Susan Darst Burns

Mena, AR (June 2026) – More than three decades after Susan Darst Burns, a 32-year-old mother, vanished, her daughter’s pursuit of truth remains as determined as ever. In hopes of bringing renewed attention to the cold case and uncover critical new leads, Season of Justice has partnered with Susan’s family to sponsor a dedicated billboard campaign in Mena, Arkansas.

Susan Darst Burns was officially reported missing by a friend on May 19, 1989, after she had not been seen since mid-April. During the initial investigation, law enforcement interviewed Susan’s husband, who claimed he had dropped her off at the Little Rock National Airport on April 29, 1989. She was never seen or heard from again. Investigators strongly believe that foul play was involved in her disappearance, and the case has remained unsolved for nearly 37 years, leaving her loved ones searching for answers. Susan’s disappearance remains the longest missing persons case in Mena, AR.

The newly installed billboard is strategically located along Highway 71 in Mena, AR, and will remain active through June 2027. The initiative represents a collaborative effort to support Susan’s daughter, Tonia, who has worked tirelessly over the decades to keep her mother’s memory alive and demand accountability. Season of Justice is honored to stand alongside Tonia and support her efforts to find justice.

Law enforcement and the family urge anyone who may have seen Susan around April or May of 1989, or who has any knowledge regarding her disappearance, to come forward. No detail is too small, and even the smallest piece of information could provide the breakthrough investigators need. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arkansas State Police Criminal Division at (501) 618-8850 or ARSP Company C at (870) 777-8944.