He was on last weeks episode of Missing. There was an age progressed photo of what he might look like today in his 20's. I was kind of surprised to see him profiled on there. Even though his dad only spent a year in prison, and a body was never found, wasn't Tommy declared dead?

Larry Gibson never confessed to killing the boy, but it is obvious that he is dead which is why I find it strange that they would have profiled him.

Larry Gibson is now an overweight country singer.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=76573&highlight=tommy+gibson

I saw Tommy Gibson mentioned again recently on "Missing". What aggravated me was they say he went missing under unknown circumstances and didn't bother to say his father was convicted of murdering him. I wish they could find Tommy but since its already been fairly well established that Tommy is dead I'm surprised he's still listed on all these missing websites and that they've gone to the trouble of making an age-progressed sketch of him.

I wish they could find Tommy but since its already been fairly well established that Tommy is dead I'm surprised he's still listed on all these missing websites and that they've gone to the trouble of making an age-progressed sketch of him.

There is a reason for that: No matter how likely it seems that Tommy is dead, his body (or his remains) would have to be found in order to prove beyond all doubt that he is deceased.

This is nothing new. In fact, I have come across cases of other missing persons (such as Amy Billig) who remain officially listed as missing, even when it seems that they are no longer among the living. Usually, that is because the thought of them being deceased is being based on circumstantial evidence.

Has Tommy Gibson been declared dead? Is there a death certificate?

It's possible that Tommy' mother or other relatives have not decided to officially presume him dead on the possibility that he could be found alive. Remote as it may be.

There really is no advantage to declaing the child dead. There is no assets that need to be giving in a will. No insurance to cash in on. I doubt there are any trust or custodial accounts under little Tommy.

It's also possible that lawyers or representatives for Larry Gibson may be using this as a tact for for some reason. The 'OJ looking for the real killers' type deal.

Or...

Maybe Larry Gibson is innocent...and new evidence has come to light..

Dottie Caylor was declared dead a few years ago, yet she's still listed as a missing person on some of the sites (at least she was, I haven't checked lately). Although, I might point out that the decision to declare her dead may have been made for legal reasons. She had an estate and her family probably wanted to disperse it accordingly.

Rogest Cain was also declared dead in 1995(?) yet he's still considered a "missing person". The reasons for his being declared dead are unclear. I suppose the family thought it best since the chances of his being alive at his age decrease as each year goes by. It also seemed likely that he suffered a stroke which cut his chances of survival greatly.

It does seem odd that Tommy Gibson has not been declared dead though. For what it's worth, I know Larry Gibson has always proclaimed innocence and believes the abduction theory. Maybe there is some doubt in that regard (or he wants to make it seem like there is) so the family hasn't taken the necessary steps to declare Tommy dead.

Believe it or not I have spoken personally to Larry via Facebook (yes that is him as the country singer). He has a bigger fan base than I thought he'd have to be honest.

But I asked him if he knows of any new leads on Tommy. This was about 2 months ago and he said he didn't and he felt his lawyers screwed him over as the reason that he got sent to jail. He says if he could do it over again he'd have done the trial differently.

Obviously he still maintains Tommy is alive, and is hopeful. His daughters were not close with him (especially the one that turned him in) but over time they have all become close again despite his divorce. He was surprisingly cordial in talking about the case.

Yes he is still stuck on the abduction theory. So either Larry is a telepathic liar like many of us believed or everyone including yours truly owes him an apology and this is a truly terrible story for young Tommy

Yes he is still stuck on the abduction theory. So either Larry is a telepathic liar like many of us believed or everyone including yours truly owes him an apology and this is a truly terrible story for young Tommy

Telepathic Liar? Sounds like a new type of UM segment. :p

Telepathic Liar? Sounds like a new type of UM segment. :p

Sociopath of course........:D I have to stop mixing UM up with the Shining

Sociopath of course........ I have to stop mixing UM up with the Shining

The Shining. Stephen King. Good Stuff. I'm going to read his latest.."Under a Dome" I think it's called.