Julia Bean was last seen on May 31, 2017, in the Red Bay Road area of Sumter County, South Carolina. Her family, having not heard from her for some time, officially reported her missing on November 18, 2017. Although Julia has family in multiple states, no relatives have seen or had contact with her since her disappearance.

Her last known online activity occurred on July 12, 2017, when she was active on Facebook. There is speculation that her disappearance may be linked to suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, who was arrested in July 2023 and charged with the murders of three women in Long Island, New York. Heuermann owns land in Chester County, South Carolina, approximately a two-hour drive from where Bean was last seen.

One of the last people to see Julia before she disappeared was her daughter, who later recognized Heuermann’s photo from the news as the man who was with her mother at the time of their last encounter.