MS MS - James Michael Welter, 34, Ocean Springs, Jan 1986

[Richard]

James Michael Welter

Welter, circa 1986

• Missing Since 01/01/1986
• Missing From Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race White
• Date of Birth 10/02/1951 (70)
• Age 34 years old
• Height and Weight 5'7, 160 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description Civilian clothing, but he may have been carrying military accessories such as a web belt or military identification.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Welter's nickname is Jimmy. He has a mustache.

Details of Disappearance

Welter was last seen in Ocean Springs, Mississippi in early January, 1986. He disappeared a day or two after he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after having a minor accident on New Years' Day. He lived in Jefferson Davis Apartments at the time, and was a staff sergeant at Keesler Air Force Base. He was on leave when he disappeared and was scheduled to return to duty on January 6, but never arrived.

The Air Force listed him as absent without leave (AWOL) on January 8. Welter's court date for the DUI charge was on January 15; he never showed up. He left behind his checkbook, savings book, passport and other personal belongings.

Welter was driving a blue 1978 Ford Grenada at the time of his disappearance; it was later located being driven by another man. The man told authorities he'd bought the car on a salvage bond from two unidentified individuals in March 1986.

There has been no activity on Welter's Social Security number since January 1986. Private investigators hired by his family believe he may have taken another name and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana with a girlfriend, but this has not been confirmed.

Welter, one of ten children, grew up in Illinois and attended Grant High School and Lake County College, where he was a champion athlete. He was declared legally dead in 2002, and his family held a memorial service. His case remains unsolved.

Investigating Agency

• Air Force Office of Criminal Investigations 228-377-3420

Source Information

• The Doe Network
• Porchlight International for the Missing and Unidentified
• The Waukegan News Sun
• NamUs
• OSI Wanted
  
• James Michael Welter – The Charley Project

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Private investigators hired by his family believe he may have taken another name and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana with a girlfriend, but this has not been confirmed.

I wonder why the P.I.s think that could be true.

His NamUs profile:

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Some of the information on Doe Network makes me think some crooked folks took advantage of his disappearance. JMO.

Also I wonder what happened when more information was pursued from the construction company he allegedly may have worked for using an alias.

From:

4078DMMS - James Michael Welter

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Welter, a Staff sergeant at Keesler Air Force Base, was last seen in Ocean Springs, Mississippi on New Year's Eve 1986. He disappeared within a day or two of being arrested for drunken driving in Ocean Springs, MS on New Year's Day 1986.

At the time of his accident and subsequent arrest, he was with a woman who worked at Rooks Inn in Biloxi, MS. Welter posted bond and was issued a court date of January 15, 1986. He never appeared for his court date. Welter was scheduled to return to duty at Keesler on January 6, 1986, but did not report as scheduled. His approved leave had ended and he was reported as Absent Without Leave (AWOL) by the U.S. Air Force on January 8, 1986. Ocean Springs police reportedly filed a missing person's report and listed his name on a national crime database. His dental records were provided to authorities to help identify him. His home address was at Jefferson Davis Apartments, in Ocean Springs.

His blue 1976 Ford Granada was later located, but being driven by one of the arresting OSPD officers who said that he bought the vehicle on a salvage bond from two unidentified individuals in approximately March of 1986. The vehicle is reported to have been scrapped.

At the time of his disappearance, Welter was purchasing a timeshare with Dixie Resort Corporation, Indian Point Resort, in Gautier, MS. The parent company, NACO Resort Club Inc. had no record of the salesperson who supposedly sold Welter the timeshare nor do they have any record of Welter. The salesperson that Welter worked with is described as being a transient who traveled around selling resort memberships. Even after Welter went missing, the money for the timeshare continued to be automatically withdrawn from his account until it was paid off. The resort where the timeshare was purchased was managed by a relative of the person who was found to be the new owner of Welter's Ford Granada purchased on a salvage bond from two unidentified individuals in 1986.

Private investigators hired by the family, which includes 9 children, have turned up reports that Welter may have assumed a different name and left the Coast for Shreveport, Louisiana, with a girlfriend. At one point, Welter may have assumed the name "Billy Cox." During the investigation into his disappearance, his photo was shown and some had said he was going by that name and was working for a construction company running heavy machinery.

His social security number has not been used since January 1, 1986. His checkbook and savings book, investments, passport and other personal belongings were left behind. He was declared legally dead in 2002.

 

[Richard]

Blue 1978 Ford Granada, similar to the one associated with James Michael Welter who went missing in 1986.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

James Michael Welter – The Charley Project