Missing...Have You Seen This Person (COMPLETE RECAPS)

[DarkDante]

Per Unsolved Mysteries Wiki: Missing... Have You Seen This Person was a series of three different TV specials on NBC in 1985 and 1986 with David Birney and his then-wife Meredith Baxter as co-hosts featuring entire episodes to the disappearances of several people. Created by Cosgrove and Meurer, the same creators behind Unsolved Mysteries, it was nominated for a Primetime Emmy as an Out-standing Informational special.

Introduction
Recently I had the opportunity to view several pieces of "Unsolved Mysteries"-related lost media inclusive of five of the six episodes of the "Unsolved Mysteries" spin-off "Final Appeal" (with the exception of the profile of Episode 2: Paul Ferrell [09/25/1992]) and all three episodes of the "Unsolved Mysteries" Prequel "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" While the episodes of the Robert Stack narrated "Final Appeal" episodes were unremarkable in that they are for all intents and purposes the same profiles that were included as part of the Dennis Farina/Spike TV "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot from 2008 with very little material edited out, the episodes of "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" while not exactly a revelation is worth mentioning given the influence the series had on it's far more enduring successor. I will state that unequivocally that neither series in my opinion is of essential viewing for "Unsolved Mysteries" fans. They are curiosities with the best profiles being reserved for "Unsolved Mysteries" itself. Either way here are my recaps of "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" I will mention each special and profile separately alongside my observations. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more about the cases profiled to consult the "Unsolved Mysteries Wiki" at https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com...This_Person%3F

Missing... Have You Seen This Person?
Special #1
April 29, 1985
NBC

The series opens with the soon to be familiar "not a news broadcast" introduction although the verbiage is somewhat different as instead of stating "about Unsolved Mysteries", we are informed that the program is "about missing people."

David Birney and Meredith Baxter are hosting this special from National Center for Missing Children. Meredith explains that the recreations we are about to see are filmed with the cooperation of the families and the authorities that are working these cases and that in most instances people will portray themselves. A phone number will be provided at the conclusion of each profile for viewers to call in with tips. David and Meredith will "tag off" on each profile with David hosting our first profile.

Profile #1: Paul Cosner - San Francisco, CA - November 2, 1984 - 8:30 pm

Paul's girlfriend Marilyn leaves messages on Paul's answering machine asking her boyfriend to call her back. Repeated messages are left the following day at 9:15 am and 11:30 am with Paul's sister, Sharon leaving messages at 6:25 pm and 10:35 pm. Paul is thirty-nine years old and described as funny, caring, and gentle. He made his living selling used cars through the classified ads in newspapers. Paul had placed an ad for a Honda Prelude in the San Francisco Chronicle. A week prior to the disappearance, Paul took the car for a test drive with a potential buyer. He subsequently mentioned his misgivings about this potential buyer to Marilyn, telling her that he was "weird" and only test drove the car for a short distance without checking the acceleration or brakes. The man wanted to buy the Honda and the deal was to be closed on Friday November 2, 1984. A few days prior a witness (Verna) saw Paul talking with a strange man who could possibly be the buyer in front of Paul's apartment. The man was described as 6'2, burly, and wore workman's clothes and boots. The witness felt uncomfortable and said that the man seemed aggressive. A car backed out of the apartment garage, driven by Paul. The man approached the car and spoke to Paul and Verna wondered why they were associated. That night Paul disappeared. His landlady Natalie Bruelot glimpsed Paul's car pulling out of the garage from her window. She said it was 7pm and dark. She could not tell who was driving the car out of the garage.

Paul's answering machine became the focus of another baffling aspect of the case. A bizarre message was recorded on it the Sunday after Paul vanished. To decipher the message, Paul's family took the tape to an audio specialist Bernie Kraus. The tape had heavy breathing followed by the phrase "We're gonna make a lot of money, Martin." The tape was later determined to be the soundtrack of a pornographic film. The police still have no idea what happened to Paul. Lt. Alan Sonada says there are no leads for Paul or his car, a 1980 Honda Prelude, orange with luggage rack. A reward of $10,000 is being offered in this case.

