The last time anyone saw Tina Sinclair and her daughter Bethany was during the weekend of February 3-4 in 2001. They lived with Tina’s boyfriend, Eugene Van Bowman Jr., at his home in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. He goes by his middle name, Van.
On February 4, Van and Tina got into an argument. He claimed that he had left the house and returned later in the day. When he came back, Tina and Bethany weren’t home.
All their clothes were gone, but the rest of their belongings, including Tina’s vehicle and her 15-year-old cat, were still there.
Bethany and Tina were not reported missing until February 10, six days after their disappearance. No one has heard from them or seen them ever since.
Bethany’s boyfriend last heard from her on February 3. They talked on the phone from 11:30 p.m. to midnight about their plans for Valentine’s Day. He had already bought a ring as a gift for her.
On February 5, the day after the Sinclairs vanished, an unidentified woman called Keene High School, the school Bethany attended, to report that Bethany was ill and wouldn’t be making it to her classes.
Tina’s sister had expressed concern over Bethany’s safety because Van had a criminal record. After Tina and Bethany disappeared, he served two years in prison for touching his eight-year-old daughter.
Tina’s sister had wanted Bethany to live with her in Connecticut. She and Tina got into an argument about it in October 2000 and hadn’t spoken since.
Tina’s sister believed that Tina was preparing to leave Van. He was allegedly abusive, and they had a rocky relationship. She does not think that Tina left on her own with Bethany in February 2001.
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The Sinclairs wouldn’t go this long without contacting their family members. In addition, Tina had just graduated from cosmetology school and wanted to open a beauty salon.
Tina’s bank account, credit cards, and cell phone have not shown any activity since her disappearance. She also never cashed her last paycheck.
On February 4, Van was spotted on the Connecticut River at 4:30 a.m. His home bordered the river. Extensive searches of the area have been conducted throughout the decades, but no signs of the Sinclairs were ever found.
The police suspect that foul play was involved. No arrests have been made related to the Sinclairs’ disappearance. Van has reportedly refused to cooperate with the authorities and is considered a person of interest. He has since sold the home he lived in with the Sinclairs.
Sadly, Tina and Bethany’s case has remained unsolved. They have been missing for 25 years. At the time of their disappearance, Tina was 34 years old and would be turning 60 this year. Bethany was only 15 and would be turning 41.
If anyone has any information about Tina and Bethany Sinclair’s disappearance, they are urged to reach out to the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit at (603) 271-2663.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
