By: HISTORY.com Editors

1926

Popular evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears

Published: November 13, 2009Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Aimee Semple McPherson, a nationally known evangelist, disappears from Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California. Police dispatched planes and ships in an effort to find her, but she was nowhere to be found. Authorities later discovered that radio announcer Kenneth Ormiston, a friend of McPherson, had also vanished.

McPherson was the Billy Graham of her time. In 1923, she opened Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, where she consistently amassed overflowing crowds. McPherson claimed to have faith-healing abilities and put on wonderfully entertaining shows for the public. Because of her religious nature, McPherson’s relationship with Ormiston created something of a scandal in 1925, and their disappearance in 1926 made headlines across the country.

A month later, McPherson turned up in Agua Prieta, New Mexico, with a wild tale of being kidnapped, but reporters quickly uncovered information to prove that she had been with Ormiston the entire time. Although obstruction of justice charges were filed against her, they were later dropped, allegedly because McPherson came up with $30,000 to appease law enforcement officials.

McPherson attempted a comeback evangelism tour after the scandal had died down, but it flopped and she slowly faded from the public’s memory.

Timeline

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1896

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Citation Information

Article Title: Popular evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-18/popular-evangelist-aimee-semple-mcpherson-disappears

Date Accessed: October 29, 2026
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: November 13, 2009

Popular evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears

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