Police Use AI to Reignite Hope in Missing Teen Case

A cold case dating back to 1999 is receiving a new look thanks to modern technology, as Henderson police seek public help in the disappearance of Samatha Lynn Clonch.

A Disappearance That Lingers

On the morning of September 9, 1999, 13-year-old Samatha Lynn Clonch left her home on Boren St., ostensibly for Henderson Middle School. However, her mother witnessed her walk in the opposite direction, leaving her backpack behind. Samatha was never seen again. Early reports suggested she might have left the country with a boyfriend, but these rumors were never substantiated by law enforcement, leaving the nature of her disappearance a mystery.

A Critical New Clue Emerges

Samatha is described as a white female of Native American descent with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time she went missing, she stood 5’6” tall and weighed around 110 pounds. While many older images showed her with long brown hair, investigators later learned she had cut it short shortly before she disappeared. A breakthrough came when detectives, with help from Henderson ISD, found a yearbook photo taken in August 1999 that shows this updated, short hairstyle.

Harnessing AI for a Breakthrough

To maximize the photo's potential, the Henderson Police Department has provided it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They are now releasing it to the public, hoping it will trigger a memory or lead to new information. To improve the quality of the vintage photo, detectives also used an AI tool to clarify the image. The department notes that while the enhanced photo is very similar to the original, the generative AI process introduced minor differences.

How You Can Help

The police are urging anyone with any information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward. If you have details about the disappearance of Samatha Lynn Clonch, please contact the Henderson Police Department or Detective Bice directly at 903-392-0732.