Tori Jean Grace Bess Remains Missing from Eveleth as Questions Surround Her 2013 Disappearance

Alert details

10/24/2026

EVELETH, MN — More than 13 years after Tori Jean Grace Bess disappeared from Eveleth, her whereabouts remain unknown. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension continues to list her as missing, with her last recorded contact on 02/21/2013. She was 36 when she disappeared and would now be 50.

An early account of the case describes two separate events: Bess reportedly left the residence where she was staying without her belongings, and those belongings were reported removed two days later. That sequence led investigators to believe someone may have assisted her, according to the Duluth News Tribune’s 10/11/2013 report. The report did not establish who removed the belongings or whether Bess returned for them.

Bess had arrived on the Iron Range in late October or early November 2012 to attend a funeral, according to the newspaper’s account of information released by Eveleth police. She stayed with someone in Eveleth for several months before her disappearance. Authorities said she left abruptly.

The Charley Project provides an additional detail: the person Bess had been staying with reportedly found the front door open when her belongings were discovered missing two days after her departure. That account does not identify who entered the residence or establish that anyone saw Bess return.

Bess previously lived in California, Oregon and Arizona. The BCA’s missing-person bulletin states that she had expressed a desire to return to a warmer climate, but the agency has described the circumstances surrounding her disappearance as unclear.

When the BCA renewed its appeal in February 2024, it offered an important clarification. According to Bring Me The News, the agency said Bess had discussed wanting to live somewhere warmer but had not indicated that she was moving. Her interest in leaving Minnesota therefore does not establish that she made a planned move or reached another state.

Concern for Bess’s well-being was part of the original public appeal. The 2013 Duluth News Tribune report said authorities were concerned because she had experienced medical issues. The publicly available accounts reviewed for this report do not identify a specific medical condition.

Bess was born on 10/11/1976. The BCA describes her as a white woman, 5 feet 10 inches tall and approximately 155 pounds, with blonde or strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes. The Charley Project also lists tattoos on her right leg, neck and back.

Her disappearance is documented in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under NamUs number MP22197. The BCA continues to include her in its missing-person clearinghouse.

Anyone who had contact with Bess around the time of her disappearance, helped her travel, or knows information about her whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Eveleth Police Department at 218-744-7560, the number provided in her official BCA bulletin.

Sources: Minnesota BCA missing-person clearinghouse and bulletin (portal.dps.mn.gov); Duluth News Tribune, 10/11/2013 (duluthnewstribune.com); The Charley Project (charleyproject.org); Bring Me The News, February 2024 (bringmethenews.com); NamUs MP22197 (namus.nij.ojp.gov).

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TORI JEAN GRACE BESS

Updated: 10/24/2026

Late October–Early November 2012: Tori reportedly arrived on Minnesota’s Iron Range to attend a funeral. According to the Duluth News Tribune’s original reporting, she stayed with someone in Eveleth in the months before her disappearance. (duluthnewstribune.com)

February 2013: Tori reportedly left the Eveleth residence abruptly without taking her belongings. The original newspaper account described her disappearance as occurring in mid-February. (duluthnewstribune.com)

02/21/2013: The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension lists this as her “Date of Last Contact.” The public bulletin does not explain who had contact with her that day or how the date was established. (portal.dps.mn.gov)

Two Days After Her Reported Departure: The homeowner reportedly discovered that Tori’s belongings had been removed. The Charley Project also states that the front door was found open. Public accounts do not establish who removed the belongings or whether anyone witnessed Tori return. (duluthnewstribune.com, charleyproject.org)

10/11/2013: The Duluth News Tribune published an appeal for information from Eveleth police. Authorities said the removal of Tori’s belongings suggested she may have received assistance from someone. They also expressed concern for her well-being because of unspecified medical issues. This publication date does not establish when she was first reported missing. (duluthnewstribune.com)

February 2024: The BCA renewed its public appeal. In coverage published on 02/24/2024, Bring Me The News reported the agency’s clarification that Tori had discussed wanting to live in a warmer climate but had not indicated she was moving. (bringmethenews.com)

05/28/2025: A retrospective report revisited her disappearance and repeated the request for information. It described the circumstances as unresolved and did not report a confirmed location for Tori. (inforum.com)

10/24/2026: Tori remains listed in the BCA’s missing-person clearinghouse. Born on 10/11/1976, she would now be 50 years old. (portal.dps.mn.gov)

Timeline Note: The date her belongings were discovered missing is described relative to her departure. It has not been assigned a calendar date here because the public sources do not establish that her departure occurred on the BCA’s listed date of last contact.

Anyone with information about Tori Jean Grace Bess is asked to contact the Eveleth Police Department at 218-744-7560. Her NamUs number is MP22197. (portal.dps.mn.gov, namus.nij.ojp.gov)

Missing-person details

Name

Tori Jean Grace Bess

Date of birth

10/11/1976

Last seen date/time

BCA Date of Last Contact: 02/21/2013. Original reporting describes a departure in mid-February; the bulletin does not explain how the contact date was established.

Last seen location

Missing from Eveleth, Minnesota

Age

36 at disappearance; 50 as of 10/24/2026

Description and identifying details

Height

5 feet 10 inches

Weight

155 pounds

Hair

Blonde/Strawberry

Eyes

Green

Identifying marks

Tattoos on her right leg, neck and back, according to The Charley Project

Contact information

Contact agency

Eveleth Police Department

Contact phone

218-744-7560

Case number

NamUs MP22197

Additional details

Travel information

Previously lived in California, Oregon and Arizona. Discussed wanting a warmer climate; had not indicated she was moving, according to the BCA’s February 2024 appeal as reported by Bring Me The News.