Profile #2: Kathy/Debbie Caruso - Carol Stream, IL - November 8, 1977

Katherine and Debbie Caruso were ages five and seven respectively when they disappeared alongside their father Phillip. They are now aged fifteen and thirteen respectively. Their mother Janet Hicks recently underwent surgery for breast cancer. After five procedures, the disease was eradicated. But Janet worries about the risk of cancer with her daughters. On November 8, 1977, Janet went to pick up her daughters from her estranged husband's home and found they had vanished, along with all of their belongings. The house was dark and locked and Janet required the assistance of police to enter the home. Upon entering her daughters' room was empty and bare and upon turning on a light the only thing left behind was a lonesome Donald Duck stuffed toy which officially brings us to our first Cosgrove/Meurer scare as only they can make a stuffed toy in a dimly lit room look creepy as hell!

The photos that Janet has of her daughters are outdates so she has enlisted the help of Scott Barrows, a medical illustrator. Scott is an expert in drawing portraits that project what individuals will look like in the future. Barrows will age the portraits of both girls by seven years. He later displays the portraits to Janet who becomes understandably emotional.

Recovered: Ellen Misner (Indiana) and Bobby Smith (Long Beach, CA)

These brief segments are precursors to "Update" and serve the same function with footage being shown of the reunions of parents and children.

Missing: Howard Tokarsky (45) - Mojave Desert, CA - December 14, 1984/Carole Pappas (44) - Wheaton, IL - September 11, 1984

These are not full profiles but a precursor of the "Special Alert" segments with a brief synopsis of the case displayed alongside a photograph of the missing person. Carole Pappas is the wife of MLB player Milt Pappas.

Profile #3: Kim Leggett - Mercedes, TX - October 9, 1984

Kim is a twenty-two year old wife and mother, 5'6 and 110 pounds. She worked as a bookkeeper at a cotton gin which was the last place she was seen. On October 9, 1984, her stepfather Lefty Gardner received a strange telephone call. The caller asked for Lefty and then when he picked up the phone, the line went dead. The telephone rang again and when Lefty picked up he was told, "They have your daughter and they want money" before the line went dead once again. Kim's husband Mark went up to the office at the cotton gin and Kim wasn't there. He found her school books laid out over the office table and her keys were left in the ignition of her vehicle. Lt. Reynaldo Campos says there were no signs of force at the office or at the vehicle. He believes it was a kidnapping based upon the ransom call.

Lefty assisted in the search for his stepdaughter using his plane but found nothing. At 4:15 on the afternoon of the disappearance, four eyewitnesses saw Kim outside the cotton gin talking with two men near a white sports car. There are no good leads in this case and Mark says "his family was stolen." A $30,000 dollar reward is being offered in this case.

Profile #4: Jonelle Matthews - Greeley, CO - December 20, 1984

This is such a well-known and discussed case that I'm opting not to recap it here. For more information please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder...nelle_Matthews

In lieu of a recap I wanted to mention how beautifully this profile was shot. Interviewees include Jonelle's parents and her choir teacher Georgiana Close. David Birney narrates an emotional profile detailing the search for Jonelle across the snow covered Colorado terrain. The segment concludes with a celebration of Jonelle's thirteenth birthday as family and friends send scores of balloons to the air with information on Jonelle's disappearance attached to them. Her classmates then sing their interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Where Go The Boats?" for Jonelle as the profile draws to a close.

Profile #5: Pablo Torres Jr. - New York, NY - August 14, 1984

Pablo Torres Jr. from Jersey City, NJ is fifteen years old with developmental issues. On August 14, 1984, he went to New York City with two friends who didn't really want him along but Pablo went anyway. Upon reaching Grand Central Station, one of Pablo's friends gave him money and told him to go home. Pablo never made it home. His father, Pablo Torres Sr. does not speak English which makes looking for his son all the more difficult. Pablo's teacher Marjorie Pandytopoulos states that Pablo wouldn't know the address of his home or school.

