The Missing - A Weekly exposé of Lost Souls - Issue #10
April 23,2008
In
this week's edition of "The Missing," we revisit the sudden and
mysterious disappearance of John James Morris, a 38-year-old resident
of Dickerson, Maryland, who vanished in July 2007.
"I have been
searching for my son since he disappeared after breaking up a 14-year
relationship with his partner," John's mother, Madeline Morris, wrote
in a recent e-mail. "After the break-up John moved back to his hometown
in New Jersey, but after a brief stay he returned to Maryland to pick
up his belongings. He has not been heard from since."
According
to Madeline, John was last seen on the afternoon of July 30, 2007, in
the driveway of his ex-boyfriend's residence on Whites Ferry Road in
Dickerson, Maryland. On the day of his disappearance John had a brief
telephone conversation with his mother, during which time he expressed
his anger and dismay over the situation. Before hanging up, John told
his mother he was waiting for someone to come pick him up. A neighbor
later confirmed that John had been standing at the end of his
ex-boyfriend's driveway. What happened next remains a mystery.
John
usually spoke with his mother on a weekly basis; however, when several
weeks went by with no contact Madeline became concerned and reported
him missing on August 23, 2007. After receiving Madeline's report, the
Montgomery County Police Department looked into the case and questioned
John's friends and former neighbors.
According to police, John's
boyfriend was out of town on the day John stopped to pick up his
belongings. Oddly, John had left his pickup truck behind, although it
remains unclear if someone picked him up or if he walked away from his
ex-boyfriend's residence.
"At this point, there's definitely
foul play or possibly suicide. He could be anywhere between here and
New Jersey," Detective Roderick Stephens said in a January 10, 2008
interview with Fredericknewspost.com.
Police conducted a K9
search of the woods by John's former residence and conducted a thorough
search of the house, but were unable to find any leads suggesting what
might have happened to him. The case has slowly gone cold, leaving
investigators stumped by his sudden and mysterious disappearance. In an
attempt to get new leads, investigators recently added John's case to
the National Crime Institute Computer (NCIC) system.
In the 267
days since he disappeared, John has not used his credit card or cell
phone. He left all of his belongings behind, including his beloved dog,
who is now in his parents' care. John, who suffers from ADD (Attention
Deficit Disorder), did not take his medication with him, adding further
concern for his mother, who claims he has been known to self medicate
with alcohol and illegal drugs.
"John is a loving and warm
person," Madeline said. "Since he disappeared, it has consumed much of
my time searching for him. I miss him so very much and I am so worried
that he is unsafe or maybe worse."
John
James Morris is described as 6' and 185 lbs., with grayish brown hair
and light brown eyes. He has a large tattoo of a snake on his right
forearm and a tattoo of a scorpion on his left shoulder. John is a
talented artist and may be working as a landscaper or handyman. He also
has previous experience working as a glazier, repairing broken car
windows.
Anyone with information is asked to call the 5th
District Investigative Section at 301-840-2347 or Det. Rod Stephens at
301-840-2650.