The Young family was just doing what many people do to celebrate the Fourth of July, having a picnic at their parents' house
It was July 4, 1956, and the Youngs, along with their 15-month-old daughter, Vilate, drove from Idaho down to Widstoe, Utah. Many other family members would be there, and everyone was looking forward to visiting with family.
Vilate went with a cousin to one of the nearby outbuildings to watch them make ice cream. After a while, the cousin came running back to the Young's saying that Vilate had wandered up a hill and wasn't coming back down.
Family members began searching the area frantically for the toddler. Vitale's teddy bear was found nearby, but nothing else.
Eventually, authorities were called in to assist, but no additional signs of the girl were found.
Bloodhounds were flown in, and the girl's scent was traced to a nearby road, leaving many to wonder if she had been picked up.
The surrounding area was so rural however, that seemed unlikely.
A drainage ditch was searched, and farmers even cut down their alfalfa fields to help open up the areas for searching.
No sign was ever found of the little girl. No clothing items, no footprints....nothing.
The disappearance of Vitale Young remains a mystery to this day.
Vitale is described as a Caucasian female, just 15 months old when she vanished. She wore a light cotton dress or a red and white checkered nylon dress, and sandals.
Vitale's case is handled by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office at 435-676-2678.
