leigh occhi
Missing since: August 27, 1992
White female
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 4’10’’
Weight: 95 lbs.
Age (at time of disappearance): 13
Last seen wearing: nightshirt with green/yellow boxer shorts
Mark(s): Strawberry birthmark at the base of the skull and bumps on knees
Scar(s): small scratch scars on the right leg
Piercing(s): Ears are pierced
Distinguishing Feature(s): Lazy left eye.
case details:
Occhi was last seen on August 27, 1992, at approximately 7:35 a.m. at her home in the 100 block of Honey Locust Drive in Tupelo, Mississippi. Occhi planned to attend an open house at her school later in the day and was waiting on her grandmother to pick her up. Her mother, Vikki Felton, left for work and was the last person to see her. This was the first time that her mother allowed her to stay home alone.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Occhi’s mother called her but got no answer. She called again and again received no answer. Felton left work to return home and check on Occhi. When she arrived home, she stated that the garage door was open and the light was on. This meant that the garage door was recently activated. Felton also noted that another door to the home was left unlocked. There was no sign of Occhi inside the residence. Felton called the police to report Occhi missing at 9:00 a.m.
There was no indication of forced entry but there were signs that a struggle took place inside the home. Bloodstains were found inside the house on the walls, carpet, and bathroom counter. There were bloodstains leading from the hallway to the living room and to the back door. Blood and hair were found stuck to a doorframe where it is believed that Occhi may have hit her head while being drug.
A bra and nightgown of Occhi’s were found with blood on them in her bedroom. She was wearing these items when her mother left for work that morning. It appeared that the perpetrator had attempted to clean up before leaving the home.
Occhi’s glasses, shoes, some undergarments, and a sleeping bag were missing. Police searched the area with bloodhounds but were unable to pick up any scent due to Hurricane Andrew passing through the area at the time of Occhi’s disappearance.
About a month after Occhi disappeared, her eyeglasses were mailed to her home. They were addressed to “B. Yarbrough”, which was Occhi’s step-father. He and Occhi’s mother had separated shortly before her disappearance. The package was postmarked from Booneville, Mississippi, which is about 30 miles north of Tupelo, Mississippi.
The person who mailed the package was never identified. Authorities say there is very little evidence to find who is responsible for Occhi’s disappearance. Several individuals were interviewed but no arrests were ever made.
Felton took three polygraph tests in the days after Occhi’s disappearance and failed all of them. Occhi’s father, who lived out of state at the time, moved to Tupelo to assist in search efforts for his daughter. He believes that someone in the family is responsible for his daughter’s disappearance.
Occhi’s case remains unsolved at this time; however, foul play is suspected.
Investigating Agency Information:
Federal Bureau of Investigation - Oxford
(662)842-9411
ncmec id#: 771656
NamUs ID#: MP6459
Additional Resources:
Daily Journal (September 24, 2017)
Stories of the Unsolved (July 11, 2020)