Cold Case Corner...
James Richard Howell, 09
MISSING: May 28, 1969
Sterling Illinois
Whiteside County
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Missing FIFTY-THREE YEARS today!!
James Richard Howell, nickname "Jimmy" was nine years old when he disappeared. Jimmy was last seen outside his home.
James was last seen playing with his sister, outside of their family's home in the 1300 block of West 13th Street in Sterling, Illinois on May 28, 1969. They were going to build a cage for James's birds, and his sister went inside for tools.
When she returned, the boards James was going to use to make the birdcage were scattered along the street and James had vanished.
A neighbor reported his disappearance to police at approximately 10:35p, that same day, after his parents spent the whole day searching for him.
James had a somewhat chaotic childhood. He has two brothers and one sister. He and his siblings were sent to an orphanage after their parents divorced in the early 1960s. Two of the Howell children were later sent to live with an aunt, and James and one of his brothers went to a foster home.
All the children had gone to live with their mother and stepfather by 1968. James's mother stated she did not believe he would have run away from home. He liked animals in 1969, and he was afraid of bugs and the dark. He was in the third grade at school.
There were several reported sightings of James after his disappearance, but he was never found. Searchers looked in gravel pits and water areas, particularly Elkhorn Creek and Rock River.
His family members all took polygraph exams and were cleared of suspicion in his disappearance in 1998.
Current age: 62, DOB: 10.28.1959
Description at disappearance.. Approx 4'05", 75 lbs, brown eyes, brown hair.
It’s been FIFTY-THREE YEARS today, and justice needs to be served, in the memory of James. His family needs answers for his disappearance, and justice served to assist with the closure.
ANY information regarding Jimmy's disappearance, please contact:
Whiteside County Sheriff's Office
815-772-4044
OR
NCMEC
800-843-5678
Sharing generates AWARENESS,
Awareness generates SUPPORT,
Support generates HOPE!!
#JamesRichardHowell #JamesHowell #JimmyHowell #Missing #Child #Sterling #Illinois #WhitesideCounty
Sources & Other Resources:
NCMEC
Case: # 872770
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/872770/1/screen
NamUs
Case: # 6194
https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/6194
The Charley Project
https://charleyproject.org/case/james-richard-howell
https://www.facebook.com/ChiMissingCases/