Almost 35 years after disappearing, authorities continue to search for Fall River woman

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Almost 35 years after disappearing, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is still searching for a Fall River woman.

District Attorney Thomas Quinn said Thursday that Clotilde Arruda Tremblay went missing From Fall River in 1988 at the age of 33.

Tremblay was born in St. Miguel in the Azores, said Quinn. After coming to the United States, she settled in Fall River where she had family.

“In 1980, she married Robert Tremblay and they later had a child together,” said the district attorney. “While living in Fall River, Clotilde was employed working as a machine operator.”

Eight years later, she went missing.

“At that time the time of her disappearance, she was living with her husband and their 8-year-old daughter at 128 Pearce Street in Fall River,” said Quinn.

Authorities said she had been working at F&F Braid Company, which was located near her home.

The same year she disappeared, Quinn said her husband claimed the 33-year-old left him for another man.

“There is no evidence that he ever reported her disappearance to law enforcement authorities,” he said. “Despite his claim, there has been no trace of Clotilde since that time.”

Her family, Quinn said, doesn’t believe she “voluntarily ran off with another man.”

Tremblay was described by her family as being “extremely close to her daughter and the suggestion that she voluntarily disappeared leaving her daughter behind is not possible.”

Her neighbor also didn’t believe Robert’s explanation.

“The neighbor described Clotilde as a loving mother who was inseparable from her daughter,” said Quinn. “For this reason and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, both Clotilde’s family members and her neighbor believe that something happened to Clotilde at that time.”

Now in 2023, Quinn said police are still unable to find Tremblay.

Anyone with information about the 33-year-old’s disappearance should contact Massachusetts State Police Lt. AnnMarie Robertson at 508-961-1918 or the Fall River Police Department at 508-324-2796 ext. 253.

Portuguese speaking callers can call Fall River Police Department Det. Luis Vertentes 508-324-2796 ext. 260.

The search for Tremblay is part of Quinn’s ongoing missing persons project.