Update: While not yet officially designated as such, an update on this profile airs immediately upon it's conclusion. Pablo was found in a hospital in the Bronx. Staff was unable to identify him but subsequently saw a news broadcast that led to reunion. Pablo Torres Jr. is shown reunited with his father.

Profile #6: Laura Bradbury - Joshua Tree (CA) - October 18, 1984

Laura Bradbury was three years old when she went on a trip with her family to the Joshua Tree National Monument. Laura wandered away from her family ostensibly following her brother Travis to the restroom. While inside the restroom, Travis saw a shadow, heard a noise and suddenly there was no more sound from his sister. It was subsequently discovered that the women's restroom door was opened six inches and banged three times. Earlier that afternoon, a suspicious fifty year old man was seen atop a rock looking down upon the campsite which brings us to our next Cosgrove/Meurer scare as the man is shown only in shadow staring down deep into the the camera with only a yellow baseball cap and sunglasses visable.

The man's vehicle is described as a blue van with beige curtains in the windows. Both the man and vehicle disappeared at the same time as Laura. We then transition to an elementary school classroom where Laura Bradbury's cousin, Ricky Schroder is seen speaking to children about "stranger danger."

Profile #7: Michelle Lawrence - Seattle, WA - January 1, 1985

This profile is of a non custodial parental abduction. Patricia Lawrence is separated from Michelle's father Willie. Per custody arrangements, two policemen needed to be present during Willie's visits with his daughter. On January 1, 1985, Willie called Pat claiming that he was outside her apartment with two policemen for a visitation. Pat allowed him into the building but Willie did not have any policemen with him and immediately grabbed Michelle and ran down the hallway before leaving in his car. Willie's credit cards have traced him to Georgia.

Pat has joined the United Parents of Stolen Children run by Mary Jane Gasser. Mary Jane's son Jesse was taken in 1979. In 1984, Jesse was found in Akron, Ohio.

Update: As before, immediately upon this profile's conclusion, an update is shown of Michelle being located in Madison, Georgia in March of 1985.

General Thoughts: Although nowhere near as sophisticated and polished as it's successor, "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" displays several aspects of "Unsolved Mysteries" in place including the recreations, Update and Special Alert bumpers (although they are not designated as such yet). The overall feel of the special is understandably more in line with the Pre-Stack Specials that would be hosted respectively by Raymond Burr and Karl Malden in 1987 and 1988 than they are "Unsolved Mysteries" proper as Robert Stack obviously elevated the series to a higher level. David Birney does an admirable job with his narrations with a delivery that is similar to Malden. He won't make you forget Stack anytime soon, but his soft-spoken delivery does convey a serious of grave seriousness to the audience. Meredith Baxter is terrible as she sound far too giddy and lighthearted in her delivery to convey a sense of urgency in the profiles which she narrates. Again "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" is nothing to write home about although much as in a director's cut does for a film, it offers viewers a glimpse into a work-in-progress.

More to come...

[Dude111]

Its sad they are all still missing

[Dogface82]

Wow! I didn't even know these three specials existed. Wiki fandom has links to previous discussions on this site (sitcoms) 2013 time frame. The David Granger case jumped out at me. One of my friends knew him. Didn't know he had been found. Remember Bridgette loves Bernie series because one of my women friends was Catholic engaged to a Jewish guy. Lost track of them when I was recalled to Active duty in 1980. Can't imagine Meredith Baxter with her "PollyAnna" bubbly blonde personality hosting a serious even grim show like this. Great post. Look forward to more.

[Perhaps It's You]

I feel that it is important to mention that Meredith Baxter later accused her husband David of having been physically abusive throughout their marriage, which does add a bit of darkness to this already depressing show. In some of the promotional pictures for this show, she looks horrified standing next to him. I'm glad that she's been living in her truth, and seems to be happy.

