The Disappearance of Haleigh Breann Murphy

On June 16, 2023, 22-year-old Haleigh Breann Murphy dropped her two-year-old son off with her sister so she could enjoy a weekend with friends.

The young Army veteran had plans. She was working toward obtaining her real estate license, had recently enrolled in business school, and was focused on building a bright future for herself and her son.

But after a night out in the Austin and Round Rock area, Haleigh disappeared.

Nearly three years later, her family is still searching for answers.

A Bright Future Ahead

Born on July 1, 2000, Haleigh Murphy grew up in Killeen, Texas. Friends and family describe her as outgoing, energetic, and fiercely independent. She loved making people laugh and was known for her social personality and larger-than-life presence.

After high school, Haleigh joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavazos. Although she was eventually medically discharged due to a hip injury, Haleigh refused to let that setback define her future.

She quickly began pursuing new goals, including a career in real estate and studies in business. Most importantly, she was devoted to her young son and remained closely connected to her family.

Because of those close relationships, her disappearance immediately raised concerns among those who knew her best.

The Weekend That Changed Everything

The weekend of June 16 was supposed to be a simple one.

Haleigh met her sister, Harley, who agreed to watch her son while she spent time with friends and later traveled to visit her ex-boyfriend for his birthday. She was expected to stay with a friend after going out that Friday night, rent a car the following day, and return to pick up her son by the end of the weekend.

Before heading out, Haleigh spoke with her mother and made plans for the days ahead.

That evening, her sister dropped her off at Slick Willie's, a bar in the Austin area. Harley later watched Haleigh get into a vehicle with someone she appeared to know.

Around an hour later, Haleigh called her sister to make sure she had made it home safely during severe weather that had moved into the area.

It would be one of the last known contacts Haleigh had with her family.

The Last Known Sighting

As the weekend progressed, family members initially assumed Haleigh was busy enjoying time with friends.

By Sunday, however, concern began to grow. Text messages went unanswered. Phone calls went straight to voicemail. Social media activity stopped.

When Monday arrived and Haleigh still had not contacted anyone or picked up her son, her family knew something was terribly wrong.

The search for answers began immediately.

During their efforts, family members learned that several people remembered seeing Haleigh at Eddie's Tavern in Round Rock, Texas, around midnight on June 16 or in the early morning hours of June 17. If accurate, this would represent the last known sighting of Haleigh.

Investigators later confirmed that Haleigh never picked up the rental car she had planned to use that weekend. She also never arrived to celebrate her ex-boyfriend's birthday.

After that night, her trail went cold.

There were no known bank transactions, social media posts, or confirmed communications.

An Investigation with Few Public Answers

The Austin Police Department initially investigated Haleigh's disappearance before the Texas Rangers became involved.

Authorities conducted interviews and examined leads, but very little information has been publicly released regarding the investigation.

One detail that continues to intrigue followers of the case is a conversation Haleigh had with her mother on the morning she disappeared. During a text exchange, Haleigh mentioned that she was considering changing her phone number because "too many people" had it.

Whether that statement has any connection to her disappearance remains unknown.

To date, law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest.

Someone Knows What Happened

Haleigh Breann Murphy was 22 years old when she disappeared. She is described as a white female with blonde hair and hazel eyes, standing approximately 5 feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds. She has numerous distinctive tattoos and was last known to be wearing a light purple shirt, light-colored denim shorts, and light purple Vans shoes.

Her family continues to search for answers and hopes that someone who saw something that night will come forward.

If you have any information regarding Haleigh Murphy's disappearance, please contact the Austin Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 512-974-5250 and reference Case #23-5015040.

You can learn more about Haleigh's case by listening to our full episode of the Where Are They? Podcast.