Marsha Brantley, 50, was last seen in Cleveland, Tennessee in June or July of 2009. Her husband claimed she left voluntarily, so she was not initially reported missing.

Background

Marsha Ellen Brantley was born on February 28, 1959, in Illinois. Her parents are no longer living, and she has no siblings or children.

Marsha married Donnie Brantley on March 31, 2000, and the couple moved into the house her parents had built for her in Cleveland, Tennessee.

By the end of that year, both of her parents had died of cancer, just weeks apart. Marsha used the large inheritance she received to assist her husband in establishing a handyman business franchise.

Marsha later left her job as Lee University’s housing director to pursue her dream of writing young adult novels. She kept a blog called “The Magpie’s Nest” during that time, where she recounted small anecdotes from her daily life.

Marsha and her friends established the Thunder Rock Writers Group in 2007. She wrote the short story “Dirty Little Secrets,” which placed second in a national competition in 2008.

At the time of her disappearance, Marhsa was living with her husband Donnie and their three foster dogs in the Benwood subdivision of Cleveland, Tennessee. She was passionate about writing, gardening, and outdoor activities.

Disappearance

Marsha told friends in March 2009 that she was “so depressed she couldn’t get off the couch.”

Marsha appeared troubled and depressed when she told her hairdresser that her husband’s handyman business was failing in April 2009. She was supposed to return six weeks later to set up an appointment, but she never did.

Marsha was last heard from on June 2, 2009, when she posted on social media, “Are ALL the planets out of alignment?” “Why has EVERYTHING that can go wrong gone wrong in the last month?”

Marsha Brantley has yet to be seen or heard from. She wasn’t walking her dogs like she usually did, and the flowers in her yard were dying.

In July or August of 2009, her husband Donnie informed a neighbor that Marsha had left him and that they were divorcing.

After months of no contact, her hairdresser filed a missing person’s report with the Cleveland Police Department in November 2009.

Investigation

Marsha Brantley left her cell phone, clothes, and car at home. Authorities determined that she went missing between June 2, 2009 and July 2, 2009 after analyzing her cell phone records.

Donnie explained to authorities that he did not report his wife’s disappearance because she had left him voluntarily. He later contradicted himself about where she had gone and what she had taken with her.

Donnie Brantley is being investigated for the disappearance of his wife Marsha. At the time, the couple’s marriage was reportedly troubled because his failing business franchise was depleting Marsha’s inheritance.

Donnie Brantley was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Marsha Brantley in August 2013. In May 2014, the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Donnie Brantley was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife again in December 2016, but the charges were dropped again in February 2018 due to a lack of evidence.

Whereabouts

Marsha Brantley’s disappearance is suspected of being the result of foul play, but authorities found no physical evidence of foul play or a crime scene.

Marsha Brantley’s disappearance remains unsolved, and her case is currently classified as missing. Her case is still unsolved.

Appearance