[ghosthouse]

Are these available to view anywhere?

[Labonte18]

Paul Cosner has been declared a victim of Charles Ng and Leonard Lake, though his remains have yet to be identified. You can read a bit about it here..

https://www.forensicmag.com/3594-All...al-Killer-Duo/

Ng and Lake were found in Cosner's car.. So.. Yeah.. Think this one is.. 'solved' even if he hasn't been identified.

The above case I linked to, the remains were identified last year.

Kathy and Debbie Caruso were located with their father in 1985 and recovered.

Howard Tokarsky is still missing. Interesting.. I can see one of two outcomes. He was going target shooting in the desert.. Car was found about 100 miles away.. He could have been killed out in the desert, or.. This could be a voluntary disappearance.

Carole Pappas' vehicle was located in 1987.. Shockingly.. in a pond just 4 blocks from her home. Looks like she just ran off the road. Body was found in the front seat.

The name is Kim Leggett, not Kim Leggert.. Still missing.

Jonelle Matthews.. Well, you can follow the link posted by OP on that one

Pablo Torres.. The info I found is that the cops located him riding the subway the night he went missing. As he was non-communicative, he was placed in a child care facility.. He was located before the segment even aired.. So.. A bit flaky on the details, but..

Laura Bradbury's remains were recovered in 1986 but not positively identified until 2010. I rather suspect this was a wandering off 3 and a half year old child that wound up dead from exposure.

Michelle Lawrence.. as mentioned.. Solved by the time it aired.

So.. Most of them have, indeed, been solved. Only 3 are technically still missing and one of those.. We know what happened outside of finding the body.


But.. All in all.. Great recap DarkDante.. I remember Final Appeal, but I don't remember this show at all.

[EighthStreet]

Originally Posted by Labonte18

Paul Cosner has been declared a victim of Charles Ng and Leonard Lake, though his remains have yet to be identified.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Lake

Holy.....did not expect all this when I searched Paul's name.

[DarkDante]

Missing... Have You Seen This Person?
Special #2
January 22, 1986
NBC


The second installment of "Missing...Have You Seen This Person?" begins with a brief recap of the reunion of Janet Hicks with her daughters Katherine and Debbie which was brought about by viewers tips after the airing of the first installment of the show.

Profile #1: Pascale Newbegin - Portland, OR

This case wins the award for most frustratingly sad disappearance ever profiled by a Cosgrove/Meurer production and perhaps for that reason it's the type of "Missing Persons" case they'd choose to never profile on "Unsolved Mysteries."

Fifteen year old Pascale Newbegin leaves a note for her parents telling them she ran away. She claims that her parents have different values. Her mother Corrine Newbegin said that they had an argument the night before Pascale vanished. Her father, Wade feels guilty and for the next six weeks he searched Portland for his daughter. Street kids are interviewed and there is some thought given to the idea that Pacale could be a victim of the Green River Killer as the last victim discovered resembled Pascale, but wasn't her. Pascale's friends say her relationship with her mother caused her to run away. Pascale felt as if she was living in the shadow of her brother who was at West Point and her handicapped younger sister, who we learn has passed away. In the wake of the passing of their youngest child, Wade and Corrine adopted a four year old boy and Pascale once again felt stuck in the middle of two children who got all the attention from her parents.

Wade says that Pascale once wanted to play a song for him on her stereo and told him that she was dedicating the song, Lionel Richie's "Hello" to him. Wade didn't pay her any attention but now sees it as a "cry for help." Wade says if he had one message to convey to parents it would be to be alert for that one opportunity your child gives to tell them that you love them because if you miss that opportunity, you might not get another.

