MISSING : MARGARET HANLEY NAVY VET AND GRANDMOTHER , FAMILY SUSPECTS SCAM

Summary

Podcast Summary: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: MISSING: MARGARET HANLEY NAVY VET AND GRANDMOTHER, FAMILY SUSPECTS SCAM

Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace
Guests:

• Jomo Thompson (Margaret Hanley’s son)
• Sergeant Josh Sterner (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department)
• Dave Mack (Crime Stories investigative reporter)

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace investigates the baffling and distressing case of Margaret Hanley, a 72-year-old Navy veteran, mother, and grandmother, who went missing under suspicious circumstances. The family suspects she may be a victim of a scam, with unexplained cash withdrawals and behavioral anomalies marking her disappearance. Through interviews with her son, law enforcement, and crime reporters, the episode works to untangle her movements, uncover clues, and rally public support to aid in her search.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timeline & Circumstances of Disappearance

• Last Contact:

  • Margaret last spoke with family on February 8th, 2026 ([02:13], Jomo).
  • Discrepancy: Possibly seen at home on February 9th.
  • Last spotted by police after a 4am traffic stop on February 8th in Jacksonville, Georgia ([03:25], Jomo).
  • Seen in Gainesville and Hinesville, Georgia, which is out of her ordinary routine ([03:57], Jomo).

• Uncharacteristic Behavior:

  • Margaret typically stayed within her neighborhood, visited only Walmart, watched soap operas, and spoke with family ([04:25], Nancy).
  • Sudden deviation from her well-established routine is “very strange to us” ([03:57], Jomo).

2. Family’s Immediate Response

• Son’s Actions:

  • Jomo Thompson is alerted by Margaret’s brother after days of no contact ([02:13], Jomo).
  • Family checks in with her regular visitors and calls the police ([02:13], Jomo).

• Bank Account Red Flags:

  • Multiple $200 ATM transactions and a $500 Walgreens withdrawal on the day of her disappearance ([07:00], Jomo).
  • Noted unusual activity starting about a month before disappearance ([07:00], Jomo).
  • Large, uncashed checks for $10,000 and $12,000 written to an elderly man in Texas ([09:56], Dave).

3. Investigative Developments

• Law Enforcement Activities:
  • Sergeant Josh Sterner is actively searching up and down I-95, tracing ATM withdrawals and following up leads ([07:47], Nancy; [09:25], Sgt. Sterner).
  • Collaborating with the bank fraud division and Georgia Bureau of Investigation ([09:25], Sgt. Sterner).
  • Confirmed Margaret has been traveling alone at every sighting, including getting gas in Bradford County, Florida and passing through Patterson, Georgia ([12:07], Sgt. Sterner).
  • The checks were never cashed; the recipient in Texas was unaware and cleared ([11:11], Sgt. Sterner).

4. The Scam Suspicion

• Possible Duress and Scam:

  • Family and investigators suspect Margaret was being manipulated, possibly under duress, to withdraw cash and write checks ([05:33], Jomo; [13:30], Jomo).
  • Nancy Grace hypothesizes the scammer switched from checks to cash withdrawals after realizing the risks ([11:38], Nancy).

• Margaret’s Mental State:

  • Suffering some short-term memory loss, may have made her more susceptible ([14:21], Nancy).
  • No signs she wanted to leave or had reason to vanish willingly.

5. Appeal for Public Help

• Family’s Desperation:

  • Jomo and Nancy emphasize the family is not sleeping or eating out of concern ([06:22], Nancy; [13:30], Jomo).
  • Their only wish is for Margaret’s safe return, regardless of financial losses ([13:30], Jomo).

• Description and Tipline:

  • Missing: Margaret Hanley, 72, silver 2001 Toyota RAV4, license plate ESM F23 ([07:47], Nancy).
  • Tipline: 904-630-0500 ([07:47], Nancy; [15:42], Nancy).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Family’s Distress & Relentless Hope

  • “We just want to get her home. And that's our primary concern.” – Jomo Thompson ([13:30])
  • “The family not eating, the family not sleeping. They want their mother home.” – Nancy Grace ([06:22])

• Questioning Anomalous Behavior

  • “Why was your mom out at 4am? Curious.” – Nancy Grace ([03:54])
  • “That was the last sighting of her as far as being in her home...this behavior is bizarre, which kind of leads me to believe that maybe she was being scammed. She was under duress.” – Jomo Thompson ([05:33])

