Police suspect foul play in Brunswick grandmother's disappearance

Linda Mansield reported missing same day her eldest son was arrested

BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of a 72-year-old Brunswick woman, the Glynn County Police Department said Thursday afternoon. 

Linda Mansfield was reportedly last seen the week of May 15.

Search efforts began Tuesday but ramped up Saturday morning as community members joined. 

One of Mansfield's friends and neighbor, Carol Easterly, said she along with other's in Mansfield circle started to realize something was wrong.

"The social worker said it feel right. Something didn't feel right about the whole situation," Easterly said. 

Easterly is one of many neighbors who showed up to help search for Mansfield after investigators said they believe something bad may have happened to her. 

"I still keep waking up thinking maybe it’s a dream," neighbor Amanda Clark said. 

Officers went to Mackay Drive just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to check on Mansfield, but she was not there. 

Police said the circumstances of her disappearance are suspicious and they filed a missing person report. 

In the beginning stages of the investigation, detectives said, they found evidence of foul play. 

On Friday, News4Jax learned John Roosevelt, Mansfield's eldest son who lived with her, was arrested Tuesday -- the same day his mother was reported missing. 

Roosevelt, 49, faces five counts of forgery and one count of theft.

The Police Department has not yet returned News4Jax's calls or emails inquiring whether the charges are in connection to his mother.

Manfield's younger son, David Roosevelt, told News4Jax that he's not close with his older brother and hasn't been able to talk to him since he's been in jail. He said he doesn't know if his brother was involved in their mother's disappearance, but it's not like her to leave her dogs at home, alone, and leave without her purse and cellphone. 

David Roosevelt added that he, his wife and their children are devastated by Mansfield's disappearance, and hopes his family will have closure soon. 

Records show John Roosevelt has several prior arrests in Glynn County -- dating back to 1993 -- on charges that include drug possession, DUI, burglary, shoplifting and fraud. 

An investigator told News4Jax that a group search will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday outside Mansfield's home, and volunteers are invited to help police officers and firefighters. According to the investigator, they will search a mile radius of her home, and if needed, a 2-mile radius Sunday then a 3-mile radius Monday.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department's detectives at 912-554-7802, or contact Silent Witness at 912-264-1333.

Neighbor's concerned by woman's disappearance

Neighbors told News4Jax on Thursday that Mansfield could barely walk from her bedroom to the back porch, which is why they don't think she would have wandered off by herself, at least, not willingly. 

WATCH: Foul play suspected in woman's disappearance

"Me and my mom, we would come over regularly and check on her and make sure everything was OK and make sure she was doing good. So we're just hoping everything's OK and that's she found safe," said concerned neighbor Amanda Clark. "(She's an) awesome lady, would give the shirt off her back to anybody, always helping."

Clark and others who live on Mackay Drive said they've been at a loss for words as they've watched law enforcement officers enter the home of one of their most loved neighbors this week.

"It's getting harder to hope that nothing terrible has happened to her," said Carol Easterly, another concerned neighbor. "We have coffee, sometimes several times a week and chat. She holds the babies. Just, we're all good friends."

According to neighbors, Mansfield is a widow, has two sons and grandchildren who she adores. They also said she has two dogs and three cats that she treats like royalty. It's unclear whether the dogs were still at her home, but neighbors said that they've seen her cats outdoors. 

"It's heartbreaking to think that anyone could do anything to that little old lady," Clark said. "It hurts my heart to think that she could be out there and nobody knows."

Easterly told News4Jax that Mansfield has a pacemaker, and recently had shoulder and kidney surgeries -- making it hard to believe that she would wander off. 

"We love her. I think she already knows that," Easterly said. "I don't know what to say. I've never had something like this happen to me before."

Police continue to search for Mansfield. 


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.