Pascale and her parents were later reunited in Los Angeles where Pascale was working at a pizzeria. In a unique twist, this "update" is filmed live with cameras waiting outside the pizzeria allowing Pascale's parents to enter first to see if their daughter was amicable to a reunion. Since the reunion Pascale has returned home several times and her relationship with her parents is much better. Note: Lionel Richie's "Hello" is played several times throughout this segment to great effect.

Missing: Vanessa Pandas (14, now 16) - ran away from home - New York - January 24, 1984/Bill Cordes (17) - ran away from home - Auburn, CA - March 30, 1984/Diana Berrong (17) - ran away to California - Boise, ID - May 11, 1984

Again just brief "Special Alert" segments here.

Profile #2: Equilla Hodrick - New York - August 12, 1985

Nine year old Equilla Hodrick was abducted from the Bronx after following an ice cream truck. Equilla's cousin was sent to find her and found the truck a block from her house but there was no trace of Equilla. The next day the NYPD was out in force looking for the little girl but to no avail. A bloodhound trace Equilla's scent to an opening in a fence near a railroad station. Trains were shut down while police searched without success. Police have no positive information on this disappearance.

Missing: Kyle Clinkscales (32) - La Grange, GA - left job and hasn't been seen since - January 27, 1976/Edwin Shaw (26) - Chadburn, NC - car found smashed into a tree, possible amnesia - March 15, 1982/Phillip Hansen (25) - Terre Haute, IN - May 6, 1984

Profile #3: David Granger - Holden, MA - September 17, 1984 - 12:15 am

We join David Birney standing beside an abandoned car on a desolate road. He explains that thirty five year old David Granger's car was discovered by police officer Donald Ball abandoned on an isolated road near the woods. Ball was one of Granger's best friends. David's car was found unlocked with the windows down and the key in the ignition. David's coat was in the front seat. Police searched the woods for four days after David vanished. It was first thought that he disappeared voluntarily but David's brother Rick says that David was "not in a good frame of mind." David served in Vietnam and upon returning began to suffer from PTSD including insomnia and anxiety which caused him to seek psychiatric help. David's sister Diane says her brother struggled to stop the voices in his head.

There is some thought that David's PTSD may have led him into the woods believing that he was still in Vietnam. "Outreach Vietnam", comprised of a group of Vietnam Veterans have joined the search for David. They believe that David is acting out an MIA scenario, lighting campfires in the woods at night and steering clear of people in the daytime. David is 6'0 and weighs 185 pounds. He walks with a limp and may not be aware of his identity.

Update: Katherine and Debbie Hicks

We are shown a reunion between Janet Hicks and her daughters, notable because both girls incomprehensively appear to look around ten years older than their mother. The girls were found in Kettering, OH and had been told that their mother was dead.

Profile #4: Audrey V. Ruff - Tampa, FL - June 12, 1984

Two year old Audrey Vanessa Ruff was abducted by her father Mitchell Ruff. Audrey was abducted by her father and his stepfather while her mother, Olga was taking a shower. The day after the abduction, Mitchell filed for divorce. The court demanded the return of the child, but Mitchell has not complied. Olga is not a US citizen, so time is of the essence to find Audrey. Mitchell might be going by the alias "Butch." Note: A significant part of this profile was dedicated to Olga's neighbors coming together to support her.

Special Report: Computer Aging

One of the unique aspects of "Missing...Have You Seen This Person?" is that occasionally they would profile a specific aspect of what authorities are doing to help track to missing children. The work of Nancy Burson is profiled here as she details age progressions of Etan Patz and Christopher Fulmer. Christopher was taken illegally by his mother Debra Denise Halpburn from their home in Birmingham, AL. Christopher's father Scott is looking for his now five year old son.

Profile #5: Jeannie Frasier

This is officially the debut of the "Lost Loves" segment, although it is not identified as such yet. Jeannie Frasier is searching for her parents who she has not seen since she was five months old. Jeannie was born on July 15, 1953 in Chicago, IL. Jeannie's mother left her with a family named Sailor. Jeannie's birth certificate showed that at her time of birth, her parents lived on Kemore Avenue. When Jeannie visited the neighborhood in 1984, nobody remembered them. Jeannie's father is believed to be William Mudd of Alabama and her mother is believed to be Jessica VanBuskrick of Ohio. Jeannie's parents were married in Chicago.