• On the Evidence of a Scam

  • “The family has found two large check receipts, one for $10,000 and another for $12,000...This is a very, very frugal woman who does not waste money.” – Dave Mack ([09:56])
  • “It was written to an actually an older gentleman in Texas...he had no idea where the checks came from and they actually took possession of one of the checks that he still had.” – Sgt. Josh Sterner ([11:11])

• Call to Action

  • “She could be on the side of the road, she could be crashed, she could be carjacked. Please look for Mrs. Margaret.” – Nancy Grace ([15:42])

---

Key Timestamps

• 01:05: Nancy Grace recounts Margaret’s background and the basic facts of the disappearance
• 02:13: Jomo Thompson shares how he learned his mother was missing
• 03:25: Details about Margaret’s last police interaction and her habits
• 07:00: Jomo explains alarming bank account withdrawals
• 07:47: Sgt. Sterner joins to discuss law enforcement’s search and investigation
• 09:56: Dave Mack adds evidence about large uncashed checks
• 11:11: Sgt. Sterner clarifies the checks and attempts to trace their purpose
• 12:07: Timeline confirmation and last known sightings
• 13:30: Jomo emphasizes the uncharacteristic nature of Margaret’s actions and the trauma for the family
• 14:21: Margaret’s short-term memory loss and the implications for the case
• 15:08: Sgt. Sterner explains search efforts and the importance of public awareness
• 15:42: Nancy Grace repeats the tipline and call for help

---

Final Message & Tone

The episode is marked by urgency, compassion for Margaret’s family, and determination to both solve the case and prevent further harm to vulnerable seniors. Nancy Grace channels the family’s desperation and devotes significant airtime to actionable details and appeals for audience vigilance.

---

Help Find Margaret Hanley

If you have any information about Margaret Hanley or her silver 2001 Toyota RAV4 (ESM F23), please call 904-630-0500 immediately.

---

Tone: Concerned, urgent, empathic, with a focus on public engagement and family advocacy.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

Guaranteed Human Tired of spills and stains on your sofa? Wash away your worries with annabe. Annabe is the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas start at just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabric. Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience FO that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Shop washablesofas.com for up to 60% off site wide backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return, shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply

[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Where is Margaret Hanley? This mother and grandmother, let me add, is a US Navy veteran who has been deployed all around the world protecting us. And now it's our turn to help her and her family. Margaret Hanley, 23 year Navy veteran, mother and grandmother disappears, Last seen in her own home. Was she a victim of some bizarre scam? Joining me, not only Dave Mack, Crime Stories investigative reporter sergeant Josh Sterner of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department who is on the road in his cruiser right now looking for her, but also her son, Jomo Thompson. Mr. Thompson, thank you for joining us. You're joining us from Kentucky. Tell me, when you learned your mom is missing, how did that happen?

[Jomo Thompson]

One of her brothers. She has 11 brothers and sisters and they communicate daily to kind of keep up with each other, which I think is great. And they told me one of my uncles told me the last that he heard from her was on Monday the 8th and he alerted me to this on Wednesday. When I found out, I called one of her friends that regularly visits her oma and she told me yes, she hadn't heard from my mom either. And so that's when we called the police and tried to figure out what's going on, where she could be.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, let me understand something. I need to get the timeline perfectly reported. Mr. Thompson, you stated that one of her brothers called you and said he last heard from her on the 8th. That would be February 8th. But I have another conflicting report that she was seen in her home Feb. 9. Both of those can be true. So when was the last time of a sighting? The uncle May not have spoken to her since the 8th, but she may have been cited on the 9th. Do you know the truth of that, Mr. Thompson?

[Jomo Thompson]

I know that police pulled her over on, I believe it was the eighth. I have my notes here. Pulled her over and for running a red light at 4am and I think they let her go with a warning. And that was the last sighting of her as far as being in her home. Oma and her brother Oma said she hadn't seen her in like in over two weeks. So she said she had spoken with her but hadn't seen her.

[Nancy Grace]

Why was your mom out at 4am Curious.

[Jomo Thompson]

I have no idea. Because my mom stays at home. The only place she really drives to is Walmart in her neighborhood. She doesn't like to drive, she likes to be at home. Her activities are watching her soap operas, the Price is Right and talking to her family. So the behavior, her being out and spotted in Gainesville and in Hinesville, Georgia is just very strange to us. And that's what we're trying to figure out, what is going on?

