to go back home and try to get her children from a previous relationship and bring them to Texas. Gil stated that he dropped her off near a McAlester, Oklahoma bus stop, and gave her some cash to get back to Illinois. Joan Bernal has never been seen or heard from again. 

If you have any information about the disappearance of Joan Bernal, you can call the Will County Sheriff’s Office at 815-727-8574.

You can follow developments in Joan’s story on social media at Help Us Find Joan Bernal.

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