Jeannie wants to know where she came from. Her parents left her with a babysitter but never came back.

Update: Jeannie was able to locate her father but he denied paternity.

Missing: Sarah Pryor (9) - Wayland, MA - October 9, 1985

Special Report: "Stranger Danger"

Again this is another segment focusing on a specific aspect of missing children. Dr. Alvin Persont is interviewed and he believes that all of the focus that the media gives to child abductions and "Stranger Danger" is adversely affecting children psychologically. John Walsh gives the counterpoint stating that "the ends suit the means."

We close with a roll call of seventeen children who were missing at the time of broadcast. One notable missing child makes her initial appearance in this listing five years before she was profiled on "Unsolved Mysteries." I will list them below with SA=Stranger Abduction and PA=Parental Abduction:

Pamela Boarman (16) SA
Shawn Bradley (14) SA
Kelley Dee Brown (7) RECOVERED
Joshua Cappo (7) PA
Kristina Casey (16) SA
Timothy Davison (5) SA
Christopher Fulmer (4) PA
Angelica Gandara (11) SA
Richard Hendrickson (16) SA
Equilla Hodrick (9) SA
Sherry Marler (14) SA
Nyleen Kay Marshall (7) SA
Katie Morris (4) PA
London Roe (5) PA
Audrey Ruff (2) PA
Alisha Smiley (4) SA
Benjamin Lee Studer (5) PA
Sandi Sunderland (9) SA
Angela Vdell (16) SA
Abhijeet Unde (2) PA

One more episode to go...

[DarkDante]

Originally Posted by Perhaps It's You

I feel that it is important to mention that Meredith Baxter later accused her husband David of having been physically abusive throughout their marriage, which does add a bit of darkness to this already depressing show. In some of the promotional pictures for this show, she looks horrified standing next to him. I'm glad that she's been living in her truth, and seems to be happy.

Yes indeed, it was not lost on me as I was viewing these that David Birney very well could've been "one of the baddies."

Originally Posted by ghosthouse

Are these available to view anywhere?

Unfortunately no. I was allowed extremely limited access to these specials, one of which was still preserved on the original master VHS tape that was probably sent to NBC for broadcast. Given that "Missing...Have You Seen This Person?" deals with ancient non custodial parental abductions which is precisely the material that has been excised from the "Unsolved Mysteries" stream, the likelihood of these turning up on streamers is nil. The best hope for wide distribution would be if a private collector preserved the broadcasts off air and would upload them to YouTube.

Originally Posted by Labonte18

The name is Kim Leggett, not Kim Leggert.. Still missing.

Thanks. Fixed it. Referring back to the subject of the availability of the series, if you go to Kim Leggett's profile on The Charley Project, photos two and three from the first row of photographs are screencaps taken from
"Missing...Have You Seen This Person?" So someone has a copy...

[Labonte18]

Interestingly.. the second installment was hosted by the then Meridith Baxter Birney and her then husband David Birney.

Seems we have an airdate of January 22, 1986

[EighthStreet]

"incomprehensively appear to look around ten years older than their mother"

Shame we can't see it. The missing clue to the unsolved mystery of why everyone in the 80s looked so old.

[Perhaps It's You]

Originally Posted by EighthStreet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Lake

Holy.....did not expect all this when I searched Paul's name.

Yeah I remember finding about this monster years ago on some seedy forum about disturbing VHS tapes floating around the internet, and some screenshots from his tapes were posted.
Needless to say I noped out of there so fast, that case has disturbed me ever since

Originally Posted by DarkDante

The best hope for wide distribution would be if a private collector preserved the broadcasts off air and would upload them to YouTube.

