This timeline reflects confirmed facts from law enforcement and reputable media sources. It is part of our ongoing effort to keep Bethany’s case in the public eye.
1990
- February 1, 1990 — Bethany Leanne Markowski is born.
2001 – Pre-Disappearance Events
- Late January 2001 — Jonnie flees with Bethany and hides in Nashville.
- January 30, 2001 — Jonnie files for divorce and child support.
- January 31, 2001 — Jonnie enrolls Bethany at DuPont Tyler School.
- Larry shows up the same day and attempts to forcibly take Bethany.
- February 1, 2001 — Bethany turns 11 years old.
- February 12, 2001 — Court grants Larry unsupervised visits.
- Visitation schedule: every second weekend, Friday 5:00 p.m. to Sunday 5:00 p.m.
- February 16–18, 2001 — Larry’s first unsupervised weekend visit with Bethany (no reported incidents).
- February 26, 2001 — Larry registers a 1995 Chevy Astro Van.
March 2001 – Disappearance Weekend
- March 2, 2001 (Friday)
- 5:00 p.m. — Lori Jackson drops Bethany off with Larry at the Waverly exit.
- That night — Larry and Bethany arrive at Harold Roberts’s house in Little Rock, Arkansas and reportedly stay up all night.
- March 3, 2001 (Saturday)
- Evening — Cookout at Harold’s; Larry suddenly decides to leave.
- 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. — Larry and Bethany leave Little Rock, AR in the van.
- Larry yells he will call Harold later.
- ~12:30 to 1:30 a.m. (Expected) — Harold expects a call from Larry upon arrival in Gleason.
- 1:30 a.m. (March 4) — Harold receives a call from Larry, who says he is in Forrest City, Arkansas.
- Contradicted by cell phone ping placing Larry near Land Between the Lakes, TN.
March 4, 2001 (Sunday) – Day of Disappearance
- 9:00 a.m. — Larry and Bethany reportedly arrive in Gleason, TN.
- 9:38 a.m. — Bethany calls Jonnie from Larry’s house (confirmed by caller ID).
- After 9:38 a.m. — Visit to (Bethany’s friend) Christina’s house.
- Between 9:38 a.m. and 12:12 p.m. — Larry claims they:
- Ate McDonald’s breakfast.
- Sat outside Jonnie’s ex-employer’s house in Milan, TN.
- Began traveling toward Jackson.
- 12:12 p.m. — Jenny (Larry’s daughter) calls Bethany.
- Bethany says they left Gleason, picked up items, and were headed to Jackson.
- Phone pings near Natchez Trace State Park.
- 2:30 p.m. — Witness sees Larry at Parkers Cross Roads (Exit 108).
- Larry says he just dropped Bethany off with her mother in Nashville.
- Bethany is not seen.
- 3:00 p.m. (estimated) — Larry and Bethany arrive at Old Hickory Mall in Jackson.
- 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. (claimed by Larry) — Tells police that Bethany entered mall with friend Hillary.
- 2:30 p.m. — Jackson Police poster lists this as last time Bethany was seen by Larry.
- 3:30–4:30 p.m. — Larry wakes from his nap in van.
- Multiple accounts: 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:30 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m.
- Scheduled return time for Bethany to Jonnie (via Lori).
- Jonnie calls Lori to check in.
- 5:15 p.m. — Larry reports Bethany missing to mall security.
- 5:43 p.m. — Larry finally answers Lori’s call.
- Says he was charging his phone in the van.
- Says he can’t find Bethany.
- 6:00 p.m. — Old Hickory Mall closes.
- 6:05 p.m. — Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples is notified.
- 7:00 p.m. — Lori and her husband arrive at the mall.
- 11:00 p.m. — Jonnie arrives at the Jackson Police Department.
- March 4, 2001 (unspecified earlier time) — Walmart surveillance captures man buying:
- Shovel, rope, 2.5-gallon gas can.
- March 4, 2001 — Shovel found behind Old Hickory Mall in Elmwood Cemetery.
Post-Disappearance Investigation and Events
- March 6, 7, and 11, 2001 — Dates of Jackson Sun newspaper articles covering shifting stories.
- March 12, 2001 — TBI becomes involved.
- Forensic testing reveals:
- Small blood droplets in van (on pillow and blanket).
- Van had been detailed, shampooed, and seats removed.
- Forensic testing reveals:
- Investigators confirm there is no CCTV footage of Bethany entering or exiting Old Hickory Mall.
- Multiple security cameras were reviewed; no one saw Bethany that day.
- Larry and Jonnie both undergo polygraph tests. Jonnie passes. Larry does not.
April 2001 – School & Bus Station Sightings
- Early April 2001 — Woman tries to enroll a girl resembling Bethany in a Catholic school in Sweetwater, TN.
- Around April 25, 2001
- Woman and girl spotted at Cleveland, TN café for three consecutive days.
- Third day:
- Woman buys bus ticket to Moline, IL.
- Waitress calls police.
- Cab driver confirms drop-off.
- Bus station employee sells ticket; identifies Bethany.
- Late night bus departs Cleveland station.
- Girl does not arrive in Moline.
- Third day (same as above) — Larry reportedly completes a delivery in Cleveland, TN.
Van Timeline
- April 30, 2001 — The van is no longer registered to Larry Jo Markowski.
- May 18, 2001 — Carfax lists the van sold at auction in Jacksonville, FL.
- June 22, 2001 — Van is shipped to Puerto Rico.
- October 29, 2003 — Van reappears with a new owner.
Years Later: 2016 Identification Attempt
- August 25, 2016 — Girl in Knoxville area claims to be Bethany Markowski.
- Gives correct:
- Name
- Birthdate: February 1, 1990
- Identifies Jonnie as her mother from photo
- Ultimately ruled out via DNA testing (no documentation provided to the family).
- Girl taken to Moccasin Bend psychiatric hospital in Chattanooga.
- Gives correct:
Ongoing Advocacy & Press
- March 4 (annually) — Tennessee Missing Children’s Day
- Honors date of Bethany’s disappearance.
- 2021 – People Magazine publishes a major feature, including interviews with Jonnie and TBI agent Cathy Ferguson.
- 2024–2025 – The Bethany Markowski Foundation launches a renewed awareness campaign on social media.
- Tennessee Missing Children’s Day – Bethany’s family participates annually to honor missing children and advocate for ongoing cases.
Current Status
- As of 2025, Bethany remains missing.
- The case is classified as Endangered Missing by the FBI and TBI.
- The FBI poster confirms she was last seen after a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas with her father.
- No arrests or charges have ever been filed.
If you have information about this case, please contact:
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: 1-800-TBI-FIND
Jackson Police Department: (731) 425-8400
Submit a tip by emailing tips@findbethany.org.
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