31-Year Mystery Solved: Photos Returned to Family

A remarkable act of kindness has led to the return of cherished family photos and keepsakes after 31 years. Tammy Ritter discovered the collection in a yellow folder in 1995 when she started a new job at the Tulsa County Assessor's Office. Recognizing their personal significance, she held onto the items through multiple job changes, always hoping to find the rightful owners. Ritter planned to retire in 2026, prompting her supervisor, Mark Liotta, to investigate the folder's contents.

Liotta, an amateur genealogist, dedicated himself to solving the mystery. He meticulously pieced together old contact information and pursued around 50 leads. His diligent research eventually pointed to the Evers/Cleveland family, and specifically a woman named Mary Louise Evers. Although Evers and her immediate family had passed away, Liotta successfully traced a connection to Libby Doughty, a great-niece of Cuma Cleveland, who resides in Tulsa.

Doughty was astonished when Liotta described the items, immediately recognizing them as belonging to her Aunt Cuma. On Tuesday, January 13, Doughty and her sister visited the County Assessor's Office to retrieve the folder. They expressed profound gratitude for Ritter's decades-long care and commitment to preserving these personal treasures. Ritter shared her joy in finally returning the mementos to their appreciative family.