SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
Former Member
Missing Since: March 31, 1981 from Leominster, Massachusetts
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: June 18, 1971
Age: 9 years old
Height and Weight: 4'0, 65 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Blond hair, blue eyes.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A yellow jacket with blue sleeves, a yellow sweatshirt with a picture of the cartoon character Donald Duck on it, and possibly no shoes or socks.
Details of Disappearance
Taj resided with his mother, Annette Dean, and his stepfather, Clarence Dean, in the 10 block of Naples Street in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1981. Annette, who was seven months pregnant at the time, told authorities that Taj was frightened of Clarence and did not want to live with him. Clarence reportedly hated Taj. Annette was seven months pregnant at the time of her son's disappearance.
Accounts differ as to the circumstances of Taj's disappearance. Some say he disappeared from bed in the middle of the night, taking his slippers with him; others that he was last seen last seen leaving their home after an argument with Clarence. Both versions agree that Taj left a note at his house stating that he no longer wanted to live with his family and did not have to listen to his parents. He has never been heard from again.
Annette called her mother, Eunice Narbonne, at approximately 8:00 a.m. to report that Taj was not in the family's yard and could not be located. She stated his slippers were also missing. A search of the area produced no clues as to his whereabouts. Eunice says Taj was afraid of the dark at the time he vanished. The temperature that morning hovered around freezing. Annette initially believed that her son left of his own accord to get away from his stepfather, but Taj was never located and at nine, it is unlikely that he had the capabilities to disappear without a trace. Eunice said that he called her the evening of his disappearance and asked her to come and get him, saying he was afraid. She told him to go to sleep.
In 1982, Clarence was sentenced to six years in prison for kidnapping and stabbing his wife. He and Annette are now divorced. She went into hiding with her children for a time after Clarence was released from prison.
Authorities searched a barn on Pleasant Street in Leominster in June 1989, over eight years after Taj disappeared. The barn was less than one mile from his family's residence. Investigators stated that they searched for his remains, but no evidence was located. Wal-Mart sponsored a billboard profiling Taj's case in October 1996, 15 years after he was last seen in Leominster. He was a fourth-grade student at FallBrook School at the time of his disappearance, and is described as an intelligent, well-mannered and softspoken child. His case remains unsolved and continues to be classified as a Non-Family Abduction.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Leominster Police Department
617-537-0741
NCMEC