[Nancy Grace]

Mr. Thompson, you are so correct. My mom, 94, lives with us, but when she was still living on her own, she had like a little circle like we all do. We all have a parameter where we normally are. It can be the grocery store. My mom was the grocery store. The church, piano classes. Grocery store, church, piano classes. And if I had heard she was in a different city or out at 4am, I would know something is very, very wrong. You're absolutely correct. And I want to point out, Mr. Thompson, that we've done a little checking into your mom. This lady, a 23 year Navy vet, went to her favorite places. She would go to the grocery store, she would go to Walmart. That's it. Okay, I don't understand what's happening. Tell me exactly, Mr. Thompson, where is her home? What city? Is it Hinesville?

[Jomo Thompson]

No, it's in Jacksonville, Georgia. She lives over Jacksonville, Georgia? Yes.

[Nancy Grace]

And where is Jacksonville, Georgia? For people that are not familiar with the geography of Georgia, Duval County.

[Jomo Thompson]

Her address was in Southern Oaks. She lived on a street called Southern Oaks. And again, just a nice neighborhood. Good people, they take care of each other there. So, yeah, this is just, again, just all very alarming to us. She's deviated from the behavior she's exhibited in the last five years since we known her again, retired. She goes for walks every now and then. But other than her circle and going to the grocery store, this behavior is bizarre, which kind of leads me to believe that maybe she was being scammed. She was under duress. I just don't know. I just really don't know. I hate to speculate. I'm just trying to keep my thoughts positive and optimistic that we will find her.

[Nancy Grace]

The family not eating, the family not sleeping. They want their mother home. Fear grew when the family tried calling, calling the victim. In this case, Mrs. Hanley, age 72, they couldn't reach her. She apparently left with her vehicle Feb 9. That's what we think. Well, Jomo Thompson springs into action, filing a missing persons report with local police. He checked her bank account and was alarmed at what he found. What did you find in your Mom's banking account, Mr. Thompson?

[Jomo Thompson]

Just the, the day in question on the 9th. Like transactions like $200, $200, $200 taken out from TP USA, which is a Pelo Mobile company. So I think that was the maximum amount she was allowed to withdraw. And then a withdrawal from Walgreens as well. $500. And my mom very frugal. This again is just not like her. She had automatic withdrawal set up for her mortgage, her bills and things like that. And then she had her friend that would help her with groceries and she would write her checks. And so those transactions were all pretty familiar until about a month ago. Then I just started seeing these weird charges in her bank account.

[Nancy Grace]

You know what's interesting, I want to follow up with Sergeant Josh Sterner is joining us right now. He is currently in the Georgia jurisdiction and he's flying down I95 right now in his search for 72 year old Margaret Hanley. Sergeant Sterner, thank you for being with us. Thank you for taking time to publicize her photo in the tip line. Let me give everybody the tip line right now while I've got the sergeant on the phone. [phone] Margaret Hanley. She is a mother and she is a grandmother. Her family can't sleep, they can't eat. Where is mom? Sergeant Sterner, thank you for being with us. Right there. When you've got a 72 year old woman making these cash withdrawals from this place, then that place her Toyota RAV4 ESM F23E elephant S Sally M mother F Frank 23 ESM F23 to all of our trucker friends going up and down I 95, 7585 look for this silver 2001 Toyota RAV4 for please help us. How far could she have gotten back to Sergeant Josh Sterner? That's not right. Why is this little old lady, this grandma, making all these cash withdrawals? Sergeant?

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

That's what we're trying to find out. Nancy, I appreciate you having me on here. At this point we're trying to get with the banks to see where these cash withdrawals came from. That way we can trace them. We're working with our economics Crime division who's used to doing these fraudulent charges to see if they are fraudulent. That way we can get further investigative leads to hopefully find out where Margaret is.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, Dave Mack, 72 year old Navy vet grandma. It looks like she's going up with her wallet out to the atm.

[Dave Mack]

Looks like she's going to make a withdrawal. Nancy. Now, I don't know, Mrs. Hanley, but I'm looking at what appears to me to be a worried 72 year old woman. Nancy, a couple of things you haven't mentioned so far. The family has found two large check receipts, one for $10,000 and another for $12,000. Not to mention in the days since she's been missing these $200 withdrawals being made. This is a very, very frugal woman who does not waste money, watches her pennies have her apparently looks like she's going to make a withdrawal and looking very concerned to me.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, straight back to Sergeant Josh Sterner. He is with the Jacksonville Sheriff Department in Florida. He is flying down i95 right now. Everybody's searching for Ms. Margaret. Okay, I didn't know that a $10,000 check and a $12,000 check, was it made out to a person or to cash? Was that a withdrawal? If it's just a withdrawal, that's not going to help me at all. But somebody had to cash it. What do we know about those big checks? Sergeant?

