Dorothy Arnold: The missing heiress at the center of New York’s oldest cold case

Dorothy Arnold: The missing heiress at the center of New York’s oldest cold case

Dorothy Arnold: The missing heiress at the center of New York’s oldest cold case 10 Minutes Read 2072 Words EN Premium HISTORY & CULTURE Dorothy Arnold’s family speaks out about her disappearance, more than a hundred years ago. New York City heiress Dorothy Arnold's mysterious disappearance more than a century ago set off a media frenzy—particularly as surprising details about her unconventional life emerged. Was she abducted or killed—or did she run away? The cold case remains a subject of fascination. Photograph by Fay 2018, Alamy By Rosemary Counter Last updated August 7, 2025 Dorothy Arnold’s disappearance has enthralled people ever since she vanished on December 12, 1910. On that icy Monday morning, the 25-year-old socialite left her Upper East Side mansion to go dress shopping for her little sister Marjorie’s upcoming debutante ball. She told a friend she was shopping with her mother, and told her mother she’d rather shop alone. The eldest daughter of the high-society Arnolds, a rich…