Missing James S. Harris Harris, approximately 2001 Date reported missing : 12/02/2001 Missing location (approx) : St. Clair County, Illinois Missing classification : Endangered Missing Gender : Male Ethnicity : White Age at the time of disappearance: 48 years old Height / Weight : 6'1, 210 pounds Description, clothing, jewerly and more : A black jacket with stripes on the sleeves, white sneakers and possibly blue jeans. Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : Caucasian male. Graying brown hair, hazel eyes. Harris has steel rods implanted in both legs as a result of an automobile accident, and he has a scar on his right leg. He smokes Marlboro cigarettes. His nickname is Jim. Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Harris was last seen at his home in St. Clair County, Illinois on December 2, 2001. His wife and daughter were out of town at the time. His wife called and spoke to Harris at 8:00 p.m. He was supposed to begin his first day at a new job at Wal-Mart at 10:00 p.m. that same night, but never arrived and has never been heard from again. Harris's gray 1993 Ford Ranger pickup truck with the Illinois license plate number 4JMHRS was found abandoned on December 3, the day after his disappearance, in a parking lot in the 3200 block of Mississippi Avenue in Cahokia, Illinois. His wallet, keys, cigarettes, eyeglasses and a wedding anniversary card were inside. A witness reported seeing an African-American male with an inch-high afro haircut and dark-framed military-type eyeglasses sitting in the truck near a pay phone in the same parking lot where the truck was later found. The parking lot is only a short distance from Salem Tire, where Harris used to work. Subsequent investigation indicated that there was possible illegal activity, including stolen inventory, in the tire business at about the time Harris disappeared. Little information is available to indicate what happened to Harris. His loved ones stated he had no enemies and was not involved in criminal activity. Harris is considered to be missing under suspicious circumstances; although no hard evidence pointing to foul play has been located, there is also no indication that he is still alive. He left behind two children and his wife, shortly before the thirtieth wedding anniversary. His case remains unsolved. Other information and links : ncy St. Clair County Sheriff's Department 618-277-3504 618-277-3500 September 2021 updates and sources St. Clair County Sheriff's Department The Belleville News-Democrat A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe. By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends. Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece. October 12, 2004. September 2, 2016; picture, Age at the time of disappearance: and Description, clothing, jewerly and more : added, Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : updated. |