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

So those big checks were written but never cashed. Her account was never taken. The money was never taken out of that account. It was written to an actually an older gentleman in Texas. And we had Texas go out to his house and make meet with him and he had no idea what the check, where the checks came from and they actually took possession of one of the checks that he still had.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, this is a total scam. If the old guy in Texas is cleared, that means somebody is using his identity to get her money. See what I mean? Sergeant? How are they doing it? How are they doing it? I wonder if they backed out of the checks when they realized the evidentiary problems with them, Sergeant Sterner and started getting her to get cash withdrawals. What do you think about, I mean

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

that's Always a possibility. But at the same time, we know when she left her house on the 8th that she was by herself. We have a clerk in Bradford County, Florida that actually spoke with her and talked to her. She seemed to be fine. He helped her pump gas and then sent her on her way. And at the time she was by herself. And then we also have her up in Patterson, Georgia, which is just southwest of Hinesville, where her vehicle was last seen. And it appears on that video that she is also still by herself.

[Nancy Grace]

So let me ask you this. What was the date she was spotted in Bradford County, Florida and got the gas? And what was the date she was in Patterson, Georgia?

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

So she started her travels on February 7th and traveled throughout the day and evening through the 8th. And the last time we have her on the 8th is around 4:30pm I believe.

[Nancy Grace]

And that was in Patterson, Georgia.

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

That was in Hinesville before 30pm she was in Patterson around between 10 and

[Jomo Thompson]

11am

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

on the 8th.

[Nancy Grace]

Got it. Got it. Back to her son, Margaret Hanley's son, Jemo Thompson. Mr. Thompson, again, thank you for being with us. This doesn't sound like your mother at all.

[Jomo Thompson]

Not, not one bit, Nancy. And that's just what's so concerning, what someone could have possibly said to her to spring her into this action, to do something that she hasn't done in quite some time to, you know, change up her schedule, to deviate, to drive to all these places. My mom, I remember 20 years ago when I went to visit her when she was stationed in New Orleans and she had apprehension about just coming to the airport to pick me up to take me back to the base. So again, just very much not like my mom. So I feel like she was under duress. But again, I don't know. I'm just speculating, trying to keep my thoughts positive. All I care about is finding my mom. I don't care about the scam, I don't care about the money. We just want to get her home. And that's our primary concern.

[Nancy Grace]

I'm with you. I'm with you, Mr. Thompson. And another thing that everyone should know about your mom is she does have some short term memory loss. I believe, and I'm quoting you, if you asked what she had for lunch today, she may not remember. But if I said, hey, where were you stationed 10 years ago? She could tell you that Florida has a silver alert that helps find missing seniors. That is in Florida. There are limited resources in that jurisdiction. We are looking for this mom, this grandma. Margaret Hanley to Sergeant Josh Sterner. Taking time to talk to us tonight. Sergeant Sterner, what are you guys doing to help find Ms. Margaret?

[Sergeant Josh Sterner]

We're doing anything and everything we can. We've gotten with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations so they can help us as well as all the surrounding counties where she was last seen just trying to scour and put out, be on the lookouts for her. And honestly, Nancy, what you're doing with her story tonight, it's a help because the more people that see her and see her vehicle, that is more possibility. We have to have leads to figure out where she IS and like Mr. Thompson said, the ultimate goal, if she end up getting scammed, we just want to know where she is and to find her safe also.

[Nancy Grace]

Guys, this little lady went all around the world for her country. She was posted where my dad was posted in Guam and she's been everywhere protecting our country and now we need to protect her. Her family can't sleep and they can't eat. They're looking for their mother. If you know or think you know anything about her or her silver RAV4E elephant S Sally M. Mother F Frank 23, please dial 904-630-500. Repeat, 904-630500. She could be on the side of the road, she could be crashed, she could be carjacked. Please look for Mrs. Margaret. Thank you to Dave Mack. Thank you to Sergeant Josh Sterner from Jacksonville Sheriffs. Thank you to Mr. Thompson, her son representing her family. Thank you everyone for joining us now. And now help us find Ms. Margaret. Nancy Gray signing off. Thank you friend.

[Annabe Sofa Advertiser]

Life gets messy. Spills, stains, head accidents and kid chaos. But with anabe, cleaning up is easy. Our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out, so you never have to stress about messes again. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, Our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Upgrade your space today. Sofas start at just $699. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.