Paula Welden | |
|---|---|
 Circulated photograph of Welden | |
| Born | Paula Jean Welden October 19, 1928 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Disappeared | December 1, 1946 (aged 18) Bennington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Status | Declared dead in absentia |
| Education | Bennington College |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
Paula Jean Welden (born October 19, 1928; disappeared December 1, 1946) was an American college student who disappeared while walking on Vermont's Long Trail hiking route. Local sheriffs were criticized for errors made in the investigation, which led to the creation of the Vermont State Police. Welden's fate remains unsolved, and was one of several unexplained disappearances in the same area at the time.