IA IA - William LeRoy Douglas Sr., 63, Woodburn, 4 Feb 2004

Gardener1850 · Mar 26, 2019

William LeRoy Douglas Sr.

Douglas, circa 2004

Missing Since 02/04/2004
Missing From Woodburn, Iowa
Classification Endangered Missing
Date of Birth 07/03/1940 (78)
Age 63 years old
Height and Weight 5'8, 140 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description Black Carhartt overalls, a light green jacket, Wrangler jeans and black boots.
Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Graying black hair, brown eyes. Douglas's nickname is Bill. He has tattoos of the names "Billy LeRoy," "Rhonda Lee," and "Pamala Sue" on his right forearm, and a tattoo of an eagle and a boat anchor on his forearm. Douglas has previously fractured his ribs, fingers, and pelvis.

Details of Disappearance
Douglas was last seen at approximately 10:30 a.m. on February 4, 2004 at his cattle farm in the vicinity of the 3000 block of Pacific Street in Woodburn, Iowa. His mother spoke to him on the phone that day and says he hung up the phone to go answer the door. He has never been heard from again.

Douglas was divorced at the time of his disappearance and has five adult children. There hasn't been any activity on his bank account since he went missing. There were no signs of a struggle at his home, but his family says it is uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning.

He was declared legally dead in 2009. He is considered endangered and his case is unsolved.

William LeRoy Douglas Sr. – The Charley Project

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Atombudd · Dec 24, 2022

Betsy Showers of Indianola with her missing father William Douglas.

Betsy Showers of Indianola, however, isn't looking for a resolution. She is convinced her father, William Douglas Sr., is dead.

She said they were best friends. He called every day, without exception. She says he instilled his strong work ethic in his daughter; she rarely misses a day of work as a trucker.

“I hunted and fished with him; I pulled calves; I drove tractors — I did everything. I was like a boy,” Showers said.

The family was gathered, having beers and watching the Super Bowl in 2004 on her 63-year-old father’s farmland outside Woodburn. After she left that day, she never saw him again.

The farm pond was drained. Questions were asked. A psychic was consulted by one family member. The trauma led to a split in the family with her brother.

Showers, 53, is so convinced he won’t be found that she petitioned the court to have him declared dead to settle his estate, and in 2009, he was. Yet his missing person case remains open.

“It’s still tough. My kids don’t have a grandpa,” she said. “And we never did have a grave.”