OK OK - Lawrence 'Larry' Colton, 28, Midwest City, Sept 1979

[Oddmomout]

 

[Tricia]

NamUS
Facebook

VIETNAM VETERAN MISSING SINCE 1979; family still searching for him.

Lawrence Scott Colton, 28, a Vietnam veteran was last seen in mid-September 1979 in Midwest City, Oklahoma visiting his former wife and eight-year-old son. They joined him at his motel room briefly, and it was believed that the following day he would be hitchhiking back home to Jacksonville Beach, FL, but he never showed up. He would have possibly taken route 1-45 S through Texas to 1-10 East. His father and stepmother saw him last on August 27, 1979, in Jax Beach when he left their home on foot traveling on A1A. (Please note that NamUS is updating their site to include the last seen location as OK in September 1979.)

Larry entered the army in 1967 and was released in July of 1970. He was suffering from PTSD, although not much was known about this disorder in the 70s. He was a regular patient at the Gainesville VA Hospital throughout the 70s.

For a year in the early 70s he was a member of the Jim and Sarah Hornsby ministry in Jax Beach which was part of the Jesus People movement as I understand. He and his wife at the time resided in the ministry home. I have spoken to Jim and Sarah and they do not remember him however others in the ministry might.

In the late 70s Larry was mostly living in the woods alone around San Pablo Rd. Occasionally he sought shelter at motels or with his sister in Jax Beach--namely Sea-Vue Lodge at 808 N. 1st St. which closed in early 1978 and the Ocean View Apts at 522 N. 1st with his sister.

Larry had hazel eyes and brown long wavy hair to his shoulders when he went missing. He has slight scoliosis that was discovered while he was in the Army. He has a small scar over one eyebrow from a fall on a coffee table as a toddler, and a mole above his left eyebrow.

 

[Karinna]

Here is another FB page that mentions Larry Colton
MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT- FLORIDA (MIAP-FLORIDA)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/410365332347793/

 

[Coffee56]

From Larry’s FB page

 

[Coffee56]

Additional info at link. Prior employment etc

Find Missing Lawrence Scott Colton!

 

[Coffee56]

Lawrence Scott Colton – The Charley Project

 

[Savemecastiel]

Bumping

 

[YaYa_521]

I'll need help to determine whether Larry is this John Doe. I don't know about the 1979 - 1982 time frame but everything else makes me think these could be Larry's remains. Your thoughts, please.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Help Us Find Larry

Help Us Find Larry

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP4908
Male, White / Caucasian
Date Body Found. February 16, 1982 (Sept. 1979)
Location Found Carter, Oklahoma (2 hours driving time to Midwest City)
Estimated Age Range 25-40 Years (28)

Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number820605

Demographics
Sex Male
Race / Ethnicity. White / Caucasian
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Possible Nickname--
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 40
Estimated Age Range (Years) 25-40 (28)
Estimated Year of Death. 1982 (1979)
Estimated PMI Months
Height 5' 10"(70 inches) , Estimated (Larry- 5' 10" - 6' 0" (70 - 72 Inches))
Weight 130 lbs, Estimated (125 - 140 lbs)

Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body Found February 16, 1982
NamUs Case CreatedMarch 9, 2009
ME/C QA ReviewedMarch 10, 2009

Location Found Map
LocationCarter, Oklahoma
CountyBeckham County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land--

Circumstances of Recovery
Victim found in a ditch approx 2 miles north of Carter, OK and 1/2 mile east.

Inventory of Remains All parts recovered
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Partial remains with soft tissues

Circumstance Notes
OSBI lab #1982-087
http://www.beckhamcountysheriff.com/ Original Sheriff Dean Smith

Physical Description
Hair Color Brown (Brown shoulder length - long, wavy, never dyed)
Head Hair DescriptionLight brown
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorUnknown
Right Eye ColorUnknown
Eye Description--

Distinctive Physical Features
No Known Information

Clothing and Accessories

Accessories -wooden bead with feathers $.10 Lighter inscribed with "Debbie". Rosary. Keyholder with inital "D". Near the Body

Clothing - Short sleeve white shirt with brown pocket trim ("Kennington of California"). Levi blue jeans, zipper front, size W28/L32. Back pockets intact and empty. Blue and white pullover shirt ("Plumage" brand) On the Body

Clothing - Dark brown cowboy hat with dark blue print bandana around it and a gold chain with gold heart around it. Near the Body

Footwear - "Trax" brown canvas, low top, lace-up shoes, size 8D. Eight stockings - 4 on left and 4 on the right, matching - gray with a red top, white with a gray-red top, white with a green-black top, white with a blue top. On the Body

Jewelry - Silver colored chain Necklace x1 Silver colored chain necklace with a turqoise drop x1 Rubber black "O" ring on the left middle finger Silver colored ring with an ovoid two tone turquoise stone on the left little finger.
#

Did Larry have at one time a significant other or ex whose name is Debbie or some similar "D" name. Also, was Larry known to wear a rosary? Are rosaries worn by followers of the Jesus People movement? I wish a relative would look over this profile to see if they recognize any of the belongings, especially the jewelry. Most intriguing, I wish we knew the significance of that wooden bead with a feather. I can't help but wonder whether that was a gift to him from a child.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Lawrence Scott Colton was 28 years old, last seen in Midwest City in mid-September 1979. He was a Vietnam Veteran from Jacksonville Beach Florida.

Lawrence has hitchhiked to Oklahoma to see family. He stopped at his father’s home, Lawrence said he was sick and asked to stay but he was turned away. Theory is he may have been hitchhiking back to Jacksonville Beach, possibly on Interstate 45 and Interstate 10. He never arrived home or was seen or heard from again.

Lawrence did have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia and he was often a patient at the Vietnam War Veteran Hospital in Gainsville, Florida.

He had no permanent address, he frequented Atlantic Boulevard and Girvin Road in Jacksonville, Florida.

Lawrence was around 5’ 10”- 6' 0” feet tall and anywhere from 125-140 pounds. He had long wavy shoulder length brown hair with hazel eyes. He has a small scar over his right eyebrow; mole over left eye, and burn marks on his back from shrapnel.

Lawrence is greatly missed and his family is still search for answers in his disappearance.

If you have any information please contact Alachua County, Florida Sheriff's Office (352)260-7588.

Information resource(s):

NamUs #MP32845

Lawrence Scott Colton – The Charley Project

(2) Missing Persons of America - Posts | Facebook

Lawrence Scott Colton — Oklahoma Cold Cases

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Larry...it's now been 44 years.