I seem to remember a post on Reddit talking about the show where a person said they had taped an episode off their tv, but didn't know how to convert it so it could be posted online.
This was many years ago, fingers crossed that person learned how to do it, cause I'm really interested in learning about all the similar pre-UM shows out there.

[DarkDante]

Missing... Have You Seen This Person?
Special #3
April 15, 1986
NBC

The final installment of "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" opens with a recap of the disappearance of Laura Bradbury. Three people associated with this case have either been murdered or have vanished.

Profile #1: Laura Bradbury - Joshua Tree (CA) - October 18, 1984

Laura Bradbury is now believed to have wandered away from campsite before being kidnapped. Laura's tracks ended on an access road a mile and a half from the restrooms. It is here where authorities believe she was abducted. She is believed to have been picked up by a vehicle. Laura's path suggests she was trying to navigate back to the campsite, missing it by seventy-five feet. Laura was seen walking within one hundred feet of a blue van where a man and a woman in their fifties were watching her with binoculars.

In Pioneer Town, CA, two people are reported missing by their landlord after their house was abandoned. The stereo and the heat were both left on and the dogs were left unfed. In February of 1985, it was reported that Laville Saintangelo and Bill Toby had information on Laura Bradbury suspect. In April of 1985, they disappeared. In August of that year, both were found murdered. Laura's father, Mike Bradbury believes there is a link between these murders and the disappearance of his daughter.

Profile #2: Jim Nestor (57) - Johnson Valley, CA - October 22, 1985

Jim Nestor was looking for Laura Bradbury. He was searching the Harty Mine for Laura on a tip from a psychic. At the site, he found children's clothing and toys. Jim noticed a man with a gun watching him at the site. Jim confronted the man and said he came away feeling threatened. Jim later returned to the mine and was confronted by an armed camp of six or seven men. He later flew over the area and was shot at and subsequently received a threatening phone call telling him to "stay out of the area or he'd have trouble."

The day Jim vanished he was seen a 1/2 mile from home by his neighbor, Roger Bouchef. A few minutes later as Bouchef drove back along the same route, there was no sign of Jim. Bouchef noticed a suspicious vehicle, described as a maroon truck which trailed him home. Bouchef was later informed that the same truck was "casing the joint." Jim's tracks suggest he walked to a landmark called "The Point" after which he simply vanished.

Profile #3: Cherie Mahan (9) - Cabot, PA - February 22, 1985

This is another well-traveled case, so I'll briefly recap the main points while directing you to the wikipedia entry on this case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disapp..._Cherrie_Mahan

Cherie Mahan disappeared on her way home from school, one hundred yards from her home. At three-thirty pm on the day of the disappearance, Cherie set off for home on the school bus. Debbie Burke, the mother of two of the children on the bus noticed a blue van trailing the bus. The bus had a painting of a mountain and a skier on it's side.

Update: Benjamin Studer/Christopher Fulmer

Benjamin saw himself on television and his babysitter called the police. Christopher Fulmer has been reunited with his father, Scott.

Profile #4: Christopher Sloan (4) - Highland, WA - November 27, 1985

Christopher and his mother Carol lived in Richland, Washington. Carol and her ex-husband Russ had been living apart for over two years. After a visit with his father, Carol came to believe that her son may have been sexually molested. Russ was never accused, nor convicted of assault but he was nonetheless ordered by the court to only have supervised visitations with his son.

After the court hearing, Russ drove to Carol's house in his blue VW bug. He was with his girlfriend, Cindy and her four month old baby. Russ rang the doorbell and told Carol he wanted to discuss the scheduling for visitation but upon entering the home began to choke her. Neighbors went to check on Carol but saw only a woman they believed to be a babysitter carrying Christopher. Russ was subsequently seen leaving the house with Christopher. Carol was later found bound with duct tape. Russ was last seen in a white Plymouth station wagon.

