12 year old Ann Gotlib was last seen riding her bike in Louisville, Kentucky on June 1, 1983. She disappeared while on her way home from the Bashford Manor Mall, located across the street from her home.

Background

Ann Gotlib was born on May 5, 1971 to parents Ludmilla and Anatoly Gotlib. She is a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1980, and speaks fluent Russian and English. She has a brother, Jacob, who was born the year after she vanished.

Disappearance

Between 5:30 – 6:00 pm on June 1, 1983, Ann Gotlib was last seen riding her red and white bicycle near the Bashford Manor Mall, located in the 3600 block of Bardstown Road.

She was visiting the mall, which was located across the street from the apartment complex where she lived with her family. Ann never returned home that evening and hasn’t been heard from since.

Her bike was later found propped up against the wall outside Bacon’s Department store at the mall.

Investigation

Search parties spent weeks searching for Ann near the mall, but no further clues as to her whereabouts were found.

A few days after her disappearance a bloodhound picked up Ann’s scent around a ditch near the Bashford Manor Mall, and led investigators to the window of an apartment across the street several times.

The apartment belonged to Ester Okmyansky, the grandmother of Ann’s best friend, Tanya Okmyansky.

Ester told police Ann had never visited the apartment, and police eventually cleared the family of any involvement. They believe the dog may have been distracted by the smell of cooking food.

Authorities followed up on thousands of leads, and questioned between 30 and 40 suspects over the years.

One theory about Ann’s disappearance was that Ann had been abducted by the Soviet government in an effort to force her parents to return to the Soviet Union. Both the FBI and the Gotlib family have dismissed this theory.

Several reported sightings of Ann came in from the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, however those sightings were never confirmed.

Gregory Lewis Oakley Jr. Named a Suspect

In 2008, authorities announced that they believe Gregory Lewis Oakley Jr. was responsible for Ann’s kidnapping and murder. It was the first time his name was associated with the case publicly, but records show he was a suspect as early as January 1984.

In 1981, Oakley abducted his stepdaughter in Alabama and injected her with Demerol to sedate her. He was charged with attempted murder in that case, but pleaded to assault.

In 1982, Oakley moved to Louisville, Kentucky and became a USDA Meat Inspector.

In September 1983, Oakley attacked a thirteen year girl in her home, several blocks away from Bashford Manor Mall. He stabbed her and attempted to rape her, and was arrested in January 1984.

While in custody, Oakley was questioned about Ann’s case. He denied any involvement, but failed a polygraph test. At the time of Ann’s disappearance, Oakley lived a block north of the Gotlib’s apartment.

ATM receipts show he made a transaction at the Bashford Manor Mall about an hour and a half before Ann disappeared. He claims he left for a business trip immediately after withdrawing the cash.

In June 1984, Oakley was convicted of burglary and attempted rape and sentenced to 30 years in prison for the assault that took place in September 1983. He was paroled on medical grounds in 2002, and died of lung cancer three months later.

An inmate who served time with Oakley says he admitted to killing Ann, using an injection of the painkiller Talwin. Oakley was a USDA meat inspector at the time, and would have had easy access to the drug.

The inmate passed a polygraph about the confession, and one of Oakley’s former girlfriends corroborated the story. The girlfriend says on the night Ann disappeared Oakley came to her house around 11:00 pm, asking her to wash some clothes for him.

The investigation into Ann’s case remains active, and authorities are still hoping to find her body. They say if Oakley was still alive he’d be charged with her murder.

Ann’s father, Anatoly Gotlib, died in July 2023, without ever knowing exactly what happened to his daughter. Her family moved from their apartment after she disappeared, but kept the same phone number in case she tried to call home.

Ann’s case was one of the first to put a national spotlight on missing children, in part prompting Congress to pass the Missing Children’s Assistance Act, which helped establish the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Whereabouts

The location of Ann Gotlib remains unknown. Because her body has not been found her case is still classified as missing. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance, and authorities say they believe Gregory Oakley Jr. is responsible for her abduction and murder.

Appearance

White female born on May 5, 1971. Ann has red hair and grey eyes. She stood 5’1 and weighed 85 pounds at the time of her disappearance.

Ann has pierced ears, freckles on her face, light colored eyebrows, and moles on her lower back.

Clothing & Accessories:
Ann was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, navy blue shorts with white stripes on the side, beige tennis shoes, and gold earrings with purple stones.

Investigating Agency

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Ann Gotlib please contact the FBI Louisville, Kentucky Office at (502) 583-3941.