MI MI - James Cooper, 16, Monroe, 25 Oct 1996

[Reachingfornettles]

A runaway eh? No license...no money...not a runaway in Monroe funroe. Church loving hippie? Head of church group? ... not running away. Bump!and a possible wood search this summer near his home there is only one patch of woods...JMO.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: October 25, 1996 from Monroe, Michigan
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: December 22, 1979
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5'11, 155 pounds

Distinguishing Characteristics: Light brown to blond hair, blue eyes. Cooper may have a moustache, beard or a goatee. He wore braces on his teeth at the time of his 1996 disappearance. Cooper has a raised chicken pox scar on his right arm and a scar on his left arm.

Details of Disappearance
Cooper departed from his family's residence in Monroe, Michigan during the morning hours of October 25, 1996 for school. He never returned home and has not been seen again. Cooper was not carrying any identification or cash with him at the time of his disappearance. He never retrieved a paycheck from his after-school job before he vanished. Cooper's case remains unsolved.

Some agencies classify Cooper's case as that of an Endangered Runaway.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/cooper_james.html

Updated link: James Robert Cooper – The Charley Project

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Parents hope son who disappeared in 1996 returns

It was a Friday morning in late October and James Cooper, a 16-year-old Monroe High School student, was still in bed, clearly headed for tardiness.

"James!" his mother yelled. "Why are you still here?"

[snip]

James disappeared without a trace almost 15 years ago.

It was October 25, 1996, on that Friday morning that Mrs. Cooper yelled for her son to get ready for school. He left that day without his wallet, money or identification. It was the last time she or any family member saw him again.

"He had nothing with him," Mrs. Cooper said. "Just the clothes on his back."

[snip]

The family believes James ran away. But not having any contact all these years leads to frustration, sadness, anger and all the other emotions parents possibly could endure in such a situation.

More: Article 404 - Monroe News - Monroe, Michigan - Monroe, MI

Updated link: MI - MI - James Cooper, 16, Monroe, 25 Oct 1996

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

The family has since moved, but kept the same phone number, hoping James will call one day.

Link to an old article that has more info:

"One day he's gonna call"
The night before, James and his parents argued about him driving the car without their permission, especially since he only had a permit. And it wasn't much of an argument really; it was more like a confrontation between concerned parents and their increasingly rebellious son.

Read more at: http://www.monroenews.com/news/2011/mar/27/one-day-hes-gonna-call/

Updated link: Family upset over sign claiming missing Monroe teen killed

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Updated link: MI - MI - James Cooper, 16, Monroe, 25 Oct 1996

I’m sorry ... please disregard the quoted post above.

Here is the correct, updated link: 'One day he's gonna call'

 

[SAMS]

Did James have beef with any friends or non friends in town?

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

James’ NamUs profile:
Case Numbers
NCMEC Number: 829920

Demographics
Missing Age: 16 Years
Current Age: 40 Years
First Name: James
Middle Name: Robert
Last Name: Cooper
Nickname/Alias: --
Sex: Male
Height: 5' 11" (71 Inches)
Weight: 155 lbs
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact: October 25, 1996
NamUs Case Created: April 15, 2010
Last Known Location Map
Location: Monroe, Michigan 48162
County: Monroe County

Circumstances of Disappearance: James was last seen on October 25, 1996. When he was last seen he had braces on his teeth. He has scar tissue on his left arm.

Physical Description
Hair Color: Brown
Head Hair Description: Light brown
Body Hair Description: --
Facial Hair Description: --
Left Eye Color: Blue
Right Eye Color: Blue
Eye Description: --
Distinctive Physical Features
Item: Scar/mark
Description: Bump on right arm of scar tissue

Clothing and Accessories
Item: Clothing
Description: tan corduroy jacket

Investigating Agencies
Monroe Police Department
Main Phone: (734) 243-7517
Agency Case Number: 15852-96
John Schiappacasse, Detective

10 Unidentified Person Exclusions as of today:


The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Ozoner]

Updated link: Family upset over sign claiming missing Monroe teen killed

The sign gives pretty specific information; it may well be legit. The family seems to be in denial.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

The sign gives pretty specific information; it may well be legit. The family seems to be in denial.

Agreed. Wasn’t difficult to find a photo of it. If it is legit, what an innovative and unconventional way to try to help solve a possible crime without disclosing your identity. It isn’t like they have an anonymous tip-line set up, so it makes sense, IMO.

I live just a couple of hours away but had never heard of the case. I would like to learn more about it but am having a hard time finding information so far.

From the Already Gone Pod Cast website (I hope this is allowed ... information on the case is so scarce ....):
[Posted by the host]
JANUARY 4, 2020 AT 8:04 AM
“I have not heard of any updates.

It is my understanding that his family believes he left voluntarily so they are not pressing law enforcement to search for him.“

Also here is a picture of the sign courtesy of the Already Gone Pod Cast:

Episode 8: James Cooper – Missing in Michigan | Already Gone Podcast – True Crime

 

[Savemecastiel]

Bump

 

[Danaya]

Interesting... "murdered and hid". Do they mean his body was hid?

The cross and fish symbols indicate Christianity.

l wonder, guilty conscience due to a new found religious conviction? Or is the perpetrator related to James' church?

 

[Pennysmom2]

James Robert Cooper – The Charley Project

• 
• 

James, circa 1996; Age-progression to age 35 (circa 2014)

• Missing Since 10/25/1996
• Missing From Monroe, Michigan
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 12/22/1979 (43)
• Age 16 years old
• Height and Weight 5'11, 155 pounds
• 
  
• Clothing/Jewelry Description A tan corduroy jacket.
• 
  
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Light brown to blond hair, blue eyes. James may have a mustache, beard or a goatee. He wore braces on his teeth at the time of his 1996 disappearance. He has a raised chicken pox scar on his right arm and a scar on his left arm.

Details of Disappearance​

James departed from his family's residence on Maple Boulevard in Monroe, Michigan during the morning hours of October 25, 1996 for school.

He was seen outside the school building later that day, and one witness thought she saw him in a car. He didn't attend classes, though. He never returned home and has not been seen again.

James was not carrying his wallet, identification or any money with him at the time of his disappearance. He also never retrieved his paycheck from his after-school job.

James's parents believe he ran away in 1996. He had become rebellious in the months prior to his disappearance and experimented with marijuana, and the night before he vanished he got into an argument with his parents because he'd driven the family car without permission. He didn't have a driver's license, but only a learner's permit.

However, it is highly unusual for a runaway to never contact their family and friends again, as James apparently did. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 1996 and was president of the Luther League, the church youth group.

James's parents still live in Monroe, although not at the same address, and hope for resolution in his case.

Investigating Agency​

• Monroe Police Department 313-243-7503

Source Information​

• Child Protection Education of America
• The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
• IBM: Missing Children
• NamUs
• The Monroe News

Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated February 28, 2016; age-progression updated.