Missing: Tiffany Brumbeloe (4) - Brandon, FL - August 17, 1985 - Brumbeloe is believed to have been abducted by her father William who at 4 am on the morning of the disappearance, slashed the tires on Tiffany's mother's car and ripped the phones out of the wall./Cody and Sammy Miller (6, 3) - Seattle, WA - June 7, 1984 - abducted by mother, Cathy Miller, the boys' father, Chris Miller is searching for his children. He is meeting with Nancy Burlson in New York who has computer aged the baby picture of Sammy./ Jessica and Jimmy Watts (7) - Allentown, PA - abducted by their mother, Laurel Watts./Tino Garcia was abducted by his mother in 1978 when her was two and a half years old./Stephanie Yount was abducted by her father twelve years ago when she was three and a half years old.

Update: David Granger/Vanessa Ruff/Jeannie Frasier

David Granger is believed to be in Cambridge, MA as he has been seen by local shopkeepers.

Vanessa Ruff is still missing out of Savannah, GA. Her father Mitchell, may be going under the alias "George Crutcher."

Jeannie Frasier's mother has been located.

Profile #5: Mary "Olma" Sasson (84) - Bronx, NY - October 13, 1985

Mary went to the supermarket at 7:30 am. She was seen by a clerk and then vanished, Mary is believed to be senile. Family searched familiar locations to no avail.

Profile #6: Sherry Marler (14) - Greenville, AL - June 6, 1984

On the day Sherry vanished no one could recall seeing her in town. The last person to see her was her stepfather Ray Stringfellow. Ray began running errands at 7:30 am along with Sherry. They pulled into a parking lot and Sherry went to get a Coke, while Ray went to the bank. When Ray returned fifteen minutes later, Sherry had disappeared.

The day she vanished a girl resembling Sherry was seen on Interstate Highway 65, ninety miles south of Greenville. The girl was seen running along the center divider barefoot. This sighting was not reported for two months. The next day possibly the same girl was seen ninety miles further south near Grand Bay, Alabama by Ray's cousin Donald. Donald did not know that Sherry was missing and did not report the sighting for six weeks. The girl has been seen in Dubuque, Iowa, New Orleans, Louisiana, Conley, Georgia and Meridian, Mississippi.

In March at 2:30 am, a truck driver named Terry Jones is convinced he saw Sherry at a truck stop in Meridian. Terry said that the girl was wearing oversized clothing, looked "out of place" and was accompanied by an older man with brown hair who looked rough. Sherry looked shy or scared. Several composites are shown of different men believed to have been seen with the girl.

Missing: Sally Sanders (17) - Shreveport, LA - February 23, 1984/Runaways: Stefan Schackow (15) - Loudonville, NY - February 16, 1986 - last seen buying an airline ticket to Florida./Stephanie Ingram (15) - Camden, NJ - December 31, 1985

Update: Pascale Newbegin/Special Report: Runaways

June Bucy, Executive Director of Runaway and Youth Services is interviewed. Bucy says the best way to prevent a runaway situation is for parents to "listen to their kids."

We close with a roll call of twenty children who were missing at the time of broadcast. I will list them below with SA=Stranger Abduction and PA=Parental Abduction:

Elizabeth Burkhammer (15) SA
Tracy Ann Byrd (17) SA
Steven Curtis (9) PA
Amimbola Fadeyi (2) PA
Jeremy James Grice (4) SA
William Christopher Groves (13) SA
Joshua Dean Guerino (4) PA
Kelly Jean Harris (14) SA
Jeremiah Huger (5) SA
Julie Lynn Main (21) SA
Hector Martinez (11) SA
Melissa Bianca McDougle (5) PA
Nicole Louis Morin (9) SA
Joseph Palancia (2) PA
Christi Dianne Proctor (10) SA
Neil Patrick Sheehan (4) PA
Christopher Sloan (4) PA
Danyel Sparpana (3) SA
Christine West (7) PA
Angela Westberry (18) SA